Job title: Technical Officer (Forestry)
Salary: £25,584 - £27,269 (B3)
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Farnley Hall/Hybrid
As a Technical Officer within the Urban Forestry Service you'll have a vital role in supporting a specialist team of arboricultural (tree) officers in day to day service delivery and during busy periods such as adverse weather events.
Although you do not need to be formally qualified, you will be able to demonstrate significant skills and experience in customer service, helping resolve customer queries, data input, responding to correspondence, financial awareness and raising orders.
About you:
As a Technical Officer, you will bring to the role:
* Experience and knowledge of customer services, managing volumes of e-mails and dealing with external contractors and customers.
* Drive, energy, resilience, and self-management skills as well as integrity, openness and awareness of others in delivering the service.
* Experience of supporting a multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed service team.
* Ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to help improve service delivery
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate to form positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
About the role:
The Council's Urban Forestry Service is responsible for surveying council trees on behalf of a range of stakeholders (highways, parks, housing), undertaking pruning works and removal of dangerous or damaged trees. During periods of adverse weather the team respond to a high volume of emergencies across the city.
As a Technical officer within the team, you will have an essential role in supporting the team in managing enquiries and organising tree maintenance works, ensuring that the city is able to keep moving safely and that we meet our duty of care.
You will be required to keep accurate detailed records and occasionally deal with upset and distressed customers in a positive manner.
What we offer you:
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
How to apply:
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Andy McPhaden, on tel. 0113 535 2087 or email Andrew.McPhaden@Leeds.gov.uk .
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description:
Job purpose: To support the Forestry (Arboricultural) Section in day to day service delivery, during busy periods of inclement weather and the continued development and improvement of the service through helping manage essential back office information and customer queries, working with partner external contractors and liaising with customers.
Responsibilities:
* Support the Forestry team with management of incoming correspondence and developing technical standard responses.
* To assist in the continued development of online services and encouraging customer self-service.
* Utilise the sections asset management system to; log, search, and respond to a range of general enquiries and complaints as required.
* Assist in the regular production of operational supporting plans, and spreadsheets for external partners and support larger tender documents with officers.
* Assist officers with the sending and monitoring of formal 'tree work notices'.
* Flexible and adaptable to change and support the team with live communications when severe weather incidents occur.
* Procure goods and service as required, create purchase orders, re-charges and invoices using the councils' financial software/processes.
* Support officers managing the statutory consultation processes under Environment Act 2021 on street tree removal.
* Support the development of reporting processes and for monthly and annual reports.
* Work in accordance with Leeds core values.
* Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
* Actively seek help and advice when unsure.
* Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
* Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
* The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications:
* Demonstrate good numeracy & literacy skills (GCSE Grade C or above is desirable but not essential).
* Appropriate professional qualification OR have equivalent experience.
Essential requirements: It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills Required:
* Familiarity with Microsoft Office and a willingness to learn other specialised packages to support the statutory duties of both specialist teams.
* Effective written and good oral communication skills.
* Ability to actively listen to complainants.
* Able to analyse data and produce effective reports.
* Able to demonstrate good ICT skills (e.g. e-mail, spreadsheets, database).
* Able to keep accurate records.
* Able to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
* Ability to multi-task during busy periods of work.
* Ability to provide excellent customer service and improve provision.
Knowledge Required:
* Understanding of Microsoft Office & databases.
* General administration systems and processes.
Experience Required:
* In a related administration / technical post.
* Of using computer packages, particularly Microsoft Office and GIS.
* Of organising work using in-house operations staff or contractors.
* Of working in an urban countryside and greenspace environment.
Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics:
* A positive commitment to providing excellence in service provision.
* Ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (e-mail, spreadsheets and databases).
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
* General good geographic knowledge of Leeds.
* A knowledge and understanding of databases and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).
* Occasionally dealing with distressed and angry customers in a constructive manner.
* Improving processes and lean working.
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