Principal Forestry and Arboriculture Officer

Closing Date 1^st February 2021      

Interview Date 10^th February 2021

This role offers an exciting opportunity within the newly created Principal Officer Post to lead and manage the implementation of a Tree Risk Strategy for Cheshire East including responsibility for technical standards, quality assurance and reporting progress to the Senior Management Team. You will also provide professional advice on the management of the Authority’s own tree stock and contribute to the development of a Tree and Woodland Strategy. The post is located within the multi-disciplinary Environmental Planning Team and will work across all Services that have responsibility for managing trees. These Services include Urban Parks and Open Spaces, Country Parks, Tatton Park, Highways, Estates and Farms.

We are seeking to recruit an experienced senior Arboriculture Professional or senior Forester with arboriculture experience. You will require experience of working within a local authority setting and have substantial knowledge and experience of assessing the safety of trees within the context of a balanced tree risk management approach which fulfils health and safety and legal requirements. You should have:

• A relevant arboriculture or forestry related degree or diploma level qualification, supported by further professional development;
• At least 5 years’ experience of arboriculture/forestry work and sound technical knowledge of tree risk assessment;
• An understanding of the local government context and working with Councillors and members of the public;
• Effective communication skills and be able to work in a team environment.

The job is based in Macclesfield, but you will be able to work from offices in Crewe, Sandbach and work from home as appropriate.

Brighter Future

At Cheshire East Council we are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities. 

If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together.

To discuss this post please contact either Ian Dale Environmental Planning Manager on 07702472264 or Chris Hudson, Principal Forestry and Arboriculture Officer on 07764815878

Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.

Applicants using Internet Explorer have experienced issues uploading attachments (supporting information and CVs) in the past, so if you are using IE we would suggest that you use a different browser when you submit your application -  for example Google Chrome.

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion however, please do not be discouraged from applying again.

For any technical enquiries please email sourcingteam@ecwip.co.uk 

Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.

To apply please visit: https://jobs.cheshireeast.gov.uk/vacancy/principal-forestry-and-arboriculture-officer-ce-trees-433502.html