Position Number: TBA
Directorate: Environment & Planning Services
Service:
Environment, Health & Regulatory
Compliance
Location: Katoomba / Springwood
Date
Created/Updated
22 October 2024
Position
Classification:
Band 6
POSITION PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
Overseeing and coordinating arboricultural services to maintain urban forest assets,
ensuring high-quality pruning, tree removals, and vegetation management. The position
focuses on team leadership, safety compliance, and operational planning to meet Council
targets, while fostering a collaborative work environment. The role also emphasizes
communication with stakeholders, implementing tree care strategies, and contributing to
the city’s urban canopy cover goals.
RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Position Title Principal Urban Forest
Report to: Position Number P01073
Staff Responsibility: 4 x Arboricultural Technicians, 1 x Trainee
Arborist.
Key Internal Relationships: Arborists, Environmental Scientist / Landscape
Assessors, para technical / business partners
and customer service staff, Council’s Safety
Team.
Key External Relationships: Residents and other members of the community;
government authorities; other tree / vegetation
and civil contractors.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership
- Supervise and coordinate arboricultural team or site activities, providing on-the-job
supervision and training.
Both as the lead of the Arboricultural technician team and as an individual:
- Coordinate and oversee arboricultural services to meet operational plans and
schedules, achieving defined targets:
o Specialist tree climbing using rope and harness, including aerial rescue
techniques.
o Advanced chainsaw operations for tree removal and pruning.
o Working from heights, including using Elevated Work Platforms.
o Wood chipping operations.
o Tree planting, staking, mulching, and watering.
o Pest control in parks and roadside vegetation.
- Manage worksites, including traffic control and signage arrangements.
- Demonstrate positive leadership in achieving corporate goals and fostering a
participative environment for staff.
- Communicate effectively with staff to optimize resource management and encourage
individual ownership of work.
- Share information and knowledge, including coaching, training, and mentoring staff as
needed.
- Ensure work is carried out to required quality standards and contribute new ideas for
improving work practices.
- Ensure timely completion of daily documentation (e.g., timesheets, incident reports)
and report operational and safety matters to the relevant officer.
- Ensure compliant capture and secure use of public records in line with Blue Mountains
City Council Records Management Policy during daily business.
Technical – Arboricultural Technician
- Provide expert knowledge and guidance to team members on the health and vitality of
trees.
- Build strong partnerships that support the planning and execution of work priorities.
- Operate and maintain Council’s machinery and equipment according to
manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Properly use, maintain, and seek replacement for personal protective equipment as
necessary.
- Develop daily work strategies that promote worker safety and balance physical fatigue
with productivity.
- Design and implement risk management measures such as traffic control plans and
site safety measures appropriate to the level of work and in accordance with relevant
codes and safety practices.
- Provide support with the coordination and maintenance of an urban forest strategy and
tree management database.
- Operate all plant and equipment safely and competently, ensuring that all routine pre-
start checks and maintenance are performed and recorded according to the
manufacturer's recommendations..
- Undertake make safe works following emergency events such as adverse weather
events as and when required.
- Implement tree care strategies that seek to improve the health and condition of trees
and conserve and enhance habitat.
Teamwork and quality outcomes
- Contribute to a healthy team setting.
- Build relationships with team members showing consideration and respect.
- Model and promote excellence in customer service and commitment to a customer
service culture.
- Champion continuous improvement in processes, systems and documentation.
- Act in a manner that promotes integrity, ability, judgment and transparency in
processes.
Guiding Principles
- We act as one organisation responding to the changing needs of our LGA and
community
- We are strategy led, driven by our Community Strategic Plan with clear priorities and
focus
- We are service focused we continuously improve service provision and provide
excellent customer service
- We collaborate and work together to achieve our outcomes
- We ensure safety and well-being is at the centre of our organisation, operations and
culture
- We are a financially sustainable organisation, living within our means, ensuring best
value resource allocation
These Guidelines complement the Council’s adopted Values of: Work Together; Work
Safe Home safe; Service Excellence; Value for Money; Trust and Respect; and,
Supporting Community.
