Tree Planting Surveyor
Job introduction
Have you an enthusiastic interest in alleviating environmental issues through tree planting?
Do you have a comprehensive understanding of the technical issues and constraints of planting trees in an urban landscape?
Are you successful in building strong working relationships with community and stakeholder groups?
Do you have experience of surveying small sites and in the collaborative planning of tree planting schemes from inception through to completion?
Have you effective communication and negotiation skills?
If so, then this could be the job for you. Brighton & Hove City Council is seeking to appoint a professionally qualified, experienced and committed individual to facilitate and support an extensive tree planting programme.
The post holder will actively support the role of the Tree Planting Officer initiating, planning, co-ordinating and implementing tree planting schemes citywide, in accordance with Health & Safety and tree works legislation and with council policy. The post holder will responsible for assessing the suitability and potential of project sites and assist in promoting the active interest and participation of the public in the tree planting programme.
Contract: permanent, part-time
Interview date: week commencing Monday, 28 September 2020
For an informal discussion, please contact Peter Small – Arboricultural Manager at peter.small@brighton-hove.gov.uk or on 01273 290483
About the role
A key policy objective set by Brighton & Hove City Council is for the city to become carbon neutral by the year 2030. A 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme has been established to help develop and deliver a co-ordinated programme of projects which aim to tackle climate change and achieve the Council’s carbon neutral objective. One such project is to enhance the city’s green infrastructure and offset residual carbon emissions through an extensive tree planting programme.
Brighton & Hove City Council understands that trees are assets that provide a wide range of ecosystem services and as such requires forward thinking candidates who are committed to delivery of best practice and long term aims that will benefit current and future generations.
BHCC is seeking to employ an experienced, part-time, Tree Planting Surveyor to support on an ambitious planting programme and to galvanize the strong public support for the initiative. The role is critical in increasing tree cover within the city and ensuring the Council’s carbon neutral objective is met. Working in collaboration with community groups, stakeholders and sponsors, the post holder will be playing a key role in identifying planting opportunities and supporting the planting programme.
Duties of the role will include:
- Supporting the Tree Planting Officer in delivering and expanding a comprehensive provision of tree planting schemes citywide
- Surveying and assessing potential tree planting sites, recording findings on an online database and submitting clear and precise site reports, both verbally and in writing.
- Meeting and liaising with representatives of the council, third party organisations and the public and communicating BHCC tree planting plans, initiatives and goals.
- Successfully manage and complete own workload that will include some office-based tasks and administrative duties in addition to outdoor site visits and surveys
- Liaising with contractors and BHCC staff to ensure quality control and maintenance provisions meet required standards.
- Support colleagues, when necessary, in providing other elements of the Arboricultural Service including tree inspections and responding effectively to general enquires.
As a minimum, candidates are required to hold a Level 2 certificate in Arboriculture (formerly Cert. Arb.[RPS]) or a professional equivalent qualification, a full UK driving licence, and have an expert knowledge of BSI British Standards BS:8545 2014 Trees: From Nursery to Independence in the Landscape.
Contracted working hours are 18.5 per week, Monday to Friday.
We are seeking a thoroughly experienced, appropriately qualified and enthusiastic professional who can demonstrate the following qualities:
- A Level 2 certificate in Arboriculture (previously Cert. Arb. [RFS]) or a professional equivalent qualification and a LANTRA Professional Tree Inspection (PTI) certificate
- A demonstrable track record of working in an arboricultural sphere that has involved significant tree planting and surveying elements
- An expert understanding of Health & Safety legislation relating to trees
- An up-to-date and detailed knowledge of current arboricultural industry policy and practice, particularly tree planting techniques, products and practices
- A sound knowledge of BSI British Standards BS:8545 2014 Trees: From Nursery to Independence in the Landscape
- Experience of tree surveys and tree safety inspections as per Visual Tree Assessment methodology and experience in diagnosing tree dysfunction and diseases
- The ability to capture, collate and accurately report tree data, requiring experience in the use of tree management electronic systems, specifically ARBORtrack
- Effective communication and negotiation skills when dealing with all sectors of the community and external organisations, e.g. charities.
We highly recommend you read the ‘Statement Guidance’ below before you apply for this job. It is important you are able to show how you meet the essential criteria within the Person Specification when applying. Not following this guidance is likely to reduce your chances of success.
Additional information
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.
Work Permits: we may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System.
From 6 April 2011 the Home Office has placed a permanent restriction on the number of migrant workers that all Tier 2 (General) Sponsors can recruit. Due to the restrictions we cannot guarantee that individuals that meet the requirements of the Points-based Immigration System will be issued with clearance to obtain work permits.
Company information
We welcome applications from all sections of the community but particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, LGB, female or trans as these groups are currently under-represented in our Directorate workforce.
As part of Brighton & Hove City Council's ongoing commitment to redeployment, please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any stage of the recruitment process, without prior notice if a suitable redeployee (internal employee at risk of redundancy) is identified.