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

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

The Urban Forestry Team are responsible for the provision and management of trees across the city’s parks, open spaces, highways and woodlands, including their management and maintenance. They work hard to ensure our trees are in good condition and able to provide the high value amenity and ecosystem services that a modern city like Coventry requires.

What is the job role?

The Urban Forestry Officer leads the Urban Forestry Team and is a key member of the Parks & Openspaces Management Team.

Reporting to the Parks & Openspaces Manager, the successful applicant will be responsible for the care of Coventry’s urban forest, monitoring their condition and identifying opportunities for improvements.

The Urban Forestry Officer is responsible for the tree inspection and management services for the city’s tree stock. This includes working closely with different service areas within the city council and with external partners to ensure that the tree canopy cover of Coventry grows successfully. The Urban Forestry Officer will work with other colleagues to help secure funding or to create new features in green spaces as appropriate.

The Urban Forestry Officer also works with other stakeholders to develop the highway tree stock and woodlands including liaising with residents’ groups and responding to enquiries from visitors, utilities and other users to ensure Coventry’s Urban Forest continues to be a credit to the city.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a suitably qualified and experienced urban forester or arboricultural professional who is knowledgeable about the care and development of trees and woodlands in the urban environment. With an understanding of the principles of project management, especially with parks, woodlands or similar environments, your track record will evidence experience in delivering practical and sustainable improvements.

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:: 21 January 2025

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