Senior Arborist

Golden Plains Shire Council

Bannockburn, Ballarat & Central Highlands, VIC

Government—Local (Government & Defence)

Full-time

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Based in Bannockburn, great location and an easy drive from Geelong, Ballarat, and Melbourne with ee on-site p parking

Permanent full-time role with opportunity to grow 

Monthly ADO

Salary between $93,700 and $93,700-$102,000 (dependant on experience) + super

Golden Plains Shire Council provides a workplace where people matter, communities are connected, and the future is bright. We offer a diverse range of career pathways in meaningful roles with a sense of purpose where you can grow and thrive.

To continue to deliver for our community, we are seeking an experienced senior arborist to lead the organization’s approach to the preservation, management, and renewal of the Shire’s tree assets. 

This role will provide you the opportunity to:

Take the lead in developing short- to medium-term work plans as well as long-term succession plans to ensure safe, healthy, and sustainable treescapes across the region.

Provide expert, technical arboricultural advice to operational work teams, contractors, the planning department, senior leaders, community members, and councillors as and when required.

Lead and coordinate arboricultural contractors and operational teams to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery of tree maintenance and management services.

Develop and implement an appropriate tree inspection regime to manage liability, safety, and tree health across the shire.

Respond to tree maintenance requests raised by the community and internal stakeholders with a focus on negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes.

Project manage and coordinate external arboriculture contractors, including contract management activities such as resolving issues, monitoring performance, auditing works, safety inspections, and approving invoices.

Our ideal candidate will have:

Minimum Diploma in Arboriculture (AQF 5) and proven expertise and experience in the assessment, management, and maintenance of trees in line with contemporary best practice and Australian Standards.

Demonstrated application of proactive risk and OHS management, including safe work practices for working alone.

Demonstrated experience in contract management and/or project management.

Demonstrated understanding of asset management principles and practices, specifically how it relates to arboriculture.

Demonstrated self-motivation and time/workload management abilities, including the ability to set priorities, develop work plans, problem-solve, and coordinate resources.

Demonstrated experience in delivering high-quality customer service outcomes, including the ability to consult, negotiate, and resolve customer service requests or issues.

Competently and safely operate a range of small and medium plants, including chainsaws and pole saws.

Strong communication skills and a proven ability to maintain both written and electronic records.

Desirable Requirements

Construction Induction White Card

Traffic Management qualification(s)

Knowledge of Elevated Work Platform operations

Previous experience in local government and/or knowledge of local government functions.

We care. We thrive. We grow

Our people are passionate, collaborative, and deeply committed to both the community and the work they do. This commitment is felt from the moment you step through the doors, in every interaction, and in the way we celebrate our collective achievements.

We care about our community and our people, provide flexibility and support so you can thrive, and offer a diverse range of opportunities to support your personal and professional growth. We are dedicated to fostering this culture, because we know that our people are the key to the future growth and success of Golden Plains Shire.

We offer:

Learning and development opportunities aligned to your role and aspirations, along with opportunities to work on a variety of projects and undertake secondments

Flexible work arrangements to empower you to achieve better life/work balance

A modern, high-quality, architectural designed working environment with ee on-site p parking

An environment where health, safety, and well-being are prioritised in all that we do

An active Social Club

Novated leases available to permanent full- and part-time staff

Ability to transfer years of service from government organizations and transfer of LSL balance within Local Government and with some government organisations

Generous leave entitlements, including

Up to 16 weeks primary & up to 3 weeks secondary parental leave

Purchased leave

Ceremonial leave

Gender affirmation leave

Family violence leave

For further information about the role and the key selection criteria, please view the position description below or, for a confidential discussion, contact Ryan Supple, Coordinator Open Spaces Maintenance, on 03 5220 7163.

We’d love to hear from you ASAP regarding this role! To ensure we find the best candidates, applications for this role will be assessed as they are received, and the position may be filled prior to any end date advertised.

Click on Apply to submit your application and follow the prompts. 

Please address the key selection criteria (KSC) in your cover letter or use the KSC to guide your responses to the online questionnaire when submitting your application.

For further tips and tricks to help you shine during the recruitment process, visit our website.

We encourage you to talk to us about any adjustments or additional support you may require during the recruitment process, as well as how this role can be flexible for you.

NOTE: Never make payment to any employer, person, company, contractor or agency to get hired for a Job.

Contact our People and Culture team at peopleandculture@gplains.vic.gov.au to discuss how we can best support you.