• Full time maximum term role for 2 years (based on 35 hours per week)
• Fortnightly RDO
• Salary: $88k + Super
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 175,000 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Urban Forest Unit in a key leadership role. The Crew Leader Forest Establishment provides supervision, leadership, and works alongside the Forest Establishment Team to support the delivery of the annual tree planting and juvenile tree maintenance program.

The role supervises 3 staff members and is maximum term position. to provide critical support to the team while the substantive officer is fulfilling an internal secondment within the same team so.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who:

• is safety focused and committed to supporting the team in delivering their works in an efficient and effective manner and to a high standard
• is passionate about our urban forest, the community, and providing a positive customer experience both internally and externally
• has knowledge, understanding, and practical experience, in tree planting and associated juvenile tree maintenance activities
• is competent with the use of computer software systems, (preferably a mobile asset management platform e.g. Brightly or TreePlotter)
• has a Certificate 3 in Horticulture/Arboriculture or related trade qualification
• has a Medium Rigid truck license.

What the role will involve

The key duties to be performed are:

• supervising the Forest Establishment Team (the crew), including casual staff, and other in-house staff (during the tree planting season)
• planting trees alongside the crew and monitoring productivity
• leading daily Toolbox Meetings
• performing OHS safety site inspections of both In-house and contractors
• performing quality audits of tree watering and planting activities
• updating TreePlotter and maintaining data quality
• monitoring and allocating customer requests (CRS) that require an outdoor crew response
• reviewing and approving timesheets and leave requests from the crew (MyPay)
• scoping physical locations around the municipality for tree planting opportunities
• reallocating tree stock during the planting season
• issuing and managing works relating to the tree watering contractor via TreePlotter
• purchasing materials, equipment, and PPE
• coordinating with tree supply contractors for yard deliveries and stock issues
• managing stock reallocation and maintaining tree stock in the depot nursery area
• supporting the Team Leader Forest Futures as required

What the role can offer

• Fortnightly RDO
• Support throughout the term of the contract from the Urban Forest Leadership team
• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Adrian Murone on 9240 1111.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Tuesday, 15 April 2025.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

Before submitting an application, please view the Position Description.

Please note that when applying for this role, you may be required to attach your valid Driver's Licence, WWCC, Traffic Management and Traffic Control Ticket, Medium Rigid Licence and First Aid Certificate. Please have this ready when completing your application.

How to apply

Please fill out an application using our online recruitment system. You will be required to upload your CV, a cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience. You do not need to respond to the individual Key Selection Criteria. Please also upload any other relevant documents.

*Please note that some documents relating to this position may reference Moreland City Council. We are in the process of updating the councils new name of Merri-bek City Council.

Please note that applications must only be submitted online, applications will not be accepted via email.

Merri-bek City Council is proudly diverse and an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, people with disability, and people from every culture, sexuality and gender identity, age and ethnic background. Merri-bek City Council is a Child Safe organisation.

Merri-bek is focused on diverse representation of the community we serve. With this we value lived experience that could contribute to the shaping of this role and in turn will continue to provide representation and growth of safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. Council is committed to removing barriers and access to employment where possible at any point in the recruitment, onboarding and during your time at Council. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on [email protected]

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statement on our website.