Team Leader Arboricultural Technicians - V24/9485

TRIM No. 24/221157 Date last reviewed: October 2024 Page 1 POSITION DESCRIPTION Position Title: Team Leader Arboricultural Technician 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. TRIM No. 24/221157 Date last reviewed: October 2024 Page 2 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 environment. • Build relationships with team members showing consideration and respect. TRIM No. 24/221157 Date last reviewed: October 2024 Page 3 • 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. TRIM No. 24/221157 Date last reviewed: October 2024 Page 4 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 environment. • 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). TRIM No. 24/221157 Date last reviewed: October 2024 Page 5 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 TRIM No. 24/221157 Date last reviewed: October 2024 Page 6 BMCC POSITIONAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS ANALYSIS Position: Team Leader Arboriculture Technician Responsible Manager/ Supervisor: A / Program Leader – Urban Forest Signature: Date: 22/10/204 Complete the physical requirements and working condition sections of the table below based on an employees average daily exposure to the tasks listed. Ratings as follows: Exposure Level Rating No Exposure 0 Low Exposure (0 – 2hrs daily) 1 Medium Exposure (2 – 4hrs daily) 2 High Exposure (4 – 8hrs daily) 3 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Heavy Manual Tasks 2 Pushing loads > 5kgs 1 Frequent bending/ stooping 1 Sitting for extended periods 0 Light Manual Tasks 2 Pulling loads >5kgs 2 Repetitive Lifting 1 Standing for extended periods 2 Trunk Twisting 1 Extend arms for reaching 2 Elevating arms above shoulder height 1 Kneeling for extended periods 0 Climbing to access/ exit excavations 0 Throwing 1 Walking on uneven ground 1 Walking for extended periods 1 Balancing 1 Crawling 0 Hearing above background noise 1 Depth Perception 1 Colour Vision 1 Fine Manipulation 0 Shoveling/Digging 1 WORKING CONDITIONS PHYSICAL Inside Work 2 Outside Work 3 High Temperatures > 38deg 0 Low Temperatures < 3 deg 2 Operating Machinery 2 Working Near Machinery 2 Working at Heights 1 Noisy Work Areas 2 Vibration 1 Confined Spaces 0 Prolonged Driving (periods > 2hours) 0 Working Alone 2 Overhead Work 1 Use of computer for screen-based activities. 2 Prolonged Sitting (periods > 1hour) 0 Prolonged Standing (periods > 1 hour) 1 CHEMICALS BIOLOGICAL Dusts 1 Liquids 0 Pesticide Spraying 0 Herbicide Spraying 0 Working with Solvents 0 Mists / Fumes 0 Possible exposure to Hepatitis A, B, C 0 Possible exposure to Tetanus 0 Gases/ Vapours 0 Odours 1 BIOMECHANICAL Repetitiveness 2 Fatigue 2 ASBESTOS Asbestos Awareness √ None of the below Class B Asbestos Removal Asbestos Removal and Supervision Asbestos Assessor USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Safety Boots/ Shoes 3 Dust Mask/ Respirator 0 Protective Eyewear 3 Ear plugs/Muffs 3 Hard Hat 3 Provide a brief description of the job requirements: