Unit Manager Urban Forest

Merri-bek City Council; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary sacrifice options

Career development opportunities

Flexible work options

Wellness programmes

Job summary

Merri-bek City Council is seeking a capable leader to head the urban forest program and drive strategy, operations and partnerships across the city. You will oversee a diverse team delivering high-impact arboriculture services, planning and investment to ensure healthy, climate‑resilient trees that benefit residents.

You will lead a collaborative, safety‑driven team, manage budgets, and engage with communities and stakeholders to translate policy into practical outcomes for Merri-bek’s urban

Qualifications

• Qualification in arboriculture or related discipline, with leadership in urban forest/tree maintenance.
• People-first leadership style, capable of building high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of workplace health and safety rules and Victorian requirements.
• Sound financial and contract management judgement, with experience in budgeting and revenue management.
• Collaborative approach with the community and stakeholders; ability to deliver practical outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead care, protection and growth of the urban forest.
• Provide arboricultural advice to protect trees and support defensible decisions.
• Balance community benefit with proactive tree-risk management.
• Protect and enhance natural environments including trees on private land.
• Translate Urban Forest Strategy into visible city outcomes.
• Shape policy, planning and long-term investment for urban forest.
• Oversee maintenance, planting and renewal programs; ensure efficient service delivery.
• Strengthen asset management and performance reporting for informed decisions.

Skills

Arboriculture qualification

Leadership

Workplace health and safety

Financial and commercial judgement

Contract management

Community engagement

Local government experience

Stakeholder management

Tools

TreePlotter

GIS

Job description

• Full-time permanent role (based on 38 hours per week)
• Lead a visible, high-impact service
• Shape the future of Merri-bek's urban forest
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

• Hybrid Working
• Full-time permanent role (based on 38 hours per week)
• Lead a visible, high-impact service
• Shape the future of Merri-bek's urban forest
• Senior Executive Officer (SEO) salary
• 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

Grow something extraordinary.

Merri‑bek is looking for a capable, practical and forward‑thinking leader to help our urban forest thrive. This is an opportunity to lead the people, strategy and services that keep our trees and natural spaces healthy, resilient and valued by the community.

You will lead a diverse and technically skilled team, balancing the day‑to‑day delivery of essential services with long‑term planning, investment and improvements to our urban forest.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the care, protection and growth of a diverse, healthy and climate‑resilient urban forest.
• Ensure Council provides trusted arboricultural advice that protects trees and supports sound, defensible decisions.
• Balance community benefit with the proactive management of tree‑related risk.
• Protect and enhance Merri‑bek’s natural environment, including supporting the protection of trees on private land.
• Turn the Urban Forest Strategy into visible, meaningful outcomes across the city.
• Shape contemporary policy, planning and long‑term investment in the urban forest.
• Lead efficient, responsive and well‑managed maintenance, planting and renewal programmes.
• Strengthen asset management, service planning and performance to support informed decisions about risk, resources and long‑term sustainability.

You will create a positive, safety‑first culture where people are trusted, supported and encouraged to develop their skills and deliver excellent work. You will be accountable for service performance, financial management and the effective use of Council’s resources, while keeping community needs at the centre of decision‑making.

This is a highly collaborative role. You will work across Council, build respectful partnerships with Traditional Owners and engage with community groups and other stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes. You will bring sound judgement and an adaptable approach to complex operational and strategic challenges.

You will also contribute to Council’s emergency management responsibilities as a Deputy Municipal Emergency Management Officer, including participation in an after‑hours on‑call roster.

What makes this opportunity special

• Be involved in the full lifecycle of public trees, from planning and planting through to protection, maintenance and renewal, while contributing to Council’s role in protecting trees on private land.
• Lead substantial in‑house teams and major service contracts delivering proactive, visible work across the city.
• Help address Merri‑bek’s low and uneven canopy cover through streetscape transformation, renewal and ambitious new planting.
• Work with highly engaged community groups that care deeply about trees and want to contribute to a greener city.
• Improve the way Council manages its urban forest through better data, digital systems and technology, including OneCouncil, TreePlotter and GIS analysis.
• Influence long‑term investment, service standards and the future direction of urban forest management in a changing climate.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• A qualification in arboriculture or a related discipline, and/or substantial experience leading urban forest and tree maintenance services, supported by sound technical understanding and judgement.
• A people‑first leadership style, with a demonstrated ability to build capable, engaged and high‑performing teams.
• A genuine commitment to workplace health and safety, supported by sound knowledge of Victorian requirements.
• Strong financial and commercial judgement, including budgeting, forecasting, contract management and responsible management of expenditure and revenue.
• Experience managing complex services, balancing competing priorities and delivering measurable improvements in performance.
• A collaborative approach that listens well, adapts to changing circumstances and turns opportunities into practical outcomes.
• Confidence engaging with the community, navigating complex conversations and building trusted relationships.
• Experience in local government is welcome, but your leadership, technical credibility and ability to deliver results matter most.
• A current Working with Children Check is required.

What the role can offer

• 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 programmes

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

Applications close: 11:30pm, Sunday,22 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.

Merri‑bek City Council is proudly diverse and an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, people with disability, and people from every culture, sexuality and gender identity, age and ethnic background. Merri‑bek City Council is a Child Safe organisation.

Merri‑bek is focused on diverse representation of the community we serve. With this we value lived experience that could contribute to the shaping of this role and in turn will continue to provide representation and growth of safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. Council is committed to removing barriers and access to employment where possible at any point in the recruitment, onboarding and during your time at Council. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on ***********@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri‑bek Council adopted a revisedStatement of Commitmentto 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 ourChild Safety Commitment Statementon our website.