Tree & Woodland Officer

The Environment Team at Canterbury City Council is looking for a Tree and Woodland Officer to join them.

Canterbury City Council has completed its Tree, Hedgerow and Woodland Strategy and is now looking for a dedicated officer to help deliver the strategy’s diverse set of actions.

Canterbury is lucky to benefit from the extensive and wildlife rich Blean forest as well as the numerous woodlands forming part of the Kent Downs National Landscape, but there is always room for more trees to be planted and for more areas to be better managed.

We need someone to join our team to help us find and realise opportunities for more trees, woodlands and hedges across the district. As part of the Canterbury district’s growth there are new residential developments coming forward that will need your help to ensure meet our target of a 20% tree canopy. You will also be able to help monitor the health of new trees planted across the districts, to undertake management of our woodlands, and to maximise carbon sequestration across our estate.

We are looking for someone who can help deliver across all these key areas.

**What's in it for you?**:

- Salary is up to **£37,952.00**:

- Cost of living pay award negotiated annually as a salary increase
- Flexible, hybrid working - we understand the importance of a good work-life balance.
- We offer a generous annual leave entitlement You’ll receive a minimum of 23 days annual leave, which increases with service, **plus** bank holidays, **plus** 3 given days which are usually used over the Christmas period when our main offices are closed. You’ll also have the option to buy more annual leave.
- A fantastic Local Government Pension Scheme.
- We’ll support and encourage your career by providing excellent opportunities for training and development, as well as **cover your Professional Body Membership fees**where essential to the role.
- Employee perks, including multiple retailer and lifestyle discounts to help you get the most out of your money and enjoy your free time.
- An easier commute: free use of Canterbury’s Park and Ride, flexi bus tickets, reduced train season ticket loans, and a cycle to work scheme.
- Stay healthy: Access to free counselling, advice and webinars through our employee assistance programme, as well as contributions to the cost of Flu Jabs.

**About this Tree and Woodland Officer job**:
Whether it be by planting new hedges and trees, or ensuring good ecological management of woodlands, the role of this new post is to deliver the Tree, Hedge and Woodland Strategy (2024) to ensure more, bigger and better trees, hedges and woodlands across the district of Canterbury in Kent.

**Here’s what you’ll get up to**:

- You will work with officers and stakeholders to deliver the Canterbury District Tree, Hedgerow and Woodland Strategy.
- You will act as a source of advice and reference on all matters relating to trees and hedgerows to officers and members of this Council having regard to the Council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy and tree related policies.
- You will liaise with developers in respect to all tree planting schemes and will monitor new planting sites to help developers ensure that planning conditions relating to the survival of new trees and hedgerows are met.
- You will help develop and then delivery a tree and woodland carbon sequestration strategy for the district.
- You will help manage key sites such as Larkey Valley Woods and Curtis Wood, to ensure public health and safety alongside growing populations of dormouse, orchids and breeding birds.

**WORKING PATTERN**
- Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
- Include the contractual hours at full time equivalent (5 days a week)
- Way of Working: Is flexible with the majority being working from home or on site.
- Contract type: Permanent

**ROLE REQUIREMENTS**

Your knowledge
- Knowledge of selection of appropriate trees and species for sites, recognising constraints relating to soil type, drainage and proximity to services/buildings and other infrastructure.
- Knowledge of bid writing to secure funds for tree and hedge planting.

Your experience
- Ability to develop, deliver and monitor physical projects such as tree and hedge planting.
- Ability to read plans and to understand implications of development proposals on trees and landscaping.

Your qualifications
- A degree or equivalent experience in Arboriculture and/ or Environmental Land Management.

**Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at Canterbury City Council.**

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in everything we do. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is valued, included and respected.

Our diversity strengthens our ability to serve the diverse communities we support through our work.