Workplace Health & Safety
Ensure compliance with WHS obligations and responsibilities as outlined in Councils
policies and procedures and under the relevant WHS legislation. These include but are
not limited to: identifying potentially unsafe situations or work practices and notifying your
Supervisor or Manager (or the Health, Safety Manager/Area Safety Representative);
never performing a task that you believe is dangerous or for which you do not have the
experience, or have not received appropriate instructions and training or where the correct
equipment to carry out the task safely is not available; always work in a safe manner and
in accordance with safety instructions, where applicable; use the work equipment supplied
for the job, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions), and any personal
protective equipment, which the Council deems necessary and has provided; be safety
aware and report any actions to your line manager which will assist the Council to meet
its legal workplace health and safety obligations.
You have the right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work. In addition, you are required
at all times to comply with Councils Asbestos Management Plan and Policy.
COMMUNICATION
Clear communication skills are required. The person will communicate with a wide range
of people in a variety of internal and external settings. The person will need persuasive
skills to resolve problems or provide specialised advice. The role will require persons to
represent and clearly articulate Council’s position in negotiations and discussions with
external parties and organisations.
JUDGEMENT & PROBLEM SOLVING
The role requires a consultative, assertive, and directive approach in exercising judgement
and problem-solving skills. The position is responsible for making decisions on daily and
weekly work priorities within the framework of approved programs and guidelines. This
includes using judgement and problem-solving abilities to adjust and enhance work
arrangements, evaluate options, and allocate tasks appropriately. The role involves
completing tasks of varying complexity, with assistance available for more challenging
problem-solving. Key skills required include:
- The ability to recognize issues and use initiative to develop creative solutions.
- The capacity to respond promptly to changing circumstances and make sound
decisions that ensure ongoing efficiency and effectiveness.
- Competence in establishing and analysing data to determine the best course of action.
AUTHORITY
Provides a specialised/technical service in the completion of work and/or projects which
have elements of complexity (composed of many parts that may be more conceptual than
definite). Decisions and advice given may commit the council to a course of action.
SKILL, EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS & BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
- Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture) or relevant trade experience.
- General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) – White Card.
- A current MR drivers’ licence is required (or ability to obtain within a 6-month period).
- Strong leadership in meeting corporate objectives, independently managing
arboriculture activities, and efficiently coordinating medium-sized teams, resources,
and schedules to achieve results while promoting staff engagement.
- Demonstrated industry experience in arboriculture practices, including rigging, knot
tying and the safe use of operating plant such as elevated work platform (EWP),
woodchipper, chainsaw, stump grinder and other tools and equipment.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and prioritize tasks within deadlines, manage site risks
with appropriate safety measures, perform work to established standards while
collaboratively reviewing outcomes for quality, analyze situations to reach logical
conclusions with recommendations, and build positive working relationships for
effective teamwork..
- Strong observation, design plan interpretation, and problem-solving skills with a focus
on best practice work processes.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver on-the-
job training and mentoring, along with proficiency in Microsoft software, Council-
specific programs, and mobile technology for practical workplace applications..
- Proficiency in tree climbing using rope and harness, including relevant rigging skills.
- Physical fitness and agility to perform labor-intensive tasks, including frequent heavy
lifting and bending.
- Understanding of Workplace Health and Safety requirements and work practices in a
parks and gardens setting.
- Supplemented qualifications / additional training in:
o Recognised training and experience in chainsaw operation at Level Basic to
Advanced.
o Traffic Controller Accreditation (or ability and willingness to obtain within first 6
months of employment).
o Elevated Work Platform operator Workcover licence (or ability and willingness
to obtain within first 6 months of employment).
o Aerial Rescue Statement of Attainment.
o Work safely near live electrical apparatus qualification (or ability and willingness
to obtain within first 6 months of employment).
- A proven record of using digital operating systems for workload / customer
management and / or for maintaining / improving a green assets data base.
Desirable qualifications/attributes
• TRAC or QTRA training
📌 Team Leader Arboricultural Technician/9803)
🏢 Blue Mountains City Council
📍 Bathurst