Arborist - Streetscene Operative

This is a varied role in an Arboriculture team looking after Newcastle Borough Councils tree stock throughout the Borough.

The role will include tree planting, coppicing, felling, dismantles, rigging, reductions, pollarding, veteranisation, crown lifts etc and emergency call outs (on a rota basis).

The Arboriculture team has a focus on delivering excellent service standards to tight deadlines in this essential, high-profile service area.

The service makes a real difference to the way the Borough looks and reduces the risk associated with tree health and locations.

The Arboriculture team is part of the Councils Sustainable Environment Directorate. We are an award-winning service, regularly achieving green flag status for several of our parks and achieving gold status in Britain in Bloom

Have you a proven track record with two years minimum experience as a practicing Arboriculture Operative with the necessary qualifications which demonstrate your ability to undertake the role? Are you a team player who is willing and able to work as part of a team and be flexible to undertake other tasks as the service area requires? Are you an individual who has health and safety at the core of everything you do in the work-place. If so, we want to hear from you.

You must have a positive 'can do' attitude with a proactive solution-based approach for this varied role for where there is only room for team players. An ability to communicate clearly and accurately with operational colleagues, managers, customers is essential. The post holder is required to hold a full current, valid driving licence to drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg (MAM) (with a trailer up to 750kg). Alternatively you will have the ability to gain this level of licence within 12 months of your employment commencing.

We know that services at the frontline improving the environment are changing, and that providing 'Green Skills' for staff is an investment in the future. The culture here is all about getting the best out of our team by providing a range of benefits to everyone. We expect good teamwork, and focus on being accountable, respectful of everybody and achieving our goals.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and, as such, appointment will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of criminal records via the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.

Newcastle-under-Lyme is a borough with big ambitions. We've already started our transformation, however, we still need to find better ways of doing things because we are determined to do the very best we can for our communities.

If our vision is to be the best, then we need the best people working for us. Our people are at the heart of what we do and have the freedom to innovate, grow and develop. We recruit people who share our vision and values; people who have the drive to deliver our ambitious Council plan.

Our historic borough is a place of marked contrasts. We are the home of a world class University at Keele, a leading light known internationally for its research and sustainability record, which stands side by side with former mining communities including some which register amongst the most deprived areas in the country. Our Borough is also a mixture of urban centres, affected by some of the same social issues facing our neighbouring city, Stoke-on-Trent, but also outstanding rural landscapes in our less populated villages. Our plans and priorities aim to address the needs of all our communities.

Our People Offer

We reward our people with a competitive range of benefits including

access to the local government pension scheme

minimum 24 days annual leave plus 5 extra days after 5 years' service

flexible working options and family friendly policies

local and national high street discounts

free car parking

wellbeing support including £12.50 per month Jubilee2 membership

green travel scheme including cycle to work and electric car salary sacrifice

free employee 24 hour employee assistance and counselling services, flu vaccination service and health checks

development and training opportunities