Senior Tree Officer (Highways) - Oxford

Tree Officer Jobs Oxford, South East (United Kingdom) Full Time£40,000 - £44,000 (GBP)

About the job

About the Senior Tree Officer (Highways) role

The role will be varied and is focused on problem solving in an innovative way. You will contribute to developing and implementing tree care plans to ensure a holistic and consistent approach across the Highway network. 

You will have responsibility for managing some Tree Officers. You will contribute to improving operational delivery (through our Tree Care Framework) and efficiency for surveying, inspections and tree care specifications.

This post ensures additional specialist knowledge and input can be made available to support the Transport Development Control Team with decision making by leading on complex arboricultural matters throughout the development management process. These will include:

  1. Town and Country Planning Act Regulation 3
  2. Highways Act s278 agreements
  3. Highways Act s38 agreements 

Please read through the job description for more specific details on the selection criteria for the role to see how you, your qualifications and your experience can help us to deliver our goals.

You will be promoting the Tree Service and the benefits of trees to residents and stakeholders to ensure a holistic and consistent approach to tree care across the County. You will promote transparency and build trust with our communities.

The role will cover the whole County.

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Preferred Skills

Essential Criteria

1.     Formal Arboricultural qualification to at least Level 5 or equivalent.

2.     Demonstrate significant experience in conducting practical Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) arboricultural surveys; determining 'risk' associated with challenging situations; showing the ability to make informed decisions when surveying trees in terms of current and future management; and prescribing works to manage trees.

3.     Have a detailed knowledge of current best arboricultural practices and associated guidance documents, demonstrating experience of specifying tree works (as per BS 3998:2010) and demonstrate experience of effectively overseeing and managing tree work contractors.

4.     Demonstrate knowledge of legislative requirements for the arboricultural profession, in the context of common, statute, and case law and show a good understanding of the Highways Act 1980 and how this relates to trees.

5.     Detailed knowledge of the planning system and how this relates to trees, especially in matters relating the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

6.     Demonstrate experience of responding to and commenting on arboricultural surveys (BS5837:2012), Arboricultural Impact Assessments (AIA) and Arboricultural Method Statements (AMS) related to design, planning and delivery.  

7.     Demonstrate experience of working collaboratively across multiple disciplines within an organisation to provide positive solutions.

8.     Demonstrate experience of delivering high quality customer service to a range of customers and stakeholders.

9.     Report writing, data analytic skills and correspondence skills demonstrating the ability to provide clear and coherent information suitable for the audience concerned.

10.  Showcase excellent communication skills utilising a variety of methods, such as face-to-face, email, phone, letter writing and others.

11.  Demonstrate experience and knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tree asset management systems.

12.  LANTRA Professional Tree Inspection

13.  Demonstrate the ability to follow clear instructions.

Desirable Criteria

14.  Experience of working in Public Service / a Local Authority

15.  Have a full and valid driving license.

16.  Demonstrate a commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and be a Member of a relevant professional body.

17.  Membership of a professional Arboricultural/Forestry related organisation

18.  Experience of managing or supervising staff


Benefits Offered

Rewards and benefits 

  • Salary range: £40,476 - £43,693 per annum
  • Culture of flexible and agile working
  • Technology to support agile working where role permits
  • 30 days' holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
  • Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
  • Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
  • Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
  • Enhanced family friendly policies
  • Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
  • Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

About the Company

Oxfordshire County Council

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