Principal arboricultural consultant

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities, and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver sustainable development. The purpose of the Principal Arboricultural Consultant is to co-lead the provision of arboricultural services to clients across the UK.

Our two Principal Arboricultural Consultants lead the delivery and development of arboricultural services, including specialist planning advice; highway tree management; a range of large and complex arboricultural assessments and surveys; and for multi-disciplinary projects.

The role requires a qualified, authoritative subject matter expert with advanced technical skills, knowledge and experience, including legislation, policy, standards and guidance; accomplished client relationship, information management, and communication skills; and a collaborative, enterprising, and client focused approach.

Responsibilities will include…

* Effective commercial and operational delivery of arboricultural services including: a demanding caseload of enquiries in relation to specialist planning advice and trees/vegetation affecting the Public Highway, specifying associated management works and managing contractors; evaluating and carrying out arboricultural assessments (e.g. tree inventories and valuations) of large-scale, challenge and complexity; advising on large scale and complex habitat management and creation projects; designing and undertaking complex arboricultural surveys, including new tools and techniques; and complex specialist tasks on multi-disciplinary projects.
* Collecting, analysing, and presenting complex data, evidence (including for enforcement) and advice to recognised standards, reviewing outcomes, and assessing third party compliance.
* Leading the development and review of complex, plans, policies and guidance.
* Commercial development of our ecology offer, bidding on high value opportunities, and managing high value projects and contracts against budget, specification and indicators.
* Building a professional, client-focused culture, and high-level client relationships, maintaining commercial awareness of our industry, key markets and sectors, managing accounts and securing feedback for continuous improvement.
* Leading the development and delivery of promotional and learning material, training activities and events, engaging with networks to enhance the recognition and reputation of Place Services.
* Building a collaborative, high-performance culture, leading effective team working and improving team and personal competency, continually seeking to enhance performance and practice of self and others, securing feedback, and building knowledge and skills.
* Identifying and implementing improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.

You will bring…

* Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor's degree) with evidence of substantial post qualification experience, or equivalent by experience.
* Qualified Professional Tree Inspector with strong evidence of continuous professional development, membership of relevant professional body e.g. M.Arbor.A, and Institute of Chartered Foresters (MICFor).
* Authoritative technical and subject matter expert, with comprehensive knowledge and experience of development management and planning policy, legislation, and enforcement standards and guidance; woodland creation/management; arboricultural assessments and surveys; and related office and site-based practices and procedures.
* Effective people management skills with experience of employee performance and development.
* Strong understanding of wellbeing and H&S, with ability to identify and implement safe working practices for self and others.
* Good understanding of commercial practices, with accomplished negotiation and communication skills and a track record of business development, including bid winning and the ability to inform, influence and persuade, building client relationships and managing high value accounts.
* Able to lead specialist and multi-disciplinary project teams and manage multiple, and large scale and complex, projects from concept through to completion.
* Advanced use of a range of common and specialist software packages e.g. GIS and/or other ICT tools, to implement complex data capture, management and presentation, and carry out high level analysis and interpretation.

To read more about us please visit: Economy, Investment and Public Health

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.

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