Arborist

Merri-bek City Council; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fortnightly RDO

Training & career development

Salary sacrifice options

Work-life balance

Wellness programs

Job summary

Merri-bek City Council is seeking a Forest Maintenance professional to support the Urban Forest Unit in maintaining a healthy urban forest across the municipality. The role emphasizes safety, performance, and high-quality outcomes.

The successful candidate will have Arboriculture qualifications, operate field machinery, and work within a collaborative team. Flexible hybrid work and strong staff support are provided.

Qualifications

• Certificate III in Arboriculture is required.
• High Risk Work for Elevating Work Platforms >11m is required.
• Medium Rigid Heavy Vehicle License is required.
• Working With Children’s Check is required.
• White Card and First aid are required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain Merri-bek’s urban forest and assist in the Forest Maintenance team.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal communications and time management.
• Apply OH&S practices and operate arboriculture machinery (elevating platforms, woodchippers, chainsaws).
• Support backfilling roles such as Planning and Inspecting Arborist as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

OH&S practices

Arboriculture machinery

Interpersonal communication

Time management

Education

Certificate III in Arboriculture

Licence to perform High Risk Work – Elevating Work Platforms >11m

Medium Rigid Heavy Vehicle License

Working With Children’s Check

White Card

First aid

Certificate V (Diploma) in Arboriculture

ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

Certificate II in ESI - Powerline Vegetation Control

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook)

Job description

• Full-time permanent role (based on 35 hours per week)
• Fortnightly RDO
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

• Full-time permanent role (based on 35 hours per week)
• Fortnightly RDO
• Salary: $80k - $83k + Super
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 195,125 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

This role is part of the Forest Maintenance team within the Urban Forest Unit at Merri-bek City Council. The Urban Forest unit is responsible for the growth and maintenance of a healthy urban forest for the benefit of the Merri-bek community. The Urban Forest Unit is a safety-centric, performance orientated team, with a focus on high quality outcomes via innovative and contemporary management practices.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, driven, and innovative, individual to add to our team to help us achieve our objectives.

As part of our Forest Maintenance team, you will play a vital role in maintaining Merri-bek’s urban forest. The successful candidate will have a minimum of Certificate III in Arboriculture, experience in tree maintenance works, a current Victorian Driver Licence, a Licence to Perform High Risk Work for Elevating Work Platforms over 11m, and other skills and abilities as described in the key selection criteria. A Certificate V (Diploma) in Arboriculture and Medium Rigid Heavy Vehicle License are desirable.

The candidate is expected to have strong interpersonal communications skills, an ability to manage their time productively, and an attitude that drives excellence in tree maintenance.

Candidates with a Certificate V (Diploma) in Arboriculture will also have an opportunity to develop their skills by backfilling other roles including Planning and Inspecting Arborist as required.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• Certificate III in Arboriculture.
• Licence to Perform High Risk Work for Elevating Work Platforms over 11m.
• Medium Rigid Heavy Vehicle License.
• Working With Children’s Check
• White Card
• First aid
• Demonstrated experience / knowledge in contemporary arboriculture maintenance techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in applying OH&S practices in the workplace.
• The ability to use arboriculture machinery including Elevating Work Platforms, woodchippers, and chainsaws.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Demonstrated customer service skills.

Desirable

• Certificate V (Diploma) in Arboriculture.
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
• Current Certificate II in ESI - Powerline Vegetation Control.
• Temporary Traffic Management Short-Term Low Impact Accreditation Course.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft suite including Outlook Email and handheld other electronic devices.
• Competence and experienced in the use of safe climbing techniques using rope and harness and ground crew requirements.

What the role can offer

• Fortnightly RDO
• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Aaron Clift on (03) 9240 1***.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Sunday, 8 November 2026.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statement on our website.