Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

In Coventry, we cherish and value our award-winning parks and open spaces. We know that they contribute significantly to people's health, well-being, and quality of life and are vital to help protect our environment and wildlife.

The Parks and Openspaces Team are a passionate, hardworking team responsible for the provision and development of safe, accessible and attractive parks and open spaces and the management, planning and maintenance of the Council's trees and urban forest. They work hard to ensure our parks are a welcoming place for all our residents and visitors to enjoy today and for many years.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

What is the job role?

Coventry City Council Parks & Openspaces Team are looking for an Urban Forestry Officer to join the Urban Forestry Team.

Urban Forestry is an important part of our service, performing essential duties throughout the year to help maintain and develop the city’s green spaces. They are our ‘front-facing’ service and have a busy workload and we are looking for people with appropriate experience in urban forestry. You will hopefully be suitably qualified.

Reporting to the Parks & Openspaces Manager, you will join a small team to work closely with the wider Parks & Openspaces team as well as volunteers, community groups and other members of the public, advising and supporting them in the practical management of trees, woodlands or other green space.

The team are required to work outdoors throughout the year and on rough terrain or even occasionally in rivers and ponds.

The posts require working some anti-social hours including occasional weekends.

Who are we looking for?

To be successful in this role;

• You will need to have qualified demonstrable skills and experience in arboriculture, urban forestry and a good awareness of health and safety.
• You will need to be enthusiastic, and diplomatic and have previous experience in working with the public.
• You will be happy to work with all people regardless of culture, background or gender.
• You will have a full, clean UK driving license.

Our workforce data shows that people from minority and ethnic backgrounds are under-represented in green space management and we encourage applicants from these backgrounds to apply.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: 20 November 2024

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

Coventry City Council