Crew Lead / Sr. Tree Climber- Monster Tree Service of South Charlotte

Job Description

Job Description

We’re seeking a seasoned Crew Leader / Senior Climber who combines expert-level climbing and arboricultural skills with strong leadership and accountability. The ideal candidate is experienced in all phases of tree care , including removals, pruning, rigging, and comprehensive safety protocols. They thrive in a fast-paced, professional environment and lead by example—ensuring jobs are completed efficiently, safely, and to the highest standards. The person we are looking for will be drawn to our Core Values and enthusiastically embrace and model them for their crew. This person takes ownership of crew performance, equipment care, and client satisfaction, and is committed to developing team members while protecting the reputation and culture of excellence that Monster Tree Service of South Charlotte demonstrates consistently to our clients.

Our Core Values :

Safety

At Monster Tree Service we care about you, and we will work diligently to ensure your safety. Tree work is hazardous but does not have to be dangerous. How we react to circumstances surrounding the job environment dictates the level of danger. We are professional arborists who will work within the scope of our knowledge, certifications and training while understanding the limitations of our gear and equipment. We invest in your safety. Each employee receives chain saw pants, safety helmet, earmuffs, eye protection and gloves. We have Safety Tailgate meetings every Monday, Continuous Improvement conversations on Wednesday, and a Gear Check every Friday.

• Quality

A company can only be the best if it strives to be the best. It is our passion to deliver a superior experience to our clients from the start to finish of every job. We are committed to continuous improvement and will evaluate yesterday’s performance to improve today’s work. Everyone understands that we achieve better results when we collaborate and all work together as One Team. We will be enthusiastically focused on arboricultural excellence and will accept absolutely nothing but our best as we serve every client.

• Attitude

We work in challenging environments and therefore must be committed to controlling our emotions and bringing a positive attitude to every job. We are willing to follow processes and procedures and complete every task to the best of our ability regardless of difficulty level, feelings about the task, or the environment we are working in. We will be mature enough to own our mistakes and learn from them. We will be humble; knowing that pride comes before a fall. We will embrace a teachable attitude believing that learning is just as important as knowing.

• Accountability

We will show up on time, prepared, and ready for work every day. We will be responsible for our words and actions. We will seek to understand the role we played when mistakes happen. We will always be honest with the client, management and our fellow crew members. We will reflect on our mistakes, learn from them, and accept the consequences when incidents occur that could have been avoided. We will seek to know our personal limits, be open to change and suggestions, and focus on successful outcomes. We will manage our time wisely, constantly looking for ways to support our team and get the job done efficiently and safely. We accept that doing things right takes time, effort and a committed focus on our client’s experience.

Crew Leader Responsibilities :

• Jobsite Management
• Direct and supervise daily operations on residential and commercial job sites
• Coordinate with Sales Arborist and Operations Manager to ensure scope accuracy and safety
• Delegate tasks, assign roles, and ensure crew members execute work efficiently and safely
• Conduct pre-job briefings (JSA) and post-job reviews (Continuous Improvement) with the team

Crew Oversight & Development

• Conduct morning job review with the crew; ensure all tools and equipment are prepped and loaded
• Ensure crew compliance with job-site setup and safety standards, and mandate use of all PPE
• Accurately account for crew members daily and individual job hours via online timesheet
• Manage time off request and coordinate with Production Manager to minimize impact to production schedule
• Train and mentor team members in proper climbing, rigging, pruning, and equipment use
• Provide real-time coaching and corrective feedback when performance or safety lapses occur
• Foster a culture that promotes our Core Values, professionalism, and pride in workmanship

Client & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as on-site point of contact for client questions or concerns
• Communicate clearly with homeowners, property managers, and subcontractors as needed
• Support Sales Arborist by answering client questions about work execution or scope

Operational & Equipment Accountability

• Monitor inventory levels and communicate re-ordering needs to Production Manager to ensure inventory availability. (e.g. chains, straps, fuses, bar oil, 2-cycle oil, hydraulic fluids)
• Conduct daily post-trip inspections of vehicles, tools, and equipment for safety and readiness
• Ensure proper cleanup, site restoration, and respect for client property
• Submit accurate job notes, photos, and crew performance data to Operations team

Revenue & Productivity Accountability

• Track and manage daily and weekly revenue targets and crew output metrics
• Monitor job pacing, time management, and crew efficiency
• Identify and communicate issues affecting profitability, such as estimate discrepancies, inefficient crew composition, or change orders
• Report on KPIs such as Revenue per Hour, Job Completion Rate, and Rework Incidents

Senior Climber Requirements :

• Tree Work Execution
• Perform tree removals, pruning, cabling, and rigging in compliance with ANSI A300 standards
• Operate chainsaws, rigging gear, and climbing systems at a high level of technical skill
• Work from rope and saddle, bucket truck, aerial lift or crane as job requires
• Execute precision cuts and controlled dismantling in complex or confined areas

Safety & Risk Management

• Complete Job Site Briefing , Job Safety Analysis and Emergency Protocol Briefing on every job site
• Lead by example with consistent use of PPE and adherence to job safety protocols
• Identify hazards (electrical, structural, environmental) and adjust work plan accordingly
• Support aerial rescue readiness and participate in regular safety drills
• Conduct weekly Safety Tailgate, Continuous Improvement, and Gear Check meetings

Equipment Use & Maintenance

• Operate stump grinders, loaders, chippers, and aerial lift equipment with skill and care
• Perform daily inspection and basic maintenance on climbing and rigging gear
• Report damaged or unsafe equipment immediately and tag out if needed

Training & Mentorship

• Support less experienced climbers and ground crew by demonstrating proper techniques by working hands-on as needed helping with stump grinding, tree planting, hauling brush, chipping and clean up.
• Offer constructive feedback and help develop a culture of learning and pride in the craft
• Stay current with industry techniques and continue to develop technical skills
• Obtain or maintain CTSP, ISA, TRAQ Certifications and NC Applicator License

Physical Requirements :

• Ability to get in and out of a vehicle multiple times per day
• Ability to work in adverse and varied weather conditions
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. repetitively throughout the day
• Ability to perform physical labor in moderate to high difficulty range 40-55 hours per week

Qualifications :

• A clean valid Driver’s License is absolutely 100% REQUIRED. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• CDL preferred but not required
• 3+ years’ experience leading, mentoring and training a residential and commercial tree crew
• CTSP, ISA, TRAQ Certifications preferred but not required
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test including random testing throughout the year

Compensation :

• We offer competitive wages commensurate with experience and crew leadership
• W2 Hourly with Overtime paid weekly @ $30-$35 / hour
• We offer competitive benefits
• 1-week Paid Time Off / 8 Paid Holidays (after 90 days of employment)
• Education allowance for certifications, licenses, CEUs, and other relevant continuing education
• Health Care, Vision, Dental and 401K (coming soon!)

You are applying for work with a franchisee of Monster Tree Service, not Monster Franchising SPE, LLC or any of its affiliates. If hired, the franchisee will be your only employer. Franchisees are independent business owners who are solely responsible for their own employees.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.