Arboricultural Officer

Carrington West are assisting their local authority client based in London in their search for a Tree Officer within the Town Planning department. This will be offered on an initial 3-month contract, then rolling.
 
Overall Purpose of Job:
To manage issues concerning trees in Conservation Areas and Tree Preservation orders.
To manage issues concerning tree protection and retention on development sites and ensuring that agreed decisions are implemented; ensuring co-ordination of responses with the Planning Service.
To lead the day to day management and quality assurance of the arboriculture services contract, including administration, performance monitoring, liaison with users and contractors to ensure that services are delivered for residents.
To provide technical advice to the Council on matters relating to tree-related insurance claims, conservation areas and tree preservation orders, tree protection and retention on development sites and legal requirements in relation to dangerous trees.
 
Key Tasks and Accountabilities:
1. To manage contracts on behalf of the council, ensuring that services meet statutory requirements and best practice standards as specified within the contract.
2. To be responsible for sample monitoring the arboriculture services contract standards to ensure all works are carried out in accordance with best practice, relevant specifications and council policies and procedures.
3. To liaise with contractors on issues relating to service delivery and performance; gathering and interpreting performance information, producing and presenting reports on performance and applying improvement and defaults notices as required. Providing advice on day to day contract issues to service management.
4. To lead and attend meetings relevant to the service, including meetings with colleagues, senior management of contractors and as a service representative at public meetings.
5. To manage contract-related income and expenditure and supplier payments ensuring conformity with financial regulations and council standards and processes and providing information necessary for reports to management.
6. To maintain computerised management systems including specialist tree management software and the recording of management information in electronic format.
7. To monitor health and safety in the service ensuring that all health and safety legislation, rules and regulations are complied with.
8. To manage all tree related insurance claims, preparing technical reports on such for other relevant departments and implementing pruning programmes for trees involved in insurance claims. Advising the council on tree retention in relation to insurance claims.
9. To manage issues concerning trees in Conservation Areas and Tree Preservation orders.
10. To manage issues concerning tree protection and retention on development sites and ensuring that agreed decisions are implemented; ensuring co-ordination of responses with the Planning Service.
11. To implement Local Govt Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1974 requirements in relation to dangerous trees; ensuring co-ordination of responses with the Legal Service and provision of evidence in court where required.
12. To plan, procure and manage the delivery of annual tree planting programmes.
13. To develop and provide reports on key performance indicators for the service.
14. To support the development and delivery of the boroughs Tree and Woodland strategy and other strategic environmental initiatives.
15. To develop and oversee the implementation of long-term management plans for woodlands, copses and shelter belts.
16. To undertake appropriate risk assessments with regard to trees and ensuring appropriate action is taken.
17. To ensure the development and implementation of good quality services with regard to tree management in Schools, Housing areas and other Council owned land.
18. To manage tree-related complaints and enquiries and ensuring they are recorded, monitored and dealt with in a professional and efficient manner, drafting correspondence and other written material as required.
19. To be willing to work evenings, weekends, which may include Sundays and, on occasion, Public Holidays, and in emergency situations according to the needs of the service.
20. Any other duties, within your competence that may reasonably be required from time to time.
 
Although not mandatory, it would be beneficial to hold a membership or have eligibility for membership to a recognised related professional body (e.g. Landscape Institute / Arboricultural Association); possess the following Arboricultural qualifications & experience: Arboriculture and Forestry Advanced Diploma Level 3 or equivalent Certificated Lantra Professional Tree Inspection; and Experience in Tree Risk Assessment using a recognised methodology such as QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment).  Weekly presence on site is required (Fortnightly visits are a possibility).
 
We are looking to schedule interviews as soon as possible; if you would like further information or would like to apply, please do not hesitate to get in contact.
 
Carrington West Pay Rate - £Negotiable
Job Ref - 55932
 
Please call Cameron de Wit on (phone number removed) for a confidential discussion on this role, or email myself or our planning team if you are short of time to chat:
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Carrington West's dedicated Town Planning Recruitment Team supply clients UK wide on both a permanent and contract basis and all levels of seniority. If this role is too senior, too junior or in a location that is unsuitable, but you are keen on options, please still feel free to apply and we can discuss other, often unadvertised roles with you.