Tree & Woodland Team Leader Wanted - Port Lympne
About the job
Tree & Woodland Team Leader
Salary: Up to £32,500.00 DOE, Plus Desirable Benefits
Full-Time, Permanent Position
Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?
Do you want to work in a place where you can hear calls from troops of Howler Monkeys, or the roars from a pride of Lions?
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park have a new and exciting opportunity for a Tree & Woodland Team Leader to join the team.
The Tree & Woodland Team Leader will work across both Port Lympne & Howletts (as well as other woodland controlled by the company), and will be responsible for managing and overseeing the work of the two teams to provide an efficient service to the parks, as well as meeting the needs of internal stakeholders such as the animal department.
The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the maintenance, both routine & emergency, to the park’s trees and woodland areas. They will also be responsible for the identification of hazardous trees, the cause of the problem and providing action plans for how to deal with the issues found, as well as being hands-on assisting the teams with work and climbing where necessary.
Who we are looking for:
The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of a wide variety of tree surgery operations including complex projects. You will have proven experience of successfully planning work to be completed within set time frames and effectively meeting deadlines, with evidence of effectively leading, managing and developing a small team. You will have experience organising and working alongside contractors and writing Risk Assessments & Safe Working procedures, alongside demonstrable experience of managing and implementing safe systems of work, ensuring teams are applying a high standard of health and safety awareness.
You will have an excellent knowledge of woodland management, tree and plant species, husbandry, sustainability, recycling and protecting the environment. You will have experience of successfully managing a woodland to achieve a high yield, and the ability to work with a wide range of arboriculture and horticultural tools & equipment in a safe manner.
The successful candidate must hold NPTC CS 30/31/32/38/39/40/41 or equivalent, and a full valid UK driving licence including groups B, BE, B1 as a minimum. (manual gearbox and towing).
Contract Details:
This is a full-time, permanent position working 40 hours per week, five days out of seven, including weekends and bank holidays as necessary to meet the needs of the business. Working hours: 7.30 – 4.00 with a half-hour unpaid lunch break.
Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.
Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.
You can also expect a host of other benefits including:
- 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays (pro-rata to start date and working hours), rising with length of service.
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
- Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
- Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
- Exceptional discounts on food, retail, and accommodation at our parks.
- Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
Preferred Skills
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Demonstrable experience of a wider variety of tree surgery operations include complex projects.
- Proven experience of successfully planning work to be completed within set time frames and effectively meeting deadlines.
- Experience of effectively leading, managing and developing a small team.
- Experience of organising and working alongside contractors.
- Experience of writing Risk Assessment & Safe Working procedures.
- Experience of successfully managing a woodland to achieve a high yield.
- Managing and implementing safe systems of work, ensuring teams are applying the standard of health and safety awareness.
Desired Experience
- Experience of managing multiple teams across different sites.
- Experience of undertaking tree surgery operations within a commercial environment which has required liaison with multiple stakeholders.
- Previous experience of producing animal browse from woodland management.
Essential Qualifications, knowledge and skills
- Must hold NPTC CS 30/31/32/38/39/40/41 or equivalent,
- Holds a full valid UK driving licence including groups B, BE, B1 as a minimum. (manual gearbox and towing).
- An excellent knowledge of woodland management, tree and plant species, husbandry, sustainability, recycling and protecting the environment.
- Excellent knowledge of safe working practises and Health and Safety and Fire Safety regulations.
- Ability to work with a wide range of arboriculture and horticultural tools & equipment, in a safe manner.
- Confident and knowledgeable when communicating with guests, members of public and other staff.
- Excellent time management, and practical problem-solving skills.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and demonstrate a customer focused approach.
- Confident in the use of most common IT hardware and software systems, particularly MS Office 365 products.
- Effective communications, both written and verbal.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and able to build robust relationships with Managers, contractors and staff.
Desired Qualifications, knowledge and skills
- Practical experience in basic repairs and maintenance in a woodland setting.
- Knowledge of timber grading for sale to achieve best returns.
- Competent at driving and operating a range of different vehicles and plant safely, including agricultural tractors and trailers with hydraulic lifting equipment, telehandlers and tractors with front and rear hydraulically operated attachments, and other specialist equipment.
- First Aid at work certificate.
- MEWP operator’s certificate, experience using tractor & trailer and chippers.
- Recognised qualification in tree / woodland management.
- An understanding and empathy with wild animal conservation and environmental concerns.
Benefits Offered
You can also expect a host of other benefits including:
- 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays (pro-rata to start date and working hours), rising with length of service.
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
- Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
- Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
- Exceptional discounts on food, retail, and accommodation at our parks.
- Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
About the Company
The Howletts Wild Animal Trust
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is set within 600 acres in the Kent countryside and is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals. We also offer luxury short breaks, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences.
Our sister park, Howletts Wild Animal Park is located near Canterbury and set over 90 acres. Howletts is home to over 300 rare and endangered species, including Kents only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and home to more gorillas, leopards and monkeys than any zoo in the county!