Arboricultural Officer LBS-009

Job Category : Environmental Services

Location : 160 Tooley Street, Southwark Council

Hours Per Week : 36.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:00
Salary: £22.15

Provide a customer focussed borough wide arboricultural service through the development of contract arrangements, monitoring and work scheduling for Highways, Housing, Parks and others as necessary. Ensure the success of the service through contract monitoring and administration, strategy development, performance management, quality assurance and effective budget management.

Responsibilities:

– Assist in managing Southwark Council’s tree stock in line with policies and best practices.

– Oversee the in-house tree surgery unit to ensure work quality, compliance, and safety.

– Conduct regular inspections of contract work, covering at least 50% of completed tasks.

– Manage proactive tree surveys across parks, housing, and highways on a three-year cycle.

– Monitor and manage tree pests and diseases, focusing on Massaria and Oak Processionary Moth.

– Issue and track work orders via the Confirm system for in-house and external contractors.

– Support budget management through financial monitoring and contractor payments.

– Provide professional arboricultural advice and participate in community consultations.

Key Duties:

– Update and maintain the tree asset database, including mapping and work history.

– Monitor contractor performance against quality and safety standards.

-Investigate complaints, ensure service improvements, and report on performance.

– Develop strong relationships with stakeholders, contractors, and community groups.

– Contribute to policy development and inter-borough collaborations.

– Attend meetings to consult, resolve issues, and improve service delivery.

Knowledge, including educational qualifications:

The post holder will be expected to have a relevant arboricultural qualification minimum to level 4 or what was previously level 3. In depth experience in an appropriate field can be substituted for formal qualifications

Knowledge of all aspects of contract specification, letting, monitoring and associated processes and procedures

Understanding of the role of trees in an urban environment

Knowledge of Surveying, work identification, pricing and scheduling

Understanding of legislation, standards and professional guidelines relevant to the post

Knowledge of health and safety practices and procedures and how they operate in Arboricultural Services

Understanding of financial and administrative information systems

Experience:

The post holder would be expected to demonstrate experience of managing and co-ordinating arboricultural contracts.

Management of contracts with a minimum annual value of £1 million

Delivering contracts in partnership with contractors and customers

Financial management to include budget preparation and monitoring

Use of computer spreadsheets, database, word processing applications and contract monitoring and reporting software e.g. ‘Confirm’ (with training)

Preparation of complex reports

Aptitudes, Skills & Competencies:

Organise plan and prioritise workloads effectively

Be flexible and responsive to the needs of the service

Work independently and as part of a team

Define problems and produce innovative solutions against financial constraints

Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide range of people including members, senior officers, and community representatives

Negotiate where interests conflict Represent the unit both within the Council and externally