Arboricultural Consultant

Arboricultural Consultant

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £41,311 per annum

Location: Countywide

Working Style: 

Closing Date: 9th June 2024

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council (ECC) providing planning and environmental services to support the Council, local authorities and other public bodies to deliver its role in sustainable development.

We are seeking an Arboricultural Consultant with a Level 6 qualification or equivalent, or someone willing and able to achieve this. You will have detailed knowledge of tree species and arboricultural principles and experience of applying these in the context of legislation, policy and best practice. You will have good written and verbal communication skills to enable you to deal effectively with clients.

You will deliver a range of high quality, professional, client-focused arboricultural services, including tree inventories, tree safety surveys, pest and disease surveys, veteran tree surveys, BS5837, tree planting and management, and development management, and will complete specialist tasks on multi-disciplinary projects. The role provides an unusual mixture of local authority tree officer duties and consultancy work, and so provides an ideal opportunity to broaden career experience and gain new skills.

We are striving to develop our already effective arboricultural team, with an emphasis on personal development and teamwork to deliver sustainable excellence. We want our people to grow with us and so we take the wellbeing of the members of our team very seriously. For the right individuals, we offer a competitive salary, a generous benefit and training package, and a truly varied workload. Based in our offices in Chelmsford, you will work as part of a committed team of professionals, delivering an exciting array of projects across the south-east.

Service/Functional Accountabilities

Responsible for effective delivery of a range of arboricultural services including: a demanding caseload of enquiries in relation to trees/vegetation affecting the Public Highway, specifying tree management work and managing contractors, evaluating, designing and undertaking arboriculture assessments and surveys (. BS5837, detailed decay detection, tree inventories, tree risk, pests and diseases) of limited scope and complexity; advising on medium and large scale simple, or small scale complex tree management and planting projects; and completing specialists tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.

Collecting, analysing, and presenting data, evidence (including for insurance claims and TPO enforcement) and advice to recognised standards, reviewing outcomes, and assessing third party compliance.

Contributing to the development and review of plans, policies and guidance.

Contributing to development and delivery of promotional and learning material, training activities and events, and engaging with networks, to enhance the recognition and reputation of Place Services.

Contributing to bids for low-value opportunities and managing low-value projects and contracts against budgets, specifications and indicators.

Maintaining a professional, client-focused culture and positive client relationships, helping secure feedback for continuous improvement.

Contributing to improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.

Developing own commercial awareness of our business and key markets.

Maintaining a collaborative, high-performance culture and improving personal competency, continually seeking ways to enhance personal performance and practice, securing feedback, and building knowledge and skills.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Educated to level 6 in a relevant subject, or equivalent by experience.

Qualified Professional Tree Inspector with good evidence of continuing professional development and membership of, or working towards membership of, relevant professional body .

Proficient technical practitioner with knowledge and experience of arboricultural assessments . inventories; visual tree inspection and valuation methodologies, BS5837, subsidence, pest, disease and tree risk identification and survey; tree management and planting; development management; legislation, standards, and guidance; and related office and site-based practices and procedures.

Can work independently across a range of activities, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, managing simple projects from concept to completion.

Good awareness of wellbeing and H&S, able to produce and implement standard risk assessments, and to identify and implement safe working practices.

Can communicate and negotiate confidently and clearly, including independent preparation of written technical advice.

Understands good client service and can effectively engage contractors, volunteers, clients and their customers, maintaining client relationships.

Can use a range of common and specialist software (. GIS, Confirm, Ezytreev) to record and present data, independently carry out straightforward analyse and interpretation, and to interpret and analyse more complex data under supervision.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.