Job Details

Job introduction

We’re urgently seeking an experienced project manager to lead our battle against the deadly tree disease Ash dieback.

The disease is rising rapidly in the Brighton & Hove area, with 100s of trees throughout the city already dead or dying.

There’s no time to waste, so we need a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to plan and drive forward a programme of tree removal to ensure public safety.

Knowledge of trees and woodlands would be a bonus, but your project management skills and experience in procurement, tendering processes and managing contracts while being able to handle multiple work streams over an extended period will be key.

You will also have first class communications skills and be adept at relationship building with both internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

·         the development, implementation, communication and coordination of our Ash Dieback action plan

·         programming all works required to manage the spread of ADB

·         procurement and contract production, and monitoring of budgets

·         communicating with public bodies, stakeholders and internal groups such as elected members

·         Co-ordinating work with other council department, where appropriate, when planning tree removal

·         Helping in the regeneration of woodland areas after tree removal

·         Working with the council’s communications team to inform residents and other interested organisations of ADB across the city

Ash Dieback will change the Brighton & Hove landscape forever. It’ll be your responsibility to manage this change while helping develop an even better, more sustainable environment for generations to come.

This is a big job with big responsibilities. But succeed, and the rewards will be immense

About the role

As elsewhere, Ash Dieback is spreading throughout the city of Brighton & Hove and we will see the loss of many of our city’s ash trees. This will have a detrimental impact on our landscape and wildlife and a managed long-term replanting programme is desirable to maintain the fabric, vitality and quality of our countryside and urban areas.  

Ash Dieback is a major environmental issue, which must be recognised and tackled by local authorities in the interest of public safety.  Dead and dying ash trees pose risks to life and property and those public safety issues and risks need to be effectively managed.

BHCC is seeking to employ an experienced, full-time, Ash Dieback Coordinator to lead the Council’s response in effectively managing the adverse risks and impacts of Ash Dieback on public land and from private land (including land adjacent to public highways). Working in collaboration with the Council’s arboriculture service, external organisations and specialist contractors, the post holder will be playing a key role responding to H&S hazards resulting from Ash Dieback by coordinating a management programme to mitigate risk.

Duties of the role will include:

• Responsibility for the organisation, collation and use of data on the spread of Ash Dieback citywide, obtained from records and site inspections, requiring familiarity with tree species and pathogens.
• Maintain an electronic database to record Ash Dieback outbreaks and remedial works.
• Accountable for the monitoring and reporting of the allocated budget for Ash Dieback and coordinating tree works within budget.
• Procurement of specialist services in the management of Ash Dieback.
• Actioning and reviewing tree inspection frequencies for ash trees under the remit of the Council.
• Work closely with external organisations, neighbouring authorities and the general public in relation to trees and work to trees.
• Provide effective messaging to the public of the threats of Ash Dieback and the Council’s Action Plan.
• Ensure contractors working on behalf of the Council adhere to all current health and safety policies.
• Investigate unsafe privately owned ash trees which threaten Council property and instigate formal proceedings against tree owners who fail to take appropriate remedial action.
• As a minimum, candidates are required to hold a Level 4 certificate in a land-based subject or a professional equivalent qualification, a full UK driving licence.

Job details 

We are seeking a thoroughly experienced, appropriately qualified and enthusiastic professional who can demonstrate the following requirements: 

• Experience in tree species identification, diagnosing tree dysfunction and disease (biotic and abiotic) and accurate identification of related pathogens 
• Practical knowledge of Ash Die Back identification, management and control measures 
• Knowledge of relevant Health & Safety and Planning legislation and statutory guidance, policies and procedures 
• Knowledge of modern arboricultural and forestry operations 
• Knowledge of Procurement Regulations and processes including the production of contract specifications, letting of contracts, evaluating tender submissions and monitoring performance of contractors 
• Experience in the coordination of a significant land-based scheme or project comprising of multiple work streams and planning over an extended period 
• Experience in budget monitoring and management 
• Experience of the arboriculture and forestry industry with respect to operations and the management of trees 
• Experience of the planning and carrying out of tree safety and maintenance audits 
• Experience in woodland management and the production of woodland management plans 
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to communicate with a wide ranging and diverse audiences  
• Practical knowledge of data capture, tree management electronic systems, GIS software and modelling to store, present and analyse data

Contract: permanent, full-time

Interview date: TBC

For an informal discussion, please contact Peter Small – Arboricultural Manager at peter.small@brighton-hove.gov.uk or on 07795 335712

We highly recommend you read the ‘Statement Guidance’ below before you apply for this job. It is important you are able to show how you meet the essential criteria within the Person Specification when applying. Not following this guidance is likely to reduce your chances of success.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.

Company information

At City Environment, staff who identify as female, BME, LGB and trans are currently under-represented and we want to change this so that our workforce reflects the communities we serve.  We welcome applications from all sections of the community, but particularly encourage applications from these groups.

Files

• Ash Dieback Coordinator - Job Description & Person Specification
• Cover Letter
• Maximise your chance - Statement Guidance
• Our Values and Behaviours