Key Tasks
Job Purpose:
The Assistant Tree Officer post forms part of the Forestry and Countryside service within the Leisure and Economic Development Team, which deals with recreation and sports development, leisure centres, arts development, concessionary fares, countryside, forestry, Lottery and funding advice. The structure of the Leisure and E.D. Team is attached to these details. The objective of this post is to assist the Forestry Service in the provision of advice to the Council and the wider community on all matters relating to trees throughout the District.
Key Duties:
- Provide both general professional advice on the care and management of trees, and specialist tree-related advice where necessary, to the Council’s Service Teams (particularly Planning and Building Control), Town and Parish Councils, contractors, consultants, architects and agents, external groups and organisations, and the public.
- Assist members of the Forestry and Countryside team in the administration of the Council’s range of statutory arboricultural duties, essentially trees in Conservation Areas and Tree Preservation Orders.
- In conjunction with the Council’s Countryside Officer, provide professional advice on relevant countryside management issues to the Council’s Service Teams, contractors, external groups and organisations, and the public.
- Give on-site advice and undertake enforcement for the protection of trees during construction works.
- Deal with consultations from the Forestry Commission relating to Woodland Grant Schemes and Felling Licences, and keep appropriate records.
- Assist in the establishment and administration of the Council’s tree warden scheme.
- Raise public awareness of trees and relevant countryside issues by making presentations to Town and Parish Councils, schools, local groups and other organisations as required, and by writing articles and press releases for local newspapers and magazines.
- To re-survey the Council’s tree stock and to collate the data to maintain and continue the development of a pro-active management policy for our tree stock.
- To prioritise the work schedule as necessary, to produce and update the 3 year rolling works programme.
- To compile contract specifications, undertake the procurement of contractors, and monitor contracts.
- To implement the schedule of works as detailed in the works programme.
- To monitor the tree management works budget.
- To re-survey the Councils Tree Preservation Orders (TPO).
- To revoke and re-serve TPO’s where appropriateand as specified by the Forestry and Countryside Manager.
- To compile data necessary to serve new TPO’s as specified by the Forestry and Countryside Manager.
- To assist the members of the Forestry and Countryside team in administration of their duties.
- To undertake such other tasks as may be required from time to time.
Person Specification
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA / HOW IDENTIFIED / DESIRABLE CRITERIA / HOW IDENTIFIED(a) Qualifications and Experience
- Minimum of one years experience in tree management and specification of maintenance works
- National Diploma in arboriculture or equivalent qualification
- Technicians Certificate in arboriculture
(b) Skills and Knowledge
- Basic tree survey skills such as tree identification
- Knowledge of tree pathogens and defects
- Experience in the prescription of tree management specifications
- Experience in procurement and supervision of tree works contracts
- Computer literate, with a proficiency in Microsoft Word
- Experience of GIS, Excel, and specialist tree management software such as Arbortrack
- Demonstrable written & verbal communication skills
- Ability to work as a team member as well as taking responsibility for own work area
(c) Special Working Conditions
- Full current driving licence and own vehicle