Arboriculturist

Location/s: Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester; UK
Recruiter contact: Aoife Cullen

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the division 
Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s Purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients' needs across all sectors.

Overview of the role

Due to an increasing workload our Arboriculture team is seeking an Arboriculturist to deliver arboriculture services across a range of infrastructure projects. The scale of our projects ranges from small and bespoke design commissions through to some of the most significant infrastructure projects within the UK and worldwide Mott MacDonald has a culture of genuine collaboration and innovation. We want you to develop your career and succeed in this role. We will proactively support your personal development and work with you to find the projects and roles that suit your strengths and that allow you to excel.

We are looking to recruit candidates from a broad range of backgrounds/career paths with support and training available to further develop your skills as necessary. Key focuses of our current workload which you will have the opportunity to get involved in are:

• BS5837:2012 surveys for large and small-scale infrastructure projects
• Delivery of technical notes, arboricultural method statements and scoping assessments
• Health and safety surveys and reports
• Tree climbing for bats and assisting ecology with various protected species surveys
• TPO, CA, ASNW and Veteran Tree assessments
• Site supervision of contractors
• Design and implementation of bespoke tree protection measures
• Collaboration with the wider environment team disciplines– landscape, ecology, environmental management, heritage and more
• Collaboration with designers, project managers and engineers to deliver infrastructure projects whilst ensuring tree protection and retention is core to the design process

You will be part of a multi-disciplinary environment team supporting the coordination and delivery of arboricultural services for infrastructure projects. Part of this role requires report writing to a professional level and help to develop these skills will be available if you are not currently proficient in report writing, or it is not an activity you undertake regularly.

Some of our current major projects and clients include:

• HS2 – Leading the arboriculture and tree protection on the UK’s largest infrastructure project
• East West Rail – Arboricultural technical leads coordinating survey and assessment work
• Ash Dieback– novel application of AI to identify and assess ash dieback disease nationwide with driven camera surveys and machine learning
• National Highways – BS5837:2012 surveys to support nationally significant road projects including A428 Blackcat to Gibbet, A303 Stonehenge and Lower Thames Crossing
• Environment Agency – a variety of projects from habitat creation to flood alleviation including Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme and Five Rivers
• Numerous water companies – including support for Thames Water, Southern Water, Scottish Water, Welsh Water, Wessex and United Utilities in protecting the environment
• Network Rail – Longstanding and trusted relationship nationally
• Numerous Local Authorities – providing a broad range of environmental services

Candidate specification

Our staff are contributing to schemes that make a real difference to people's lives, and we are looking for a talented arboriculturist who can help us provide yet greater benefits to more people. The successful candidate will have a genuine enthusiasm for arboriculture, the environment and for change. We are looking for an ambitious, self-motivated and driven arboriculturist with the following:

Essential:

• Degree qualified in arboriculture or a related environmental discipline (ecology, environmental management or similar), or a Level 3 to 4 qualification as described in the Arboricultural Association Qualification Credit Framework
• Capability in tree and fungi identification
• Able to lead and carryout arboricultural BS5837:2012 and Health and Safety surveys independently
• Experience of attention to detail and a commitment to quality
• Excellent report writing skills
• Experience collecting data using GIS and CAD systems
• A candidate that works well in a collaborative environment
• Associate membership of the Arboricultural Association or Institute of Chartered Foresters or a willingness and desire to work towards professional membership
• Willingness to travel

Desirable:

• Familiarity with BS3998:2010
• CS 38 – Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
• QTRA certified

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.