Senior Appointment – Arboricultural Consultant

Principal Arboriculturist

Location :  Bedford, London or Woodbridge (Suffolk) – the role will be practice-wide and there will be an expectation of operating out of other offices, on occasion.

We are looking for an ambitious, experienced, knowledgeable and self-motivated individual to lead our consultancy services in this field, working on a wide range of project types.

The position would suit an experienced Arboriculturist from either the private or local government sector, who has experience as a field surveyor and/or tree officer and a keen interest in keeping abreast of industry knowledge and best practice. It could provide an excellent opportunity for an individual who seeks to further their career as a senior arboricultural consultant and potentially grow an arboricultural team within a multi-disciplinary consultancy.

We work on a wide range of project types at all stages of the planning, design and implementation process.  We currently have a diverse range of projects across different sectors, including public realm, recreation, commercial, education, care, strategic and detailed residential schemes (including high density) and renewable energy and green infrastructure projects. We offer a friendly working environment and a supportive team, committed to delivering high quality environmental planning and design services, with a strong emphasis on context-driven and sustainable solutions.

The role

The role entails being accountable for the effective delivery and management of workload of a range of arboricultural services in a variety of project types, at all stages of the planning, design and implementation process.   Support on arboricultural matters will be provided to the practice’s multidisciplinary teams, as well as undertaking standalone arboricultural projects where you will be the project manager. Support will be provided by a team of landscape architects, ecologists and graphic assistants, including graphic and drawing capabilities.

Responsibility will also be assumed for preparing fee proposals and tenders and actively networking and promoting The Landscape Partnership and developing our arboricultural services in line with our focus on customer relationship ethos and outstanding delivery.  Applicants should have an aptitude for and understanding of the importance of business development and building client relationships.  Environmentally sustainable practices and solutions will also be promoted, both within day-to-day work and project outputs.

You will be expected to attend client sites throughout the UK, although a focus on the Midlands, East Anglia and the South-East is anticipated. Occasional nights away will be required and occasional assistance with basic phase 1 ecological surveys as well as tree habitat related identification will be helpful.

Scope of services will include leading in discussions with tree officers and affected stakeholders, liaising with developers and contractors and advising on tree protection and mitigation on building sites.

The role will involve participation in a wide range of project types at all stages of the planning, design and implementation process and will require knowledge and the ability to deliver the following arboricultural services:

  • Tree surveys to BS5837:2012, hedgerow surveys, tree condition and tree risk assessment reports.
  • Building damage and mortgage reports
  • Procure and assess specialist tree surveys (e.g. air spade root surveys)
  • Arboricultural implications assessments
  • Arboricultural method statements
  • Arboricultural site monitoring and supervision.
  • Tree condition surveys, safety audits and tree works specification
  • Planning negotiations for TPOs and trees in Conservation Areas
  • Felling licenses, forestry, tree and woodland management
  • Grant application
  • Tree strategies
  • Expert witness at public inquiries, hearings and appeals, etc
  • In house consultation advice regarding tree issues and arboricultural requirements and processes within the planning system
  • Advice to designers, e.g. in relation to the implementation of BS 5837: 2012 – Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction

A lead role is also expected in developing the practice’s arboricultural offer, including in relation to:

  • Methods for evaluating tree resources such as CAVAT Calculation (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees) and TEMPO (Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Orders).
  • Advanced tree inspection accreditation, such as Lantra certification.

Requirements:   

  • National Diploma in Arboriculture, degree or equivalent qualification.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of BS 5837:2012, BS 3998:2010, and tree related legislation, e.g. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (including Tree Preservation Orders), Conservation Areas, Forestry Act 1967 (including restrictions to felling), etc
  • An understanding and experience of the planning, design and construction process
  • Excellent tree identification skills
  • Comprehensive understanding and identification of tree defects and disorders
  • Significant experience of the preparation of tree and hedgerow condition surveys, implication assessments, method statements addressing tree constraints and the production of detailed high quality plans using CAD programs
  • Ability to work efficiently and diligently to reasonable deadlines
  • Good knowledge of Microsoft Office primary applications (ie. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Working knowledge of CAD
  • Good written skills, with attention to detail, experience of preparing technical reports and ability to present and communicate findings in a clear and concise manner
  • A strong communicator with good interpersonal skills to enable effective working with multidisciplinary external and in-house teams and an ability to liaise with clients at a professional level
  • Enthusiasm to develop the practice’s arboricultural offer and generally promote the other services offered by the practice
  • Ability to guide junior members of staff in carrying out their duties
  • Full UK-valid driving license and availability of a car

Beneficial:

  • Working knowledge of specialist arboricultural data collection software, e.g. AxciScape or similar
  • Experience in business development
  • Right to work in the UK

We offer the opportunity to join a friendly and committed team of multi-discipline professionals and a supportive and collaborative working environment. Benefits include a voluntary workplace pension, ‘Cyclescheme’, a starting allowance of 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) payment of professional membership and a programme of CPD.

We are currently trialling a hybrid working system, with a minimum of three days in the office and the remainder potentially available, by agreement, for working from home.

Please send CV and a covering letter/email explaining why you are applying, to london@tlp.uk.com or phone Simon Neesam or Dianne Western on 020 3092 4141 if you would like an informal chat about the position.

The Landscape Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer