Job Description
Who we are & what we stand for
Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.
We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.
We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.
At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.
Our Environment & Fleet Management team provide a wide range of integrated services to help keep the environment in which the people of Gateshead live, work and spend their spare time in a clean, safe and attractive condition. This includes parks and green spaces like our beautiful Saltwell and Watergate Parks, as well as other green spaces and countryside management. We’re also responsible for vehicle and fleet management across the Council, keeping the fleet on the road and enabling much wider programmes of work, as well as several other areas of responsibility
About the role….
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within Technical Services at Gateshead Council.
This post is for an Arboriculture Officer and the key role of maintaining and making safe trees within the Borough.
What you'll get to do:
- To work alongside other trained Arboriculture Officers in carrying out planned and reactive works on trees throughout the Borough. This will include the use of chainsaws
- Carry out a high standard of work to ensure that trees are safely maintained
- To have experience of safely climbing and dismantling large trees
- To be able to work as part of a team in providing an important Service
- To be flexible and be able to follow instructions from Arboriculture Supervisors and Manager
- To be part of an out of hours call out Service to deal with emergency jobs
- To be able to follow Health & Safety guidelines, follow generic risk assessments and carry out dynamic risks assessments where required
- Be able to communicate in a clear and polite manner to members of the public
- To work in other areas of the service as and when required
- Such other responsibilities allocated which are appropriate to the grade of the post
What you'll bring
- To be qualified Level 2 in Forestry and Arboriculture
- Safe working practices
- Knowledge of different species of Trees
- Carrying out tree maintenance works
- Working as part of a team
- Hold a full UK driving licence
What’s in it for you
- Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary – we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
- Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
- Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
- Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
- Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
- Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
- Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).
Our commitment to you
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. At Gateshead Council we are an employer who embraces, and welcomes diversity, who's truly inclusive and who demonstrates equality for all. We'll go the extra mile so that our approach is representative of the communities we serve and each other. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
How to apply
You can apply online using the link below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.
We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.
If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via recruitment@gateshead.gov.uk
Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.
Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.