The Job with Trees for Cities

Job Description

• To support the Urban Forest team deliver planting projects and tree establishment/maintenance activities. Learn on the job key skills such as tree planting & maintenance best practice, storing & handling trees, using & maintaining tools and leading volunteers. Further external training will be provided as per individual requirements.
• To support the efficient and high quality delivery of Trees for Cities’ Urban Forest projects, according to good practice and Trees for Cities’ specifications; including the planting, maintenance and management of urban trees and woodlands in parks and open spaces, streets, schools and housing estates.
• To support the Urban Forest team to deliver projects using contractors, volunteers, third parties and in-house staff to carry out the planting, maintenance and habitat.
  management of a range of urban tree planting projects.
• To support Trees for Cities’ maintenance programme, to ensure successful establishment of our tree stock and carrying out regular health of woodland checks and maintaining good records.

Main Responsibilities

• Carry out tree planting operations to Trees for Cities’ specifications and in accordance with our plans and details.
• Check quality of stock on delivery and ensure stock and materials are stored correctly.
• Support community volunteer, corporate volunteers (CVOs) and other third party tree planting events and ensure tree planting is planted correctly to Trees for Cities standards.
• Carry out wider maintenance activities with a small team and volunteers.
• Make site visits, using TfC vehicles where required, carry out tree watering programme over spring and summer, checking and accurately recording watering logs and tree data collected from maintenance visits.
• Ensure our trees are maintained to Trees for Cities’ maintenance programme standards.
• Report findings from site visits, using standard templates to monitor success and identifying concerns and / or emerging issues.
• Act as Trees for Cities representative on site and be mindful of this role in their demeanour and in the way in which they communicate with partners, clients and the general public.
• Able to comfortably spend time operating outdoors and acting as Trees for Cities’ representative when on site and when dealing with our partners and communities.
• Able to clearly share information to communities, volunteers, partners and stakeholders through leading demonstrations on site.
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings and 121s with their line manager.
• Co-operate with and inform Trees for Cities’ Health & Safety, Safeguarding policies, Risk assessments, resulting plans of action, and receive training where required.
• Maintain a positive attitude to solving problems and working under your own initiative to complete tasks.
• Willingness for continual learning and improvement and to share new learnings.

About You

Essential Criteria

• Interest in environmental work, horticulture, Urban Forestry and / or a practical environmental discipline.
• Interest in learning about planting standard trees and whips and maintaining urban tree planting projects.
• A positive approach and interest to learn & develop.
• Able to undertake manual handling tasks associated with the role & happy to work outside 5 days a week in all weather.
• Willing to travel across London & the UK with overnight stays where required.
• Able to work up to 10 weekend days as per year as required, (some community planting days are held at weekends in
  autumn and winter with Time Off In Lieu granted)
• Able to give and take direction, and work as part of a team

Desirable Criteria

• Good IT skills with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, Google emails / calendar management.
• Experience of using horticultural machinery and hand tools.
• Experience of coordinating and leading outdoor workshops and events with schools, community or volunteer groups or
  other groups.
• Full Clean Driving Licence.

Benefits and More Details

Salary – £20,000+

Term – 1 year fixed term contract, with one month probation.

Holiday – 29 days annual leave in addition to public holidays, and annual half day birthday leave.

Pension – Employees are required to make a minimum 3% contribution with Trees for Cities’ making an enhanced 5% employer’s contribution. Trees for Cities also offers the option to match additional contributions up to a further 2%.

Support – Up to 20 days paid release to attend fully funded CPD training (To the value of £2,000)

Regular progress reviews with the RFS and employer.

There is access to a £300 relocation grant available upon request from RFS.

More benefits…

Once salaried employees (permanent or fixed term) have successfully completed their probationary period, they are entitled to the following additional benefits:

• Professional development training budget
• Moving day allowance (up to one day per year in addition to their annual leave entitlement)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Volunteering Day (one day)
• Career breaks in addition to annual leave linked to length of service.

Please note we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, you must therefore have valid a right to work in the UK to apply to this role.

Important information about the role:

Some weekend and evening work will be required particularly during the planting season (October to March).

This job description is not exhaustive and is liable to review following discussions with the post holder. The post holder will be expected to undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by their manager.
All employees have a duty under the Health & Safety at Work Act to ensure that their working environment is kept free of hazards that may prove injurious to themselves, their colleagues, and all those engaged in the charity’s activities.

The job holder may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check regarding suitability for working with children and vulnerable adults.

Trees for Cities is committed to creating a diverse working environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.

Interview Details

Please be aware you will need to be available, online, for an interview on 9th, 10th or 11th July.

Questions

Please feel free to reach out to Alison if you have any questions about the role, the Forestry Roots program, the application process or the interview process.