Urban Forest Officer

Blue Mountains City Council; Sydney; On-site; AUD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Mountains City Council is seeking an Urban Forest Officer to lead tree and urban forest management, enhancing public safety, biodiversity, and canopy retention. You will perform tree health and risk assessments, integrate strategies with climate adaptation goals, and oversee contractor compliance while collaborating with internal teams and external stakeholders.

A vehicle is available; AQF Level 5 Arboriculture, NSW Driver's Licence and White Card are required; salary starts at $85,842 per

Qualifications

• AQF Level 5 Arboriculture or enrolment within three months.
• Current NSW Driver's Licence.
• White Card. Must be able to operate safely in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Expertise in tree assessment, risk management and urban forestry, with strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead tree and urban forest management initiatives to improve public safety, biodiversity and canopy retention.
• Conduct tree health and risk assessments using advanced tools and data.
• Oversee contractor compliance and ensure projects meet regulatory and environmental standards.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to deliver sustainable urban greening programs.

Skills

Tree assessment

Risk management

Urban forestry

Communication

Problem-solving

Technology skills

Education

AQF Level 5 Arboriculture

NSW Driver's License

White Card

Job description

EEO Data - We encourage you to complete our voluntary Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Survey. Please note, it is unrelated to your application.

The Urban Forest Officer will lead tree and urban forest management initiatives, enhancing public safety, biodiversity, and canopy retention. Key responsibilities include tree health and risk assessments using advanced tools, integrating tree strategies with climate adaptation goals, and overseeing contractor compliance. This role requires collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders to implement sustainable urban forestry programs. Challenges include balancing community expectations, legislative compliance, and environmental priorities. The ideal candidate will have strong problem-solving skills, a proactive approach to innovation, and the ability to drive urban greening projects that support resilience and long-term environmental sustainability.

We seek a qualified Urban Forest Officer with AQF Level 5 Arboriculture (or enrollment within three months), a current NSW Driver's License, and a White Card. The ideal candidate has expertise in tree assessment, risk management, and urban forestry, with strong communication, problem-solving, and technology skills, ensuring compliance and sustainability in urban tree management.

A vehicle is available with this position.

• base salary commencing at $85,842 gross per annum
• + 12% superannuation
• + annual performance-based salary increases / bonus (1-3.5%)
• + annual award increase

Closing date: 15 November 2026.