Tree Officer - Harlow District Council

Tree Officer - Harlow District Council

Harlow District Council

Temporary, Full Time

£400.00 per day (umbrella inside IR35)

Location: Harlow

Closing Date: 15th August 2025

Essex County Council are delighted to be supporting Harlow District Council to recruit a temporary Tree Officer on a 6-12-month basis. Please note that this post requires the successful individual to be based on site full time.

Harlow is a district of contrasts and an ideal location to both live and work. The town itself is thriving, with excellent shopping and leisure facilities for all ages. We have good road links to the M11 and M25 and excellent rail connections to London and Stansted Airport, just 35 minutes and 20 minutes away from Harlow respectively.

The role:

Harlow District Council are seeking a skilled and proactive Tree Officer to join our Green Space team within the Environment Directorate. In this key role, you will be responsible for supervising tree inspections, managing maintenance contracts, and ensuring the safety, health, and sustainability of the Council’s trees.

You’ll lead on technical inspections, provide expert advice, oversee contractor works, and deliver a high standard of customer care. The role involves extensive site visits, data collection, and interaction with residents, stakeholders, and internal teams.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated arboricultural professional to make a real impact on the Council’s urban and natural environment while supporting biodiversity and public safety.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise Tree contractors and monitor outputs, quality, and productivity.
• Conduct daily tree inspections and audits to uphold our Duty of Care across parks, streets, and green spaces.
• Manage and oversee tree maintenance contracts (routine, ad-hoc, and emergency works).
• Provide technical expertise and frontline customer care, particularly for complex enquiries.
• Use tree asset management systems to collect, maintain, and analyse data.
• Liaise with stakeholders, including residents, elected members, contractors, and external agencies.
• Support community tree planting initiatives and environmental education.
• Respond to legal and insurance enquiries and contribute to FOIs and formal complaints.
• Ensure all works are compliant with health and safety standards.
• Play a key role in emergency planning and cross-departmental service coordination.

The experience you will bring:

• A recognised qualification in arboriculture or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Strong experience in tree inspection, maintenance, and contract supervision.
• Excellent knowledge of tree safety, legislation, and risk management.
• Competence in using GIS, tree asset software, and decay detection equipment.
• Proven ability to deal with complex customer enquiries and technical matters.
• A collaborative and adaptable approach to working across departments.
• A valid driving licence and the ability to travel across the district.