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Dear Applicant

Trees and Woodlands Officer – Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2017

Thank you for your enquiry in regard to the above position.

Enclosed is a recruitment and information pack which includes the following:

  • A job description and person specification
  • Background Information and Terms and Conditions of Employment

Further information including our Corporate Plan is available on the Authority’s web site,

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 5.00pm on Thursday 25August 2016.

It is not our practice to acknowledge applications or to inform applicants that they have been unsuccessful. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date of the advertisement, you may assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

I look forward to receiving your application and thank you for the interest you have shown in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Yours faithfully

The HR Team

Enc.

YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:Trees and Woodland Officer

GRADE:Band D

LOCATION:Grassington

RESPONSIBLE TO:Senior Trees and Woodlands Officer

RESPONSIBLE FOR:No line management responsibility

OBJECTIVES OF THE POST:

To assist the Senior Trees and Woodlands Officer to conserve and enhance the tree and woodland resource within the YorkshireDalesNational Park, in order to achieve the objectives set out in the National Park Management Plan and the Dales Woodland Strategy.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Carry out the Authority’s statutory obligations with regard to protected trees and hedgerows:

  • deal with all enquiries from the public, professional bodies, tree specialists and others;
  • advise on all aspects of tree management and statutory protection of trees and hedgerows.
  • process applications relating to Tree Preservation Orders, works to trees in Conservation Areas, and under the Hedgerow Regulations;
  • ensure that work to protected trees and hedgerows is carried out to the relevant standard;
  • provide advice to the Authority’s Development Control officers and others within the Authority.

2. Undertake inspections and surveys in accordance with appropriate British Standards, as necessary to assess the health, condition and risk/hazard potential of trees.

3. Implement and oversee arboricultural work schedules, including the supervision of contractors, for trees on land owned by the Authority.

4. Assist the Senior Trees and Woodlands Officer to achieve the Authority’s targets for new native woodland planting and woodland management agreements.

5. Provide technical and administrative support in relation to the Authority’s trees and woodlands activities such as:-

  • prepare, develop and maintain map based information systems (GIS);
  • maintain files, photographs, technical papers, statistical data and other information.

6. Such other duties as are commensurate with the objectives and grade of the post, as directed from time to time by the Chief Executive.

YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

PERSON SPECIFICATION

TREES AND WOODLANDS OFFICER

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS
Hold an appropriate arboricultural qualification / 
Educated to degree level or equivalent in a related discipline / 
EXPERIENCE
At least one years experience of processing Local Authority protected tree applications (including e.g. Tree Preservation Orders, Trees in Conservation Areas) / 
Knowledge of the relevant parts of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 relating to protected trees. / 
Knowledge of the Hedgerow Regulations. / 
Experience in using GIS, preferably MapInfo. / 
SKILLS
Excellent oral and written communication skills. / 
Capable of dealing sensitively with local communities, farmers and land owners / 
Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office and MapInfo. / 
Full driving licence / 
Ability to assess the landscape and amenity value of trees / 
Negotiating skills / 
Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines. / 
Ability to guide and direct others. / 
Analytical skills / 
General administrative skills / 
Data collection, maintenance and management / 
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Enthusiasm / 
Diplomacy / 
Flexibility / 
A pragmatic and positive approach with an ability to find creative solutions. / 

Trees and WoodlandsOfficer

Based at Grassington, North Yorkshire

Background

The YorkshireDalesNational Park covers an area of 1800 square kilometres and sits astride the central Pennine watershed in North Yorkshire and Cumbria. It is a dramatic upland, rising to an elevation of nearly 800 metres, dissected by numerous long glaciated valleys or dales. The area was designated a national park in 1954 because of its outstanding scenic and environmental qualities and the opportunities it affords for outdoor recreation (the national park receives approximately 8.3 million leisure visits per year). With a resident population of 20,000 people, the area is a working landscape, with agriculture, quarrying and tourism, offering the main employment opportunities. Indeed, it is the long history of people settling in and working this harsh environment that has created a cultural landscape recognised today as one of the most distinctive in Western Europe.

From 1974 the whole of the YorkshireDalesNational Park was administered by a Committee of North Yorkshire County Council but, as a result of the Environment Act 1995, the new National Park Authority was established on 1st April 1997. The Authority remains within the framework of local government but is independent of the counties and districts. The Authority now consists of both county council and district council representatives as well as parish representatives and members appointed by the Secretary of State.

The 1995 Environment Act revised and updated the purposes of national parks which are:-

“conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the areas, and promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of those areas by the public”.

In pursuing these purposes the Authority

“shall seek to foster the economic and social wellbeing of communities within the National Park.”

The National Park Authority is advised by the Chief Executive (National Park Officer), who is supported by approximately 130 staff.

Terms and Conditions of Service

Pay

Band D

Salary: £19,239 - £23,166per annum pro rata.The starting salary is normally at the bottom of the band unless an appointees leaving salary is greater.

This post is classified as an essential user and will therefore be expected to provide a vehicle for business use. The post holder will receive a mileage rate for all work-related journeys of 45p per mile.

Work Base

This post is based at our Colvend office in Grassington, North Yorkshire, however, there will be travel elsewhere in the Park.

Pension

All staff are automatically brought into the Local Government Pension Scheme, unless they elect otherwise. Membership of the LGPS provides access to high quality pension benefits based on final pay.

Hours of Work

The normal hours of work are 37 per week, Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

A flexitime scheme is in operation. This allows you to vary your start and finish times within set parameters to help your work fit in with your social and domestic responsibilities. If you have accrued sufficient time, the scheme allows you to take up to 12 days extra leave during the year.

Holidays

The holiday entitlement is based on length of service within Local Government or related employment.

On commencement of employment: 25 days.

After 1 year continuous service: 26 days.

After 2 years continuous service: 27 days.

After 3 years continuous service: 28 days.

After 4 years continuous service: 29 days.

After 5 years continuous service: 30 days.

Plus Bank Holidays.

Pro rata for part time employees.

Special Leave

Working for a public sector employer, you will find that we offer favourable entitlements compared with many other employers in regard to time off for such reasons as maternity, maternity support leave, adoption and special leave for various other reasons.

We also support employment initiatives aimed at achieving work/life balance such as parental leave and time off for family emergencies.

Training and Development

The National Park Authority is committed to the professional and personal training and development of its staff. To support this, the Authority has achieved the national Investors in People (IIP) Standard. An appraisal scheme is in place for all staff and opportunities to undertake in-house and external training programmes are available.

Recruitment Clearance

The offer of appointment is subject to medical clearance by Occupational Health and receipt of satisfactory references.

Miscellaneous

New entrants to local government are subject to a probationary period of six months.

The notice period applicable to this post is 2 months.

The Authority operates a non-smoking policy in its offices.

Completed application forms to be returned to the HR Office, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Yoredale, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3EL, by 5pm on Thursday 25 August 2016.

If you have not been contacted for interview within three weeks of the closing date, you may assume that your application has not been successful.

Recruitment Pack\