Area Tree Officer

34434 - 37280

Pay frequency: Annual

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) is in the unique position of offering new and existing opportunities to join our growing Tree Service. We are looking to recruit to three Tree Officer roles. Two roles are existing that have recently become vacant and one role is new.

Proactive tree care, tree retention and canopy growth are all priorities for Oxfordshire County Council. This is your chance to join our team of professionals to contribute to the delivery of these outcomes. 

Are you an experienced Tree Officer / Arboriculturist who wants a new challenge and the opportunity to deliver and influence tree retention and management across one of England’s most beautiful and diverse treescapes?

Are you recently qualified in arboriculture and are looking to start gaining invaluable experience to utilise and implement the knowledge that you have gained in education? 

Are you an experienced Tree Surgeon / Climbing Arborist looking to take the next step in your career?

Are you passionate about shaping, influencing and creating new opportunities for increasing canopy cover?

If the answer is ‘YES’ to any of the above, then you could be the person we’re looking for to join our Tree Service to complement our team of tree professionals. Find out more about the Tree Service - Oxfordshire County Council’s Tree Service | Oxfordshire County Council

Our Tree Officer (Oxford), who has recently joined the team says, 

“Since starting as an area tree officer at OCC I have found the role to be incredibly rewarding. What has truly stood out to me is the strong emphasis on continuing professional development opportunities and the wealth of knowledge that is openly shared by the rest of the team. The support I have received as I settled in has been outstanding, making the transition into my new role both smooth and enjoyable. I am genuinely grateful to be part of such a dedicated and supportive team, and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here.”

• Culture of flexible and agile working;
• Significant support from experienced tree professionals in the Tree Service;
• Access to a County work van as part of your role, depending on demand and availability;
• Technology to support agile working, where role permits;
• 30 days’ holiday p.a. plus bank holidays (Increasing to 32 days after 10 years’ service);
• Offer access to a Relocation Scheme, depending on circumstances and conditions, should you need to consider moving closer to or into the County from where you currently live. Further details are available on request;
• 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 growth through attendance at workshops, conferences and seminars or completing relevant qualifications.

Your role comes with plenty of variety and is focused on caring for a varied and established tree stock, while identifying opportunities to increase canopy cover. You could be undertaking a variety of functions that include: 

• large-scale street surveys or site specific surveys; 
• ad-hoc inspections; 
• building strong working relationships with tree contractors to enable better outcomes; 
• Opportunities to educate & engage with the public, Councillors and Council colleagues; 
• opportunities to create your own projects; 
• expectation to manage your own time to enable delivery of work; 
• ownership of an area for which there is personal responsibility;
• access to a strong, experienced support network from the team;
• identify tree planting opportunities. 

You will contribute to the proactive tree care of Oxfordshire County Council’s tree stock by 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.

Each role will predominantly cover one of the following areas:

• Vale of White Horse - Highways
• Countywide - Focus on Property, Estates and School sites
• Countywide - Ash Dieback assessments

Interview date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to interview shortly thereafter, and we will communicate next steps as soon as possible. Interviews will likely be in person at our Sutton Farm site in Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire.

Hours per week: 37 

Contract type: Permanent 

Closing date: We encourage early applications and reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of suitable candidates are identified.

Vetting requirements: This role is subject to a Basic DBS Check. 

Work location: You will have a base at Sutton Farm, Stanton Harcourt and you may be required to work from this location. We recognise the need for balance and therefore, agile working is offered as part of this role.

For an informal discussion about the role and how to apply, please contact Andy Lederer (Tree Service Manager) by email: andy.lederer@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact us at: Andy Lederer (Tree Service Manager) by email andy.lederer@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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