Principal Arboricultural Consultant

Working Style: Anywhere worker (office based in Chelmsford 1 day per week) Background The purpose of the Principal Arboricultural Consultant is to co-lead the provision of arboricultural services to clients across the UK. The Council's two Principal Arboricultural Consultants lead the delivery and development of arboricultural services, including specialist planning advice; highway tree management; a range of large and complex arboricultural assessments and surveys; and for multi-disciplinary projects. The role requires a qualified, authoritative subject matter expert with advanced technical skills, knowledge and experience, including legislation, policy, standards and guidance; accomplished client relationship, information management, and communication skills; and a collaborative, enterprising, and client focused approach. Key Responsibilities * Effective commercial and operational delivery of arboricultural services including: a demanding caseload of enquiries in relation to specialist planning advice and trees/vegetation affecting the Public Highway, specifying associated management works and managing contractors; evaluating and carrying out arboricultural assessments (e.g. tree inventories and valuations) of large-scale, challenge and complexity; advising on large scale and complex habitat management and creation projects; designing and undertaking complex arboricultural surveys, including new tools and techniques; and complex specialist tasks on multi-disciplinary projects. * Collecting, analysing, and presenting complex data, evidence (including for enforcement) and advice to recognised standards, reviewing outcomes, and assessing third party compliance. * Leading the development and review of complex, plans, policies and guidance. * Commercial development of our arboriculture offer, bidding on high value opportunities, and managing high value projects and contracts against budget, specification and indicators. * Building a professional, client-focused culture, and high-level client relationships, maintaining commercial awareness of our industry, key markets and sectors, managing accounts and securing feedback for continuous improvement. * Leading the development and delivery of promotional and learning material, training activities and events, engaging with networks to enhance the recognition and reputation of Place Services. * Building a collaborative, high-performance culture, leading effective team working and improving team and personal competency, continually seeking to enhance performance and practice of self and others, securing feedback, and building knowledge and skills. * Identifying and implementing improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. Qualifications and Experience * Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor’s degree) with evidence of substantial post qualification experience, or equivalent by experience. * Qualified Professional Tree Inspector with strong evidence of continuous professional development, membership of relevant professional body e.g. M.Arbor.A, and Institute of Chartered Foresters (MICFor). * Authoritative technical and subject matter expert, with comprehensive knowledge and experience of development management and planning policy, legislation, and enforcement standards and guidance; woodland creation/management; arboricultural assessments and surveys; and related office and site-based practices and procedures. * Effective people management skills with experience of employee performance and development. * Strong understanding of wellbeing and H&S, with ability to identify and implement safe working practices for self and others. * Good understanding of commercial practices, with accomplished negotiation and communication skills and a track record of business development, including bid winning and the ability to inform, influence and persuade, building client relationships and managing high value accounts. * Able to lead specialist and multi-disciplinary project teams and manage multiple, and large scale and complex, projects from concept through to completion. * Advanced use of a range of common and specialist software packages e.g. GIS and/or other ICT tools, to implement complex data capture, management and presentation, and carry out high level analysis and interpretation