Job Description

Job Location: Puerto Rico, PR 00791
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $25.00 - $30.00 Hourly

Job Category: Operational/Non-ERDJob Title: Climber A
Location: Puerto Rico
Reports to: Crew Lead / Supervisor
Compensation Range: Insert $25 - $30 hourly (depending on location, experience, skills, and qualifications)
About Ceres Caribe
Ceres Caribe was founded in Puerto Rico in 1998 after Hurricane Georges. It has since grown to be one of the largest employers by providing careers on the island. Ceres Caribe is recognized for its rapid disaster recovery including debris removal, demolition, and blue roofs. We perform resiliency services, including vegetation management and utility line clearing for the Puerto Rican power grid. Ceres Caribe is also nationally recognized for creating natural parks and an aviary center on the island. The company is expanding its efforts to assist in securing the power grid for the Island.
Driven by Purpose, Powered by People
At Ceres Caribe, we believe you're more than just an employee; you're part of a team with a purpose and a meaningful mission. Whether in management, field operations, or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in restoring hope, helping communities recover and rebuild.
We value initiative, respect diversity, and give our people the freedom to lead. We offer competitive pay, travel opportunities, and a culture built on resilience and teamwork. If you show up with compassion, share the commitment, react with urgency, and deliver solutions, you'll fit right in.
We don't just respond to challenges; we rise to them.
What We Are Looking For
The Climber A plays a critical role in Ceres Caribe’s vegetation management and utility line clearing operations. This role supports disaster recovery, resiliency, and public safety by performing skilled tree trimming and removal work in the field.
Where the role fits in the organization:
· This role is part of the field operations team and works under the Crew Lead/Supervisor.
If it will be managing people:
· This role does not formally supervise employees but will direct crew members when the Crew Lead is away from the job site.
What success looks like in the first 12 months:
· Demonstrating mastery of climbing, trimming, and removal techniques.
· Consistently following safety protocols and preventing incidents.
· Supporting strong customer relations and representing Ceres Caribe professionally.
· Maintaining equipment in proper working condition and ensuring job sites remain orderly.
· Contributing to efficient project completion across Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra.
What You Will Do
Lead, manage, and execute core responsibilities related to tree trimming and removal.
Partner with teams/stakeholders to deliver safe and efficient vegetation management outcomes.
Ensure compliance with safety standards, equipment procedures, and operational regulations.
Role‑specific duties:
· Assist crew lead with obtaining written permission from property owners and help promote and maintain good customer, public, and employee relations.
· Direct crew members when the crew lead is away from the job site and take on leadership responsibilities when appropriate.
· Keep informed of new equipment, specifications, standards, practices, and operating procedures.
· Use appropriate tools to fell trees or trimmed trunks and split them into manageable pieces.
· Spray stumps and brush with hand‑spraying equipment to prevent further growth.
· Load and unload trucks with logs, stumps, brush, and debris and/or feed brush into a wood chipper.
· Repair slight damage to lawns, fences, and walks caused by tree trimming.
· Relay hand‑signals, direct traffic, drive and operate trucks and equipment as assigned, and keep trucks and work areas clear and orderly.
· Train new employees on proper procedures.
· Safeguard employees and the public from hazards in and around the work area; cooperate with customer, police, and fire departments when blocking streets or driveways; set up barriers, warning signs, and flags to protect employees and the public; perform tree and bucket rescue when trained.
· Assume responsibility for the inspection and proper working condition of tools, trucks, and equipment; request repairs or replacements when necessary.
· Work around hazardous equipment and in close proximity to energized power lines.
· Work around excessive noise from machines, chainsaws, and wood chippers while wearing proper PPE.
· Work in all temperatures and weather conditions, including exposure to irritating plants, insects, dust, and rough terrain.
· Help enforce on‑the‑job safety practices for crew members.
· Service trucks, chippers, and equipment, maintaining them in neat, clean, and specified mechanical order; report maintenance needs to the crew lead.
· Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Required Qualifications
· 5+  years of experience in tree trimming, climbing, or vegetation management.
· Ability to climb trees using ladders, safety belts, climbing lines, and other approved climbing equipment.
· Valid driver’s license.
· Proven ability to safely operate chainsaws, pruners, chippers, and related equipment.
· Knowledge of safety standards related to tree trimming, equipment operation, and work near energized power lines.
· Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Preferred

Qualifications
· Experience in utility line clearance or disaster recovery operations.
· Training or certification in tree rescue, bucket rescue, or related safety procedures.
· Bilingual (Spanish/English).
· Experience directing small crews or training new employees.
What to Expect
Employees in this role can expect physically demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions across Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra. Work includes climbing trees, operating heavy equipment, and working near energized power lines while following strict safety protocols. The environment includes exposure to heat, humidity, insects, dust, and loud noise from machinery. Travel to various project sites is required, and schedules may vary depending on operational needs.
The role requires strong situational awareness, teamwork, and a commitment to safety. Climber A employees will interact with property owners, the public, and partner agencies, representing Ceres Caribe with professionalism and respect. The position offers opportunities to develop advanced climbing skills, take on leadership responsibilities, and contribute directly to Puerto Rico’s resiliency and recovery efforts.
Physical Requirements and Environment
Ceres provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. The physical requirements listed below reflect the essential functions of this role. If you need accommodation to perform these functions, please inform us during the application process.
· Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
· Specific vision abilities to include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus where required to safely perform the job.
· Willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, etc. in jobs that require PPE.
· Ability to work in adverse weather/field conditions, elevated spaces, confined spaces, extreme temperatures, exposure to mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock and vibration, and loud noise levels.
· Commitment to following safety standards and protocols.
Why Join Ceres Caribe?
At Ceres Caribe, you won't just have a job, you'll have a mission. Your work will directly impact the speed and strength of community recovery after disasters.
We offer:
· A collaborative, mission-driven culture.
· Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
· The chance to make a lasting difference for communities.
Ceres Caribe is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, religion, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
E-Verify: We comply with Federal law by verifying employment eligibility.

