Urban Forestry Assistant - Tree Procurement

City of Trees; Manchester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused environmental organization based in Manchester is looking for an enthusiastic individual to manage tree deliveries for woodland planting schemes. You will work both indoors and outdoors, keeping detailed records, liaising with various stakeholders, and contributing to the growth of urban woodlands. Candidates should have a degree in forestry or a related field, and the role includes training opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

25 days paid holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Training and development opportunities

Employer match 8% contribution pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Comprehensive health & wellbeing package

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in forestry or relevant environmental subject required.
• Full driving license mandatory.
• Experience in tree planting or woodland management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with the team for tree scheme needs and orders.
• Organize tree deliveries and maintain accurate records.
• Assist in procurement of trees and materials for projects.

Skills

Record keeping skills

Strong communication skills

Planning and time management

Self-motivated teamwork

Spreadsheets proficiency

Flexibility in the environment sector

Education

Degree in forestry or relevant environmental subject

Proven experience in a similar role

Tools

Microsoft Office applications

GIS software

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who can help our team deliver high quality woodlands across Greater Manchester. This important role will be based at our new office in Trafford Park within a growing and busy team. The postholder will be responsible for the ordering and organisation of trees for the team's woodland planting schemes, making sure trees are ordered and organised, ready for planting. There will be a mix of indoor and outdoor work, supporting the Woodlands Officer and other team members on schemes. This is a great opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in the woodland sector. To run and oversee the ordering, collating and organising of all tree deliveries, their record keeping and the allocation of plants to projects. This will involve:

Responsibilities

• Regular liaison with the City of Trees team, collating their tree scheme need and creating nursery orders
• Regularly ordering trees from reserved tree stocks from a variety of nurseries
• Assisting with the procurement of trees
• Maintaining a spares list of unused trees and factoring these into future tree deliveries and projects
• Taking delivery of trees- checking on species, quality and numbers and feeding back to nurseries on any issues
• Organise and keep tidy the tree storage areas within the warehouse
• Liaising with the Nursery Manager at Barnfield Park to coordinate tree collections to match with planting dates
• Keep detailed records of holding stocks with the nurseries allowing traceability of trees from delivery to site
• Checking of nursery invoices, coding to different projects and passing onto the finance team for payment
• Assisting the Woodlands Officer and Forestry & Operations Team on site visits to new or previous woodland creation schemes
• Assisting the Woodlands Officer with writing up site visit notes, GIS mapping and recording of data
• Obtaining prices and quotes for woodland creation materials, ensuring compliance with City of Trees Trust procedures and policies
• To order woodland creation materials as requested
• Assist with regular stock taking of planting materials in the warehouse
• To assist with the preparation of appropriate regulatory information regarding planting schemes to the Forestry Commission (Public Register and EIA Enquiry Form)
• To work in a flexible manner and to undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.
• To undertake informal and formal training as agreed.
• To carry out duties with full regard to Equal Opportunities, Child and Vulnerable Adult and Health and Safety policies.
• To travel around Greater Manchester as required

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in forestry or other relevant environmental subject, or proven experience in a similar role
• Full driving license
• Excellent record keeping skills and attention to detail
• Able to follow organisational policies & procedures
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to plan time effectively across different activities
• Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Experience of using spreadsheets to track and monitor data
• Fully conversant with all other Microsoft Office applications
• Able to work flexibly, Working in the environment sector
• Experience of tree planting, woodland management and/or other conservation works
• Knowledge of the environment sector or community forestry
• Understanding of the regulatory processes around tree planting
• Understanding the role of trees and woodlands can play in responding to projected climate change
• Experience of using GIS to produce maps

The successful candidate may be required to have a DBS check. The DBS check is a standard procedure for anyone who will be working with children or vulnerable adults.

Benefits

• 25 days paid holiday plus 8 bank holidays (pro- rata)
• Training and development opportunities
• Employer match 8% contribution pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Comprehensive health & wellbeing package