Tree Nursery Manager- (Internal Applicants only)

PLEASE NOTE THIS POST IS ONLY OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA

Salary: £32,070 - £34,359 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) (Pay Award pending) 

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 5th August 2026

Interview Date(s): W/C 10th August- Date TBC

An opportunity to join a hardworking, committed specialist team of arboriculturists, leading on the management of trees and woodlands across the County. 

We are seeking a Tree Nursery Manager to lead on the day-to-day management and ongoing development of the Councils tree nursery. The postholder will be responsible for undertaking the sourcing of appropriate seeds and plant materials for the propagation of tree seedlings and managing the supply of materials to maximise the process efficiency. Trees grown at the nursery will be used for County Council free tree schemes and for conservation projects across Leicestershire.

About the Role

• To lead on the day-to-day management and ongoing development of the Council’s tree nursery, sourcing appropriate seeds and plant materials for the propagation of tree seedlings and managing the supply of materials to maximise efficiency.
• Create, maintain, and update records of plants, chemicals and other materials for keeping accurate records of nursery activity and to meet Biosecurity standards.
• Assist with the delivery of the promotion, marketing, and delivery of the County Council’s free tree planting initiatives.
• Manage financial records and budget related to the tree nursery and prepare written technical reports and financial records in respect of the nursery site operation.

About You

To apply for this post, you must:

• Have Level 3/4 Certificate in Horticulture, Forestry, Arboriculture or equivalent Demonstrable experience of horticulture, or forestry and arboriculture, at a technical level and / or craft level, including tree nursery production, plant selection, seed collection and knowledge of growing techniques and propagation.
• Must be capable of preparing detailed written reports, specifications and financial estimates 
• Good interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to sustain good working relationships with members of the county council, other Departments external clients and members of the public.

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of horticulture including seed selecting, propagation and nurturing tree stock, soil, fertilisers, and growing techniques
• Tree biology/pathology and modern arboricultural/forestry practice
• British Standards and codes of practice relevant to forestry and arboriculture. Relevant Health and Safety at Work regulations relevant to forestry and arboriculture.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents.  You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Adam Goodall, Principal Tree & Woodlands Manager

Telephone: 0116 3051102

Email: [email protected] 

How to Apply

At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.

If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement (500)that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support. 

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

About Leicestershire County Council

At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone. 

Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose.

For further information on what it’s like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following:

Our Recruitment Process
Our Organisational Values
Our Employee Benefits
Working for Us