Arborist HGV Driver

Job introduction

Do you value the city's tree stock and would you like to help protect it for our future generations?

Have you the necessary aptitude, training, experience  and skills to undertake arboricultural operations at height using contemporary industry techniques?

Do you hold a full Class II LGV/HGV driving license and a loader crane license?

Do you have a suitable understanding of Health & Safety legislation and Industry Good Practice guidance relating to the arboriculture industry?

Would you enjoy working outdoors with a small but dedicated team of Arborists?

If so, then this could be the job for you. Brighton & Hove City Council is seeking to recruit a number professionally qualified and experienced individuals for its in-house Arboriculture Team.

Candidates ideally must have previous experience in a similar role, be conscious of the strict health and safety environment in which they will be working and be self-motivated and conscientious.

About the role

The city of Brighton & Hove is home to the National Elm Collection. In addition, the city has a vast and diverse treescape comprising of parkland trees, woodland trees and over 16,000 street trees.  The council’s Arboriculture Service is responsible for maintaining all these assets to a highly professional and safe standard.

The Arboricultural Service is seeking to employ an experienced, full-time HGV Driver/Arborist. The successful applicant will report directly to the Arboriculture Team Leader. The ideal candidates should be self-motivated, hard-working and able to work as part a team delivering high quality arboricultural works within agreed time frames.

The role will require a wide range of arboricultural experience. Prospective post holders will require a strong focus on workplace Health and Safety - including that of co-workers, the general public and property/infrastructure.

Contracted working hours are 37 per week, Monday to Friday, and candidates must also be available to participate in the out-of-hours emergency call-out rota.

You can earn £29,702 to £31,289 for 37 hours per week. The salary range is £29,702 inclusive (£27,852 plus £1,850 market supplement) to £31,289 (£29,439 plus £1,850 market supplement).

Duties of the role will include:

·         To undertake arboricultural operations in a safe, professional and productive manner

·         To drive and operate a Class II HGV timber moving lorry, complete with loader crane, in lifting and transporting tree works arisings around the city when required

·         To work as part a team of qualified Arborists

·         To work to a tree pruning rota and other priority works instructions and to make day-to-day decisions as to how work is completed within set time frames.

-         To communicate effectively and appropriately with the public

We are seeking to employ an experienced and appropriately qualified professional who can demonstrate the following qualities:

·         Full Class II HGV/LGV licence and loader crane license

·         Certificates in a wide range of arboricultural operation essential to fulfill the role, as a minimum CS 30/201, 31/202, 38/203, 39/204.

·         Proven record of experience in all aspects of modern Arboricultural works and undertaking quality works to British Standards 3998, 2010

·         A sound understanding of Health & Safety legislation relating to tree works, welfare and equipment

·         Practical experience in lifting and transporting large sections of timber using a loader crane (e.g. Hiab) and HGV

·         Practical experience of assessing dangerous trees and situations

·         Effective communication skills when dealing with co-workers and all sectors of the community.

Job location details

Depot for BHCC Arboriculture team is at Stanmer Nurseries, Stanmer Park. All operations are based here.

Shortlisting and interviews happen on a frequent basis, please submit applications as soon as possible. This advert will be withdrawn if the vacancy is filled with a successful applicant during the process.

For an informal discussion, please contact Peter Small - Arboriculture Manager at peter.small@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your CV and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (CV guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk)) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

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.