Tree Assett Team Leader - Northallerton

Are you passionate about trees and woodlands? Do you aspire to be part of a dynamic, newly established team committed to excellence in tree and woodland management? North Yorkshire Council, the largest and newest local authority in England, is seeking dedicated and professional individuals to join our friendly Tree & Woodland Team.

We are looking for a Tree Asset Team Leader, who will manage and lead a professional Tree Assessment Team within the Tree & Woodland section of the Parks and Grounds Service, to ensure the delivery of tree survey & assessment, ensuring the Councils statutory duties are met. This will require a blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and effective communication.

Our Service

NYC Parks and Grounds Service is responsible for maintaining and enhancing all designated parks, public open spaces, including those within Council-owned housing in North Yorkshire. Our duties also encompass managing all arboricultural services, which includes protected trees, tree asset management, tree operations, woodland creation, and urban tree planting. Additionally, they handle horticulture, community infrastructure such as play areas and allotments, deliver commercial services directly to customers and businesses, and engage in extensive partnership working with a diverse range of stakeholders.

The Role:

1. Ensuring Duty of Care: Making sure the council meets its obligations in a reasonable and proportionate manner within the available resources.
2. Team Management: Leading a team of Tree Assessors to survey and manage the council’s tree stock according to the Tree and Woodland Policy, which follows the VALID tree risk principles.
3. Surveying and Assessment: Overseeing the assessment of trees in various locations such as highways, parks, public open spaces, housing, corporate properties, schools, and crematoria. This includes using handheld devices to capture data into the Arbortrack asset management system.
4. Collaboration: Working closely with the Tree Operations Team Leader and liaising with external contractors and in-house tree surgery teams to create planned maintenance schedules within budget and timescales. Collaboration with members of the parks & grounds team to realise commercial opportunities.
5. Reporting and Technical Support: Reporting to the Tree & Woodland Manager and other internal and external stakeholders in providing technical GIS support using Arbortrack and other mapping software for operational, tree planting, and reporting purposes.
6. Customer Enquiries: Managing a high volume of customer enquiries alongside the Parks & Grounds Customer Communications Officer.

What you will bring

You will have a Level 3 qualification in Arboriculture along with knowledge and understanding of tree morphology / physiology, species types, growth habits and associated pests and diseases.

You will also have:

• Detailed understanding and working knowledge of BS3998:2010 and the European Tree pruning Standards 2021.
• Experience in Arboricultural Risk Management at managerial level.
• An understanding and demonstrable knowledge of legal aspects, particularly common law in relation to boundary and property issues involving trees.
• Experience in managing tree maintenance contracts within associated budget restraints.
• Ability to identify, understand and research consequences to tree health and public safety arising and recommend / instigate appropriate management prescriptions.

Working for us

When you join us, you are entitled to our outstanding benefits and wellbeing plan as part of your position. Our holiday entitlement starts at 28 days rising to 34 days (pro-rata) per year with continued service, plus public holidays. Pension: save for your retirement with our generous local government pension scheme. Fitness & Rewards: Fitness discounts with various Gyms across the county. Stay on top of your game and save £££. Lifestyle Savings: explore a huge range of discounts to help you save money across hundreds of the UK’s favourite high-street and online retailers. Plus, lots more…

Contact and Apply

If you are interested in learning more about our opportunity, please contact Helen Arnold, Tree & Woodlands Manager on 07816977852 or Helen.Arnold@northyorks.gov.uk for an informal conversation.

Applying is easy: simply click on apply, register your details, remove your personal details from your CV and upload. Please let us know your motivation for applying for this position, how you meet the criteria and what you feel you could bring to the role in the supporting evidence section of the application form.

Key Dates

Closing date: midnight, 14^th November 2024

Interview date: 21^st and 22^nd November 2024

Key Documents:

Job Description.

Total Rewards Brochure

An enhanced DBS is required for this role which we will provide.

It is a criminal offence for people who are barred from working in Regulated Activity (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults at risk.

We are committed to the inclusion, safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of adults at risk.

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party.

North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

North Yorkshire Council are committed to the health and safety of our employees and of others including the general public. It has a responsibility to ensure employees who hold a position that is deemed to be safety critical as it requires the performance of duties which are directly related to the safe operation or security of a facility, piece of equipment or vehicle, handling of chemicals or work at height or in confined spaces and which, if not performed properly, could result in a serious safety risk or environmental hazard to employees, a facility or the general public, do not attend work whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Individuals offered employment with North Yorkshire Council will be subject to the Workplace Substance Misuse policy. For safety critical roles as detailed above, random alcohol and drug testing may take place during the course of employment.

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.