Tree Officer

Grade 6  £38,058- £41,442pa 

About us

Havering Council is a Local Authority located in outer-East London, and home to nearly 260,000 residents.  The Council is responsible for an estimated 20,000 street trees, along with 250,000 in parks and open spaces and 4,000 in housing sites.  Havering is committed to creating a cleaner, safer borough, and continues to identify new ways of funding the planting of more trees on its streets and in its green spaces.

Officers in Havering have, in recent years, secured funding from the LATF for planting schemes, delivered a Covid memorial woodland, planted in excess of 10,000 whips in local parks, and commissioned a veteran oak survey with the aim to devise bespoke management plans.  In future we hope to utilise technology to engage with residents and visitors, educating them on our valuable tree population and other important aspects of local biodiversity.  We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate who would embrace a variety of different work streams and technology to help us enhance and promote our valuable tree stock.

About the job

Havering's Tree Team is seeking an exceptional candidate to join us as a Tree Officer.  You will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing Havering's considerable Highways tree stock, as well as working with other council departments such as Parks and Housing, carrying out planned and reactive inspections and devising suitable planting schemes.  As Havering contracts out its tree maintenance works, you will be responsible for ensuring the contractor carries out their work safely, and to British Standards.  With the public heavily invested in ensuring Havering is a great place to live, you will also be responsible for investigating any reports or complaints received relating to trees, which may include investigations into insurance claims.

With an increasingly joined-up approach to working, now is an exciting time to join a dynamic public realm service area that covers a wide range of functions that also includes parks services, grounds maintenance, waste collection and street cleansing.  At the same time, you will enjoy the benefit of working within a small, talented and committed team of specialists.

We are lucky to enjoy such a green borough, and the work that you do will help to ensure that our green infrastructure is secured for generations to come, at the same time supporting Havering's Climate Change Action Plan.

About you:

We are seeking a self-motivated candidate with experience in an arboricultural field.  You will have relevant professional certifications and the willingness to undertake further studying as part of your career, and have an up-to-date chainsaw certificate and driving license.  As a member of the wider Public Realm team, you will have an awareness of wider environmental issues.  Your excellent communication skills will serve you when liaising with contractors, customers, councillors and senior officers.  You will possess a keen attention to detail and be motivated to drive up performance.  

You will be IT literate and confident using a range of software and applications including MS Office, customer relationship management systems, and mapping software.

Whilst management experience is not essential, you will be confident in giving clear instructions and guidance to both colleagues and contractors.

All staff are expected to adhere to Havering Council’s I CARE values and behaviours: Integrity, Creativity, Ambition, Respect, Everyone.

Please view Job Profile here

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Jacki.Ager@havering.gov.uk 

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 31st January 2025 however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

You will be notified if your application has been successful.  Interview date to be confirmed .

Should you require any help or advice with your online application, please contact the Recruitment Helpdesk on 01708 432770
 

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

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