Arboriculture Supervisor | Full-time Temporary

Australian Capital Territory; Canberra; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Arboretum Canberra is seeking an Arboriculture Supervisor to lead the Horticulture team in the Forests stream. You will supervise field officers, apprentices, and volunteers on arboriculture projects and develop weekly and seasonal work programs.

With limited supervision, you will conduct inspections, maintain records, and liaise with contractors and ACT Government colleagues, upholding RED and WHS principles.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Horticulture/Arboriculture.
• ChemCert accreditation or willingness to obtain on commencement.
• General Construction Induction or willingness to obtain on commencement.
• Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention or willingness to obtain on commencement.
• Asbestos awareness card or willingness to obtain before commencement.
• Pre-employment medical and WWVP registration may be required.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervising, training, coordinating and overseeing horticultural officers, apprentices and volunteers.
• Conduct regular inspections of forests and other arboriculture areas and develop weekly work programs.
• Contribute to seasonal work programs and maintain accurate records.
• Liaise with contractors and stakeholders across ACT Government while maintaining professionalism.

Skills

Strong leadership

Communication skills

Team supervision

Health and safety awareness

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications in Horticulture/Arboriculture

Tools

ChemCert accreditation

General Construction Induction (White Card)

Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention

Asbestos awareness training

MR truck licence

Plant operator’s licences

Side by side ATV licence

Job description

Details: The National Arboretum Canberra is seeking an experienced and highly motivated candidate to fill a new supervisor role within its dynamic Horticulture team, based at the Arboretum. The Horticulture Team will operate in two streams, Forests and Gardens – the Forests team requires an Arboriculture Supervisor.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Arboretum’s Senior Horticulturalist, and will be responsible for directly supervising, training, coordinating and overseeing horticultural field officers, apprentices, volunteers and other stakeholder groups working within the Arboretum on arboriculture projects.

With limited supervision, the successful candidate will be required to conduct regular inspections of their relevant areas, including all forests; develop comprehensive weekly work programs and contribute to the development of seasonal work programs; and maintain accurate records for planned and reactive works.

Good communication skills and digital aptitude are important in this role, the successful candidate will be required to liaise at various levels across a range of areas with contractors, external stakeholders and throughout the ACT Government, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism.

The candidate will also need to adhere to and promote the principles of Respect Equity and Diversity (RED), Work Health and Safety, and the ACTPS Values and Signature Behaviours to maintain a safe, healthy and fair workplace for all staff.

If you are an experienced in and passionate about arboriculture, and you take pride in your work and your ability to unite and motivate your team members, we want to hear from you.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people with diverse thoughts, lived experience, and perspectives can thrive and contribute their unique talents to the ACTPS and ACT community.

We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans, younger and older workers, and people with diverse genders, sexes and sexualities to apply.

Eligibility/ Other Requirements:

Mandatory:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Horticulture/Arboriculture
• ChemCert accreditation or willingness to obtain on commencement
• General Construction Induction or willingness to obtain on commencement
• Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention or willingness to obtain on commencement
• Asbestos awareness card or a willingness to obtain - Asbestos Awareness Training and evidence of completion delivered by a Registered Training Organisation is required before commencement, for further information refer to: Asbestos Awareness Training - WorkSafe ACT

Highly Desirable:

• MR truck licence
• Plant operator’s licences
• Side by side ATV licence
• Irrigation and water management experience

Other Requirements:

• First aid certificate or willingness to obtain
• This position requires a pre-employment medical
• Prior to commencing this role, a current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required. For further information on Working with Vulnerable People registration refer to - Apply for or renew a WWVP registration - Access Canberra
• This position involves direct supervision of staff.

Note:

This is a temporary position available immediately until 6 November 2026 with the possibility of extension up to six months. This position is available to ACT Government officers and employees only. A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only.

Applicants should note that a Joint Selection Committee (JSC) established in accordance with the collective/enterprise agreement provisions will assess all applications for this position.

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal.