Arboricultural Officer

Twenty eight per cent……

That is Hart's tree canopy cover, one of the most wooded districts in England, against a national average of around sixteen per cent. It is the reason the district looks and feels the way it does, and it is the reason this role exists.

Hart is consistently ranked among the best places to live in England. People care intensely about the trees here, and they will tell you so. That is a good problem to have, and it makes for a caseload with real substance.

The job

You will sit within Development Management, working alongside planning, conservation and enforcement colleagues in a small, multidisciplinary team, providing specialist arboricultural advice on:

• Making recommendations on applications for works to trees protected by Tree Preservation Order, in accordance with the scheme of delegation

• Assessing the suitability of notified works to trees in conservation areas

• Advising members of the public, agents and others on the requirements for tree works applications and related matters

• Working in accordance with the HART values, adopted procedures and good practice

• Maintaining accurate case records, the Tree Preservation Order register and digital mapping

The applicant

Most tree officer vacancies ask for a finished professional. This one does not. The post is career graded across three levels, and we will appoint at the level that matches you.

The role is open to candidates from a broad range of arboricultural and land-based backgrounds. That includes experienced tree surgeons seeking to move away from the practical side of the industry and into advisory, regulatory and legislative work; countryside or conservation officers with transferable land management skills; graduates in environmental or related disciplines; and those already working in arboricultural consultancy or local government

Whichever grade you come in at, we are looking for someone who:

• Communicates well, in writing and in person, and can write a clear and concise report
• Is organised enough to manage a workload against statutory deadlines, and to prioritise under pressure
• Works well in a team and equally well alone, and uses their own initiative
• Is computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office
• Is committed to continuing professional and personal development

Interviews are scheduled to be held on site at Hart District Council Offices.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Louise Moore, Planning Enforcement Team Leader on 01252 774206 or louise.moore@hart.gov.uk

Please apply by submitting a CV and Covering Letter (no more than two to three sides of A4 aligned to the person specification).

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Arboricultural Officer job description