Qualifications
Requisitos mínimos del escalador A
- Tiene un mínimo de 2 años de experiencia trabajando en equipos de poda o limpieza de árboles y/o ha completado con éxito las revisiones de desempeño aplicables.
- Debe tener un conocimiento básico de los árboles, incluida la identificación, los hábitos de crecimiento y las técnicas arbóreas correctas para la poda, poda, reparación, mantenimiento y eliminación, como se aplica al trabajo cerca de conductores energizados.
- Conoce y comprende los Estándares Nacionales Estadounidenses para Operaciones de Cuidado de Árboles (ANSI Z133.1-versión actual).
- Conoce y comprende todos los métodos de trabajo aprobados que se aplican a un puesto específico.
- Tiene un conocimiento básico de circuitos eléctricos y debe ser hábil en la lectura y comprensión de mapas de circuitos.
- Aplica prácticas de seguridad en el trabajo.
- Debe poder usar el equipo de protección personal (EPP) necesario según sea necesario.
- Necesita poder entrar y salir de un vehículo varias veces al día.
- Debe ser capaz de soportar la exposición a todo tipo de clima mientras realiza tareas laborales como lluvia, calor, sol, frío, nieve.
- Debe ser capaz de escribir, leer y comprender instrucciones/información de trabajo escritas y verbales .
- Debe ser capaz de comunicarse con los demás y representar a Ceres de manera profesional.
- Posee la capacidad de levantar, mover y maniobrar hasta 50 libras con poca frecuencia y hasta 30 libras con frecuencia.
- Capacidad para trabajar muchas horas y horas extras durante emergencias (incluidos días festivos, fines de semana, trabajo por tormentas) y estará sujeto a trabajo de llamada.
- Capacidad para operar y dar servicio a todas las herramientas y equipos requeridos.
- Debe tener una licencia de conducir comercial válida (dependiendo de los requisitos de la División y de los servicios públicos/contrato) y ser capaz de pasar una prueba de drogas previa al empleo.
- Posee una tarjeta médica válida para conducir vehículos de la compañía de 10,0001 lb GVWR o GVW y más.
- Mantiene una certificación y licencia de aplicador u operador de herbicidas según lo exigen Ceres y las leyes locales, estatales y federales.
- Debe tener tarjetas válidas de primeros auxilios y RCP.
- Debe completar y aprobar una Revisión de Desempeño de Top Climber.
- Pueden asignarse otras tareas.
Cualificaciones preferidas:
- Trabajar bajo supervisión para podar árboles, astillar maleza y mover material vegetativo de manera segura.
- Licencia de Conducir Comercial: Clase A, B o Pesada 8
- Calificaciones de la podadora de árboles de limpieza de línea de OSHA
- Licencia de Aplicador Calificado (QAL)
- Certificado de Aplicador Calificado (QAC)
Conocimientos, Habilidades, Destrezas:
- Capacidad para recibir dirección u orientación
- Capacidad para trabajar en equipo
- Capacidad para comunicarse bien con otros
- Habilidades de resolución de problemas
- Reconocimiento de los riesgos para la seguridad
Minimum Requirements of Climber A
- Has a minimum of 2 years’ experience working on tree trimming or clearing crews and/or has successfully completed applicable performance reviews.
- Must have a basic knowledge of trees, including identification, growth habits and correct arboricultural techniques for the trimming, pruning, repairing, maintaining and removing, as applies to working in close proximity to energized conductors.
- Knows and understands the American National Standards for Tree Care Operations (ANSI Z133.1-current version).
- Knows and understands all approved work methods that apply to specific position.
- Has a basic knowledge of electrical circuit and must be skilled in reading and understanding circuit maps.
- Enforces on-the-job safety practices.
- Must be able to wear necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
- Needs to be able to enter and exit a vehicle numerous times per day.
- Must be able to withstand exposure to all kinds of weather while completing work tasks such as rain, heat, sun, cold, snow.
- Must be able to write, read, and comprehend written and verbal job instructions/information.
- Must be able to communicate with others and represent Ceres in a professional manner.
- Possesses the ability to lift, move, and maneuver up to 50 pounds on an infrequent basis and up to 30 pounds on a frequent basis.
- Ability to work long hours and overtime during emergencies (including holidays, weekends, storm work) and will be subject to call-out work.
- Ability to operate and service all required tools and equipment.
- Must have valid commercial driver’s license (dependent on Division and utility/contract requirements) and be able to pass a pre-employment drug test.
- Possesses a valid medical card to drive company vehicles 10,0001 lb. GVWR or GVW and greater.
- Maintains a herbicide applicator or operators certification and license as required by Ceres and local, state, and federal law.
- Must have valid First-Aid and CPR cards.
- Must complete and pass a Top Climber Performance Review.
Preferred

Qualifications:
- Work under supervision to safely trim trees, chip brush, and move vegetative material
- Commercial Driver License: Class A , B or Heavy 8
- OSHA Line Clearance Tree Trimmer qualifications
- Qualified Applicator License (QAL)
- Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC)
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to receive direction or guidance
- Ability to work within a team
- Ability to communicate well with other
- Problem-solving skills
- Recognition of safety hazards