Braintree District Council is committed to protecting, enhancing and managing our natural environment. We are now seeking an experienced and motivated Arboricultural Officer/Senior Arboricultural Officer to join our Planning Service and play a key role in the stewardship of trees across the district.

The Role

As Arboricultural Officer, you will provide a professional arboricultural service to the Council, supporting the effective management of trees on Council-owned land and assessing tree-related planning applications and appeals. You will work closely with colleagues, contractors, residents, councillors and community groups to ensure trees are managed safely, sustainably and in line with relevant legislation.

Key Responsibilities

Manage and inspect the Council’s tree stock, undertaking risk assessments and visual tree health inspections
Respond to enquiries regarding Council-owned trees, including from residents, Members, and Town and Parish Councils
Arrange and supervise tree works delivered by external contractors
Support emergency planning arrangements for fallen or dangerous trees
Assess applications and notifications relating to:
-Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)
-Trees in Conservation Areas (Section 211 Notices)
-Hedgerow Removal Notices
-High Hedge complaints
Provide specialist arboricultural advice on planning applications, pre-applications and Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs)
Assist with the defence of arboricultural decisions at appeal
Work with Planning Enforcement on unauthorised works to protected trees and hedgerows, gathering evidence where required
Monitor planning conditions relating to trees, landscaping and replacement planting
Support tree wardens, volunteer groups and local tree planting initiatives

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with strong arboricultural knowledge, sound professional judgement and proven experience of dealing with arboricultural matters in a Local Planning Authority environment. You will be confident interpreting plans and planning legislation, preparing clear and well-reasoned reports, and handling demanding or sensitive situations with tact, confidence and resilience
You will be able to work independently, manage your own caseload and prioritise effectively
The successful candidate will bring excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong customer service, attention to detail and the motivation to deliver high-quality work within deadlines. You will be comfortable balancing technical assessment, customer expectations, legal requirements and the need for proportionate decision-making

Essential requirements:

Qualification in Arboriculture (or actively working towards one)
LANTRA Professional Tree Inspection Certificate
Full UK driving licence: It is fundamental to the role that you have a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes Regrettably, applicants without a full driving licence and/or access to a vehicle cannot be considered
Good knowledge of tree-related legislation and tree health, pests and diseases
Ability to prepare clear, well-structured written reports
Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Desirable:

Degree in a related subject (e.g. landscape management, countryside management, planning, horticulture or environmental studies)
Experience working within a local authority or arboricultural consultancy
Experience managing and inspecting a tree stock
Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. Arboricultural Association or Institute of Chartered Foresters) with a commitment to CPD
Experience using tree inspection software, GIS, asset management systems and planning software

What We Offer

In return, your expertise, skills and experience will be valued. We will support your professional development and provide the opportunity to broaden your experience through casework, legal processes, inspections, reports, appeals and service improvement.

We are committed to creating a collaborative and innovative working environment which allows you to thrive, and we have supported many officers to progress their careers through study and development programmes.

You will join a friendly and supportive team, where your judgement and experience will make a direct contribution to the quality of development and tree management across the District.

We offer flexible working arrangements, with a balance of home and office working, alongside the opportunity to work on interesting and varied cases in a growing District.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Nicola Murphy, Landscape Services Manager, on 01376 552525.

For more information, please see the job profiles:

Arboricultural Officer

Senior Arboricultural Officer

To apply, click Apply online below.

Why choose Braintree District Council?

Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the District located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community.

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach, which is led by our employees, and are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Our people see the difference they make and how the work they do actively contributes to and encourages positive change in the local community.

We also offer some great benefits, including:

Flexible working
Local government pension scheme
Learning and development for all employees
Employee discounts at local businesses
Employee recognition schemes
Extensive health and wellbeing programmes, including discounted gym membership

At Braintree District Council, we are committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding and delivering high-quality services to our community. All staff may occasionally be required to support emergency responses affecting the district.

If you are an experienced arboricultural professional looking for a role with responsibility, variety and the chance to make a visible impact, we would like to hear from you.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications: Midnight on Monday 10th August 2026.

Interviews will take place on Monday 24th August 2026.