Tree Surgeon

Role Details

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: Mountsorrel, Hawcliffe Road, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire LE12 7AH

Worker Category: Field Based Worker

Salary: £32,070 – £34,359 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus Market Premia (10% of top of grade)

Working Hours: Full Time, 37 Hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: Sunday 22 February 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC (in-person interviews)

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Forestry Tree Surgeon to join our team as an Arboricultural Association ARB Approved contractor, helping to deliver a best-value, customer-focused service throughout Leicestershire and occasionally surrounding counties.

You will help provide a comprehensive and professional arboriculture service for all trees under the jurisdiction of Leicestershire County Council, and other clients in the private sector in the County of Leicestershire and surrounding counties.

Responsibilities include tree works such as Crown Lifting, Dead Wooding, Crown Reductions, Pollarding and Felling, and occasionally young tree and shrub maintenance; tree and shrub planting; and public rights of way maintenance.

You may be required to attend training courses, conferences, seminars or other meetings to undertake Continuous Professional Development relating to Arboriculture Association Standards.

The role may involve activities outside of normal working hours, including nights, weekends and public holidays, in all weather conditions to meet service needs.

This is a “safety critical post” and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing in line with our policies and procedures. A copy of our Substance Testing Policy, Procedure and Guidance is available on request.

About You

To apply for this post, you must have:

• The following qualifications: National Highways Sector Scheme 12 / National recognised Certificate in Arboriculture / Horticulture; relevant NPTC units including Maintain & Operate Chainsaw, Tree Felling, Tree climbing, Use of Chainsaw from rope & harness & Conduct Ariel rescue; Pesticides Application Certificate PA1 & PA6; Valid Driving Licence; Mobile Elevated Work Platform license. OR demonstrable evidence of the skills and experience required, together with a commitment to attain the essential qualifications.
• Extensive knowledge of forestry and arboriculture specifications, materials, and workmanship requirements and of the primary identification of tree species, including Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) to assess general tree condition and understand basic fungal brackets.
• Extensive knowledge of safe working practices when using plant and machinery, and of legislation including driver’s hours, PPE, manual handling and Aerial Rescue procedures.
• Knowledge of Chapter 8 Traffic Management Regulations, RIDDOR Regulations, Noise at Work Regulations and Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 including COSHH.
• The ability to abide by the Industry Code of Practice for Arboriculture – specifically Working at Height Operations, including pruning and free-fall dismantling, rigging, crane, MEWP and ladders; and to carry out safe and effective aerial rescue operations both drills and on live sites.
• The ability and willingness to work with everyone in the team, to use initiative in planning and prioritising, and to respond confidently to customers and colleagues with understanding and diplomacy whilst maintaining an objective and professional stance.
• Core communication skills (written and verbal), be well organized, able to prioritise own workload, remain calm and positive in challenging circumstances, and constructively challenge poor performance and/or behaviour.

You must also have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion.

In addition, you are expected to share our commitment to our values and will be asked to evidence them as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.

Flexible Working

We are keen to support employees in balancing their working life with other commitments. Wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit individual circumstances while meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss flexible working options, please contact the person named below. This may include term-time working, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexible start and finish times, home/remote working, etc.

Each role within the Council has a defined working style; the worker category for this post is detailed in the advert. More about our Working Styles is available on our career site.

Contact for Information or Discussion

Mark Aylott, Supervisor, Forestry — Telephone: 0116 305 7301. To contact by email, please click the word here.

OR

John Benson, Works Manager North — Telephone: 0116 305 5365. To contact by email, please click the word here.

How to Apply

Leicestershire County Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme. You will need to upload a supporting statement explaining how you meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section. For more information, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Please submit your application as early as possible.

If you have any technical issues when applying or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephone or via our online portal.

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.