Chargehand Forester ​/ Arborist

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., 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:

• 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, wood chippers, winches, ropes and climbing gear, always adhering to safe working practices. In addition, you will:

• 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.

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 route 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 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.

• 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…