Join Our Team as an Arboricultural Officer: help protect North Yorkshires canopy cover Are you passionate about trees and woodlands? Do you aspire to be part of a dynamic, newly established team committed to excellence in tree and woodland management? North Yorkshire Council, the largest and newest local authority in England, is seeking dedicated and professional individuals to join our friendly Tree & Woodland Team. We are looking for an Arboricultural Officer, who will be responsible for responding to the planning department on Tree Preservation Orders, Trees in Conservation Area notices and planning applications (from minor to major applications) where trees are impacted including landscape schemes. Our Service NYC Parks and Grounds Service is responsible for maintaining and enhancing all designated parks, public open spaces, including those within Council-owned housing in North Yorkshire. Our duties also encompass managing all arboricultural services, which includes protected trees, tree asset management, tree operations, woodland creation, and urban tree planting. Additionally, they handle horticulture, community infrastructure such as play areas and allotments, deliver commercial services directly to customers and businesses, and engage in extensive partnership working with a diverse range of stakeholders. The Role As our Arboricultural Officer, you will provide professional advice to inform decision-making on arboricultural matters to the Planning Service, particularly regarding elements of the Town and Country Planning Act that involve trees. You will comment on felling licence consultations and lead on High Hedge applications in your area. Representing the council as a specialist officer across all its business areas, you will provide specialist advice on arboricultural matters throughout the North Yorkshire Council area. You should be familiar with BS5837:2012, BS3998:2010, and Euro Tree Pruning Standards 2021. You will respond to over 700 planning consultations annually within 21 days, in line with the Key Performance Indicator. Additionally, you will defend actions in court cases, civil actions, planning, and public enquiries, in conjunction with other specialist officers. You will handle customer enquiries and queries through to conclusion, provide information, and conduct initial surveys of trees subject to insurance claims. Liaising with elected members, the public, and officers from other Council departments regarding Council trees and tree work will also be part of your role. What you will bring You will have a recognised arboricultural (or commensurate operational and organisation experience) qualification at Level 3 e.g., National Diploma Practical experience in the assessment and surveying of trees and identifying and programming tree works resulting from that inspection. Experience in the use of a computerised GIS tree management system Experience of the preparation of reports and of delivering arboricultural advice in the planning process Ability to interpret and identify risks posed by trees. Working for us When you join us, you are entitled to our outstanding benefits and wellbeing plan as part of your position. Our holiday entitlement starts at 28 days rising to 34 days (pro-rata) per year with continued service, plus public holidays. Pension: save for your retirement with our generous local government pension scheme. Fitness & Rewards: Fitness discounts with various Gyms across the county. Stay on top of your game and save £££. Lifestyle Savings: explore a huge range of discounts to help you save money across hundreds of the UK’s favourite high-street and online retailers. Plus lots more… Contact and Apply If you are interested in learning more about our opportunity, please contact Helen Arnold, Tree & Woodland Manager, on 07816977852 or Helen.Arnoldnorthyorks.gov.uk for an informal conversation. Applying is easy, simply click on apply, register your details, remove your personal details from your CV and upload. Please let us know your motivation for applying for this position, how you meet the criteria and what you feel you could bring to the role in the supporting evidence section of the application form. Key Dates Closing date: midnight, 14th November 2024 Interview date: 21st and 22nd November 2024 An enhanced DBS is required for this role which we will provide. Key Documents: Job Description Total Rewards Brochure NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies. We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party. North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. North Yorkshire Council are committed to the health and safety of our employees and of others including the general public. It has a responsibility to ensure employees who hold a position that is deemed to be safety critical as it requires the performance of duties which are directly related to the safe operation or security of a facility, piece of equipment or vehicle, handling of chemicals or work at height or in confined spaces and which, if not performed properly, could result in a serious safety risk or environmental hazard to employees, a facility or the general public, do not attend work whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Individuals offered employment with North Yorkshire Council will be subject to the Workplace Substance Misuse policy. For safety critical roles as detailed above, random alcohol and drug testing may take place during the course of employment.