Tree Surgery Team Improving Climber

Organisation

Southampton City Council

Service Area

Environment

Job Location

Red Lodge Nurseries, Vermont Close, Southampton, SO16 7LT

Contract Length

Permanent

Work Hours

Full Time, 37 Hours per Week

Salary

£33,119 - £37,562 per annum

Special Requirements

Enhanced DBS will be required

Closing Date

27/10/2026

Job Reference

17228

Documents

• Job Description

About this role

Join Southampton City Council's Tree Surgery Team and help care for the city's trees and green spaces.

We are looking for a hardworking, reliable and enthusiastic Improving (2**nd) Climber** to join our skilled and supportive team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced climbing arborist to develop their career while working on a diverse range of tree management operations across Southampton.

Working as a second climber, you will undertake aerial tree work, pruning and dismantling operations across parks, highways, schools and other public spaces. Your work will help make Southampton safer, greener and more attractive for residents and visitors.

We're looking for someone with climbing experience, a strong safety culture and a positive, team-focused attitude. You'll be competent in aerial tree work, chainsaw use and arboricultural operations, and hold a full UK driving licence.

A towing entitlement and a Level 2 Arboriculture qualification would be advantageous.

This is a physically demanding outdoor role, but in return you'll benefit from secure local authority employment, excellent benefits, favourable working hours, ongoing training and genuine opportunities to develop your arboricultural career.

Whether you're looking to build on your climbing experience or take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

For further information about this role, please view the job description.

Working hours (Typical pattern but may require some flexibility):
Monday to Thursday: 7:30am to 3:30pm
Friday: 7:30am to 3:00pm

What we can offer you:

Salary: The salary band for this role is £33,119 - £37,562 per annum. The starting salary is £33,119 with annual progression through the salary bands.

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the position please contact Will Taylor, Arboricultural Manager, on 07831 378134 or James Cairncross, Tree Surgery Team Supervisor on 07789 174852; or email [email protected].

Recruitment contact details:

Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023 8083 4033

For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
Follow us on social media for regular updates on our featured jobs and latest news.

Join Southampton City Council's Tree Surgery Team and help care for the city's trees and green spaces.

We are looking for a hardworking, reliable and enthusiastic Improving (2**nd) Climber** to join our skilled and supportive team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced climbing arborist to develop their career while working on a diverse range of tree management operations across Southampton.

Working as a second climber, you will undertake aerial tree work, pruning and dismantling operations across parks, highways, schools and other public spaces. Your work will help make Southampton safer, greener and more attractive for residents and visitors.

We're looking for someone with climbing experience, a strong safety culture and a positive, team-focused attitude. You'll be competent in aerial tree work, chainsaw use and arboricultural operations, and hold a full UK driving licence.

A towing entitlement and a Level 2 Arboriculture qualification would be advantageous.

This is a physically demanding outdoor role, but in return you'll benefit from secure local authority employment, excellent benefits, favourable working hours, ongoing training and genuine opportunities to develop your arboricultural career.

Whether you're looking to build on your climbing experience or take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

For further information about this role, please view the job description.

Working hours (Typical pattern but may require some flexibility):
Monday to Thursday: 7:30am to 3:30pm
Friday: 7:30am to 3:00pm

What we can offer you:

Salary: The salary band for this role is £33,119 - £37,562 per annum. The starting salary is £33,119 with annual progression through the salary bands.

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the position please contact Will Taylor, Arboricultural Manager, on 07831 378134 or James Cairncross, Tree Surgery Team Supervisor on 07789 174852; or email [email protected].

Recruitment contact details:

Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023 8083 4033

For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
Follow us on social media for regular updates on our featured jobs and latest news.