Team Leader Arboricultural Technician

**Position Number**:TBA

**Directorate**:Environment & Planning Services

**Service**:
Environment, Health & Regulatory
Compliance

**Location**:Katoomba / Springwood

**Date**
**Created/Updated**

22 October 2024

**Position**
**Classification**:
Band 6

**POSITION PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE**

Overseeing and coordinating arboricultural services to maintain urban forest assets,
ensuring high-quality pruning, tree removals, and vegetation management. The position
focuses on team leadership, safety compliance, and operational planning to meet Council
targets, while fostering a collaborative work environment. The role also emphasizes
communication with stakeholders, implementing tree care strategies, and contributing to
the city’s urban canopy cover goals.

**RELATIONSHIPS**

**Reports to**:Position Title**Principal Urban Forest

**Report to**:Position Number**P01073

**Staff Responsibility**:4 x Arboricultural Technicians, 1 x Trainee
Arborist.

**Key Internal Relationships**:Arborists, Environmental Scientist / Landscape
Assessors, para technical / business partners
and customer service staff, Council’s Safety
Team.

**Key External Relationships**:Residents and other members of the community;
government authorities; other tree / vegetation
and civil contractors.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Leadership**
- Supervise and coordinate arboricultural team or site activities, providing on-the-job

supervision and training.

Both as the lead of the Arboricultural technician team and as an individual:

- Coordinate and oversee arboricultural services to meet operational plans and

schedules, achieving defined targets:
o Specialist tree climbing using rope and harness, including aerial rescue
techniques.
- Advanced chainsaw operations for tree removal and pruning.
- Working from heights, including using Elevated Work Platforms.
- Wood chipping operations.
- Tree planting, staking, mulching, and watering.
- Pest control in parks and roadside vegetation.
- Manage worksites, including traffic control and signage arrangements.
- Demonstrate positive leadership in achieving corporate goals and fostering a

participative environment for staff.
- Communicate effectively with staff to optimize resource management and encourage

individual ownership of work.
- Share information and knowledge, including coaching, training, and mentoring staff as

needed.
- Ensure work is carried out to required quality standards and contribute new ideas for

improving work practices.
- Ensure timely completion of daily documentation (e.g., timesheets, incident reports)

and report operational and safety matters to the relevant officer.
- Ensure compliant capture and secure use of public records in line with Blue Mountains

City Council Records Management Policy during daily business.
**Technical - Arboricultural Technician**
- Provide expert knowledge and guidance to team members on the health and vitality of

trees.
- Build strong partnerships that support the planning and execution of work priorities.
- Operate and maintain Council’s machinery and equipment according to

manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Properly use, maintain, and seek replacement for personal protective equipment as

necessary.
- Develop daily work strategies that promote worker safety and balance physical fatigue

with productivity.
- Design and implement risk management measures such as traffic control plans and

site safety measures appropriate to the level of work and in accordance with relevant
codes and safety practices.
- Provide support with the coordination and maintenance of an urban forest strategy and

tree management database.
- Operate all plant and equipment safely and competently, ensuring that all routine pre
- start checks and maintenance are performed and recorded according to the
manufacturer's recommendations..
- Undertake make safe works following emergency events such as adverse weather

events as and when required.
- Implement tree care strategies that seek to improve the health and condition of trees

and conserve and enhance habitat.

**Teamwork and quality outcomes**
- Contribute to a healthy team environment.
- Build relationships with team members showing consideration and respect.
- Model and promote excellence in customer service and commitment to a customer

service culture.
- Champion continuous improvement in processes, systems and documentation.
- Act in a manner that promotes integrity, ability, judgment and transparency in

processes.

**Guiding Principles**
- We act as one organisation responding to the changing needs of our LGA and

community
- We are strategy led, driven by our Community Strategic Plan with clear priorities and

focus
- We are service focused we continuously improve service provision and provide

excellent customer service
- We collaborate and work together to achieve our outcomes
- We ensure safety and well-being is at the centre of our organisation, operations and

culture
- We are a financially sustainable organisation, li