Assistant Tree Officer

Trees cover 35.4% of Bracknell Forest, the second highest in the country. We aim to take that percentage higher.

Our trees cannot communicate the benefits they bring to residents for themselves. Can you speak for them?

Bracknell Forest is not just about having trees in our name. Trees form a key part of the places we make for residents, and they are recognised as improving physical and mental health, while delivering multiple benefits for our leisure and work lives.

Trees in Bracknell Forest are not just making our borough look great and feel great, they move us towards a more sustainable future. Trees are part of our heritage to be preserved and our assets to be enhanced.

Our tree officers are central to enhancing our biodiversity, ensuring trees are actively managed for the benefit of people and wildlife. It is a challenging role, speaking for trees, but if you are looking for a role where you can make a positive difference for trees, in response to residents, our planning colleagues, the highways officers and voluntary groups then this is a very rewarding opportunity.

If managing trees is your career, you should work for us.

Because we are Bracknell Forest.

What we're looking for...

Our ideal candidate will combine their passion for trees with the practical understanding and experience of managing trees within a local authority setting, including professional tree inspection, procurement and management of practical works and advocating for the benefits of trees in both the spoken and written word.

This post requires the successful applicant to complete a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Arboriculture (subject to entry criteria being met), unless they already hold that qualification.

Under the Bracknell Forest apprenticeship scheme, you will have the opportunity to study for your Level 4 Arboriculturist Apprenticeship which requires you to undertake a minimum of 6 hours off the job training/learning during your normal working week.

The Level 4 Arboriculturist Apprenticeship is delivered by Myerscough College through workplace delivery, online lectures and tutorial support. It is intended that the successful applicant will start the apprenticeship in September 2025, which is the next available entry point to the course.

The course is expected to take 21 months to complete and GCSE (or equivalent) passes (Level C/4 and above) in Maths and English are essential for enrolling onto the course.

Please set out clearly in your application how you meet this criteria.

You will be supported to carry out the following duties, responsibilities and training...

• To undertake surveys and inspections of trees to assess their condition, hazard potential and sustainability prior to recommending any appropriate tree management in line with good silvicultural practice, BS3998 ‘Tree work – Recommendations’, industry standards and Council polices.
• To create effective and professional working relationships with contractors, ensuring they comply with health & safety and other appropriate statutory and regulatory requirements.
• To assess and prepare Tree Preservation Orders for the Planning Authority.
• To produce clear and concise reports, management plans and schedules of maintenance work.

What it's like working in our team...

Our tree team are hard-working and passionate tree professionals. We manage demanding workloads, providing decision making and advice as part of a range of arboricultural services.

A typical tree officer day is a mixture of site based inspections, tree surveys and office or home-based communication, including report writing, spoken and written responses and updating of records. There will be regular meetings with contractors, including the inspection of tree pruning works and planning future maintenance.

Supporting the tree team are two Technical Clerks, assisting with the placement of works orders, enquiry logging, TPO serving and other administrative duties.

The tree team work within the wider Parks and Countryside service, alongside colleagues with specialisms in landscape design, biodiversity and rights of way. Tree Officers also support the work of the councils Rangers and Heritage Parks teams, who act as land managers for the boroughs natural estate including over 100 open spaces. Parks and Countryside also operate The Look Out Science and Discovery Centre, which forms a gateway to Swinley Forest, part of the Windsor Estate.

Our benefits include...

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days increasing to 28 days after 3 years’ service (pro rata for part time).
• Annual leave purchase policy.
• Opportunities for flexible and agile working, to support our employees’ work-life balance.
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks including sports and social clubs.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Local government pension scheme.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme).
• A great office location next to travel links and the regenerated town centre.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support employees’ health and wellbeing.
• Staff dental and health plans.
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
• Supermarket discount.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on Monday 9th December 2024.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Stephen Chown, Head of Natural Estates

Tel.: 01344 351226

 

To qualify for apprenticeship funding, you must have been a UK resident for 3 years or more (not wholly for the purposes of education).

Any candidate wishing to apply for the apprenticeship - we can only accept applications from candidates who have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years due to funding regulations.

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please