Arboricultural Officer

The Arboricultural Officer will be an integral member of the Assets team, working across the stunning South Hams and West Devon with its breath taking green and blue landscapes and varied historic townscapes. 

The post holder will primarily coordinate the inspection, recording and management of trees on Council owned land, with the role supporting the care and maintenance of our trees across the diverse Council estate in the South Hams and West Devon. Our tree stock of around 20,000 trees comprises some 3,000 separate tree records, including individual trees, groups of trees, copses and tree belts, and the occasional woodland. Our trees are within the rural and urban environment including within AONBs, Conservation Areas, in residential and industrial areas, along recreational routes as well as within parks and gardens.

The post holder with work with other Natural Resources officers in the Assets team to lead and develop projects to maintain and improve the Council’s greenspace, public realm, leisure and natural assets. Such projects will include urban tree planting and maintenance, woodland planting and natural woodland regeneration in response to the Council’s declared Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency.

The Arboricultural Officer will be expected to take the lead on the risk management and inspection regime of Council trees, and coordinating the works required to manage risk from Council trees. This will include undertaking inspection of trees, deciding upon specification of works, and making difficult decisions in the context of budget and risk. The role will require excellent communication skills with many Council trees being adjacent to dwellings, or industrial premises. The post holder will also be required on occasion to provide cover for the Council Tree Officer, giving arboricultural support for statutory functions (e.g. emergency TPOs, enforcement, high hedge complaints).