Protect it. Shape it. Enjoy it. Be part of Dorset. We searching for a dedicated Tree Team Leader, a role of critical importance and responsibility. This permanent, full-time position offers the chance to lead a committed team comprised of 9 tree officers and 4 tree assistants. Together, we aim to safeguard and enhance Dorset's green legacy, ensuring it continues to flourish for generations to come. Join us in making a significant impact, guiding our Tree team with your expertise, and contributing to the sustainable development that defines Dorset's character and future. This is a challenging role but one which will provide a great opportunity for professional development. What you will be doing: The Tree Team Leader will lead and manage a team of professional tree officers and play a proactive role in the protection and management of Dorset’s trees, working in partnership with external agencies and local communities. A key part of the role will include developing and implementing consistent service standards across the team, including responding to planning applications and providing advice on planning enforcement issues. It will involve drafting and consulting on relevant policy and advice documents relating to trees, including providing input into tree policy work required for the Dorset Local Plan. The Tree Team leader will also have a case load of tree work applications and planning application consults and be expected to advise on more complex cases. About you: We're searching for an individual who is positive, conscientious and has a meticulous eye for detail. If you're a natural leader with a talent for inspiring others and have a proven track record in Local Authority, charity or private sector roles, we want to hear from you. Your role will be pivotal in guiding our tree team, using your impressive organisational skills and understanding of policies and processes (including GIS systems) to drive excellence. Your ability to navigate and build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders — from the general public and council colleagues to councillors and professionals in the private sector — will be key to our success. Your specialist knowledge in development management, coupled with exceptional people management skills, will be instrumental in promoting suitable development within Dorset. With an extensive knowledge of arboriculture, along with relevant policies and principles, you will play a key role in preserving the unique arboreal landscape that defines our region. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we offer flexible working arrangements, including the option to work from home. Other benefits include the Council’s pension contributions, continual learning and development and salary sacrifice schemes that support childcare and planning for retirement. Join us in shaping the future of Dorset, ensuring it remains a vibrant, green, and sustainable place to live and work. Further Information This is a full time role at 37 hours per week. This position requires regular site visits, this means that there is a requirement for a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the council) to be available on most working days in order to carry out normal duties. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, you will also need a gift for clear communication and affinity with our values: Responsibility, Respect, Recognition and Collaboration. With a team that lives by these principles, we have a friendly workplace where you’ll be free to learn and thrive. With beautiful beaches and countryside on your doorstep too, a career in Dorset comes with everything you need. Employee benefits include a local government pension, flexible working and continual learning and development. With beautiful beaches and countryside on your doorstep too, a career in Dorset comes with everything you need. To discuss this post, please contact Alison Turnock, Service Manager for Conservation, via email at [email protected] or on 01929 557337. Interviews are expected to take place on 12th December 2024. The interview will include a presentation to a panel including members of the team, followed by a formal interview with questions relating to management and tree issues. About Us Dorset is a beautiful and iconic area, with historic market towns and miles of stunning coast. But it’s also a place of growth and innovation, with a population of 375,000 and an economy worth over £7 billion. To serve this unique area, a new unitary council was established in 2019. Bold and ambitious, with a One Team approach, we’re taking Dorset into the future – and our Planning team is taking centre stage. The Tree team is a specialist team sitting within the wider planning team. We’re passionate about making Dorset a great place to live, work and visit. Working for us should be no exception. At Dorset Council we: provide more than 450 services to over 300,000 residents have ambitious aspirations are excited about our future care about Dorset and all the people who live here know that all roles make a difference and that our employees are key to our success You will: have access to a range of employee benefits be part of an organisation that supports each other to grow and succeed have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression We are challenging ourselves to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. We recognise that recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the council and our communities. We have a commitment to equality and welcome applications from everyone. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role. We are keen to make our interviews accessible. Let us know on your job application if you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments. We also look for applicants who share our commitment to our behaviours. We will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process. If appointed, the personal information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found at https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn. This role is UK based and we will need to establish your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications. This means the job title on any attachments may differ from the job title in the advert. We may provide specific information in a context statement if relevant. Find out more about how to apply .