Job title: Chargehand Forester / Arborist
Salary: C3 £32,061 - £33,699
Hours: 37
Contract: Full Time
Location: The Arium, Thorner Lane, Whinmoor, Leeds
An exciting opportunity to join our award-winning Parks, Open Spaces and Woodlands service as a Chargehand Forester / Arborist, working across the city to help shape and maintain Leeds’ green infrastructure.
As a Chargehand Forester / Arborist within our Climate, Energy and Green Spaces service, you will play a key leadership role, supervising a small, skilled team and ensuring the city’s trees and green spaces are maintained to the highest professional standards. This is a hands-on role for someone who takes pride in delivering high-quality work while motivating others to excel.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Chargehand Forester / Arborist, you will bring to the role:-
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Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a team of arborists.
- A commitment to supporting staff development and progression through training and mentoring.
- Confidence in promoting and utilising technology and IT systems to improve efficiency and service delivery.
- A genuine passion for arboriculture, woodland management and forestry, combined with the drive to deliver excellent results.
- Willingness to respond to severe weather incidents and emergency call-outs as part of a compulsory standby rota (7 days a week / 365 days a year).
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage positively with stakeholders, partners and members of the public.
- The ability to travel independently to sites across the city.
- A collaborative leadership style that inspires high performance and teamwork.
About the role
As an experienced Chargehand Forester / Arborist, you will lead by example, ensuring all work is delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standards, in line with industry best practice and British Standards. You will maintain accurate records and ensure information is managed effectively.
You will work closely with partners, stakeholders and community groups, and act as a visible and approachable presence within our parks and green spaces. Excellent communication and a proactive approach to customer engagement are essential.
The role covers a full range of arboricultural and woodland operations, including:
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HGV and tractor driving
- MEWP operation
- Chainsaw use
- Pesticide and herbicide application
- Use of forestry plant and machinery
You will safely operate equipment such as chainsaws, stump grinders, woodchippers, winches, ropes and climbing gear, always adhering to safe working practices.
In addition, you will:
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Take responsibility for day-to-day supervision and organisation of the workforce
- Support staff wellbeing, training and development
- Manage annual leave and operational planning
- Respond to on-site issues and ensure smooth service delivery
- Represent the service at stakeholder meetings and take a lead role in operational coordination
A full, clean driving licence is essential to enable travel across sites and the transportation of staff as required.
The post may be based at any location within the Leeds city boundary.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
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a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the roles please contact Jane Crowther, Forestry Manager on 0113 3788186 or email
[email protected] email Matthew Roberts, Forestry Operations Manager at
[email protected]
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose Practical tree works including aerial and ground-based works in support of the Urban Forestry Section through staff supervision, site management and active participation, plus emergency tree work as required. This is a physical, outdoor job requiring individuals to work in all weather conditions, with large amounts of lifting involved.
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Supervise and motivate a team as allocated on tasks within the scope of the Forestry Section. Tasks will include tractor driving the use of chainsaws, operating the full range of forestry plant and machinery and will involve physical, manual work, site specific risk assessment, climbing, felling, vegetation control and tree establishment.
- Undertake all aspects of practical Arboriculture and Forestry to the highest Industry standards.
- Provide help during severe weather (designated storm occurrences) and to react to emergency calls after hours for all tree emergencies including; the removal of part or whole downed trees or tree limbs. This will mean contributing to a compulsory standby rota, which will be in place 7 days a week/365 days a year.
- Responsible for the security of all tools and equipment used by the post holder and crew, and to ensure that the repair and maintenance is undertaken.
- Be a key holder with responsibility for accessing sites 24 hours a day whilst on emergency call outs.
- Utilise digital platforms (tree management software, e.g. Confirm and Survey 123) as standard to record and update works orders and jobs, take photographs, support and train team members in entering data and regular usage. Report all structural and other tree defects and ensure information is recorded on tree management software. Record all incidental damages and complaints.
- Committed to the implementation and maintenance of the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).
- Follow procedures and practices to comply with Lifting Operations and Lowering Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). To produce effective site-specific risk assessments and maintain appropriate records to comply with legal requirements.
- Uphold the Leeds City Council’s Health and Safety Codes of Practice and to be responsible, when undertaking work, for their own safety and that of colleagues and members of the public.
- Liaison with Line Managers and Forestry operatives to assist in the production of effective Risk Assessments, Method Statements and maintain appropriate records to comply with legal requirements.
- Undertake any training as may be deemed necessary to enable duties to be carried out to the highest industry standards and to keep up to date with industry trends.
- Ensure the security, safe usage and appropriate use are of all Arboricultural/Forestry and Agricultural machinery, tools and equipment. Load and unload the works vehicles in a safe manner and ensure all plant and equipment is transported safely. To undertake routine maintenance on equipment and daily checks.
- Actively supervise apprentice arborists, arborists and ground workers as required, providing advice on best practice, health and safety and general wellbeing.
- Assist in the provision of weekly data and production of performance figures and KPI’s. Attend regular training and maintain a high level of CPD.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications demonstrating numeracy and literacy skills (GCSE C or above in English and Maths or equivalent), a full clean driving licence to enable use of council vehicles, if you do not hold a full clean HGV or C1 + E driving licence be willing to work towards. Appropriate professional qualification or willing to work towards a Level 2 qualification in Arboricultural, Forestry or Woodland Management qualification or similar (ISA Certified Arborist, European Tree Worker), NPTC (City and Guilds) Certificates CS30 through to 48 or their superseded/current equivalents. PA1-6. If you do not hold a recognised industry qualification appropriate to the post e.g. ISA Certified Arborist you must be be willing to work towards this.
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Substantial practical experience in a working arboricultural, forestry or woodland operational setting.
- Willing to lead and work as an experienced team member
- Willing to work on a compulsory on-call rota, outside normal working hours.
- Lead on health, safety matters and risk assessments.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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Able to provide constructive feedback on tree inspections, data and processes.
- Understanding of and appreciation of biosecurity and its importance.
- UKWAS familiarity and a good understanding of woodland management.
- General good geographic knowledge of Leeds.
- Knowledge and understanding of databases.
- Occasionally dealing with distressed and angry customers in a constructive manner.
