Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Sales Arborist

🎯 Role Definition

As a Sales Arborist you will serve as the main client‑facing representative responsible for growing your assigned territory, recommending tree and plant health care solutions, generating proposals and closing sales. You will rely on your arboricultural knowledge (tree biology, pests, pruning, risk assessments) combined with relationship‑building and consultative selling. Your role spans field work, client meetings, estimating, follow‑up and collaboration with production crews to ensure service delivery meets expectations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Arborist / Climber or Tree Crew Member
Lawn & Landscape Sales Representative
Plant Health Care Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Sales Arborist / Territory Manager
Branch Manager – Tree Care Services
Regional Sales Director – Arboriculture Division

Lateral Moves:

Commercial Account Manager – Tree & Landscape Care
Technical Agronomy or Plant Health Consultant
Estimating & Bid Specialist – Tree Care Services

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and grow an assigned sales territory by prospecting new clients, following up on leads and building long‑term relationships with property owners, commercial accounts and landscaping firms.
Conduct property inspections and field assessments of trees, shrubs and landscapes to identify health, safety, risk and aesthetic issues requiring service or maintenance.
Provide technical recommendations and solutions – including tree removal, pruning, fertilization, pest and disease control, structural support systems and ongoing maintenance – tailored to client needs.
Prepare and present written proposals or estimates, including scope of work, pricing, materials and labor content, and communicate clearly with clients on services and value propositions.
Negotiate agreements, present contracts and drive the sales process from initial meeting through to signed service contract, deposit and scheduling.
Collaborate with operations and production crews: schedule service work, communicate job details, confirm scope, monitor execution and ensure quality and client satisfaction.
Attend industry, community and trade events or networking opportunities to promote the company’s tree care services, build brand visibility and generate referrals.
Monitor and follow up post‑service to ensure customer satisfaction, resolve any service issues, collect payment and seek referrals or further business.
Maintain up‑to‑date expertise on tree care best practices, arboriculture standards (e.g., ANSI A300, Z133), pest, disease and soil science to serve clients with credibility.
Track personal sales activity using CRM tools or job‑tracking software: maintain pipeline, log client meetings, update statuses and prepare regular sales forecasting.
Build and manage a “book of business” by nurturing repeat business, upselling preventative maintenance programs and leveraging service history to deepen client relationships.
Achieve and exceed sales targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) including revenue, margin, new client acquisition and client retention.
Prepare and deliver clear job briefs to crews, review scope with production, ensure safety guidelines and service quality are understood and adhered to.
Ensure all job documentation is accurate and complete – work orders, scope details, client contracts, safety forms and job completion confirmation.
Maintain regular contact with clients: site visits, follow‑up calls, email communications – proactively manage relationships and anticipate client needs.
Estimate required equipment, materials, labor hours and logistics (truck, crews, machinery) to support accurate quoting and job planning.
Educate clients on tree health, best practices for landscape maintenance, and the value of preventive care programs – acting as trusted consultant rather than just salesperson.
Maintain professional appearance, brand stewardship, and act with integrity in all client interactions, promoting company values and reputation.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations, pesticide licensing, driver’s license and vehicle requirements, insurance policies and environmental considerations.
Continuously analyse and report on territory results, market conditions, competitor activity and service opportunities; make recommendations for strategic improvements.

Secondary Functions

Assist with internal training or mentoring of junior field or sales staff in arboriculture and sales techniques.
Support market research and data gathering: client feedback, service outcomes, emerging tree care trends and potential new services.
Provide input into marketing or service‑development initiatives by sharing field insights, client needs and competitive intelligence.
Participate in cross‑functional meetings with operations, marketing and management to align service delivery, sales strategy and customer experience.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Certified Arborist credential (International Society of Arboriculture ISA or equivalent) or ability to obtain within a defined timeframe.
Sound knowledge of tree biology, plant health care (PHC), pest and disease management, pruning standards, risk assessment and tree removal services.
Proficiency in estimating, quoting services, job costing, materials and labor calculations and estimating procedures.
Experience with job scheduling, field operations coordination and working with production crews.
Familiarity with CRM tools or sales tracking software, pipeline management and territory analytics.
Ability to interpret site conditions, survey landscapes and translate findings into compelling service proposals.
Strong technical communication: the ability to explain complex arboriculture recommendations clearly to non‑technical clients.
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record and willingness to travel within the assigned territory.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and mobile‑based quoting or job‑management tools.
Understanding of safety standards (OSHA, ANSI A300/Z133) and pesticide/licensing regulatory requirements.

Soft Skills

Exceptional interpersonal and relationship‑building skills: ability to establish trust with property owners, commercial clients and contractors.
Strong consultative sales mindset: focused on client needs, value‑based recommendations and long‑term customer success rather than one‑time sales.
Excellent verbal and written communication: comfortable presenting to clients, leading site meetings and writing professional proposals.
Self‑motivated, goal‑oriented and able to work independently in a field‑based environment with minimal supervision.
Adaptable and resilient: able to handle changing weather, shifting priorities, multiple job sites and demanding field conditions.
Highly organised with strong time‑management skills: able to manage appointments, territory planning and follow‑up tasks efficiently.
Analytical and detail‑oriented: attentive to scope accuracy, job costing, service documentation and customer satisfaction metrics.
Ethical and professional: maintains integrity in recommending tree care services, pricing, safety and client interactions.
Enthusiastic about professional development: stays current with industry trends, arboriculture innovations and sales best practices.
Collaborative team player: works effectively across functions (operations, marketing, production) to deliver seamless customer experience.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrable experience in tree care, sales or related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Arboriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Landscape Management or Environmental Science.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Arboriculture / Tree Science
Plant Health Care & Pest Management
Landscape Management & Forestry
Business Development / Sales

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2 to 5 years of sales experience in arboriculture, tree care, landscape services or field‑based service roles.

Preferred:

Proven track record of achieving sales quotas in a tree care or green industry environment, ISA certification, strong technical understanding of tree care practices and ability to estimate and close field‑based services.