At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage arboricultural activities, ensuring safety and compliance across the estate.
- Company: Join the UK's largest water and wastewater company, making a real impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 26-30 days holiday, pension scheme, and health assessments.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a difference in tree management while enjoying a dynamic, hybrid work environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in tree management and inspections, with relevant qualifications preferred.
The predicted salary is between 46500 - 55000 £ per year.
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Offering between 46,500 to 55,000 per annum depending on experience and skills
As the Arboricultural Manager, you will lead the strategic and operational delivery of all arboricultural activities across the estate. You will oversee contracted arboricultural service providers, including tree surveyors and tree surgeons, ensuring that all works are carried out safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with relevant legislation, organisational policies, and budgetary requirements.
This is a dynamic, hands-on role, with an anticipated split of approximately three days per week on-site - meeting suppliers, auditing works, and monitoring standards - and the remaining time office-based, focusing on planning, reporting, contractor management, and performance oversight.
What you'll be doing as an Arboricultural Manager:
- Tree Inspection Programme and Work Prioritisation: Commission and implement a structured, risk-based inspection programme, ensuring that trees are assessed at appropriate intervals according to their location, condition, species-specific risks, and proximity to high-use areas.
- Arboricultural Supplier Relationships: Create, manage and maintain effective relationships with arboricultural suppliers, to ensure services are delivered in line with business needs and objectives.
- Arboricultural Supplier Performance: Monitor and manage contractor performance against contracts and operational requirements. Hold regular review meetings with suppliers.
- Stakeholder Management: Build strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Financial / Commercial: Oversee and manage the budget for all tree management activities, ensuring effective financial control and providing regular spend reports. Identify and implement opportunities for commercial efficiencies across tree management activities.
- Strategies: Develop longer-term strategies for the maintenance of trees.
- Audit: Carry out site checks and audits to verify suppliers' workmanship and health & safety compliance, including adherence to LOLER and PUWER regulations.
Base Location: Hybrid Reading
36 hours per week
All CVs will be reviewed from Monday, 1st June 2026.
What you should bring to the role:
- Professional experience in tree management.
- Experience in conducting tree inspections and assessing tree health.
- Experience with tree management software e.g. Ezee Tree.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
- Understanding of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998.
- Experience in Utilities, highways or large estate environments is desirable.
Qualifications required:
- Relevant qualification for assessing tree safety/risk, e.g. Lantra Professional Tree Inspection (PTI), Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA).
- Land management/forestry diploma or degree, or 5+ years industry experience.
- Understanding of modern tree surgery techniques, including felling, pruning, crown management, and aerial arborist operations, to support accurate assessment of required works and quality assurance of contractors.
What's in it for you?
- Offering between 46,500 and 55,000 per annum, depending on experience and skills.
- 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
- Contributory pension - Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% - 2x employee contribution.
- Personal Medical Assessments - Open to all once a year.
- Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.
Who are we?
We're the UK's largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive.
Learn more about our purpose and values.
Working at Thames Water:
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you'll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
If you're looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people's lives while helping to protect the world's water for future generations, we'll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.
Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family.
Why choose us? Learn more.
We're committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that's extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we're here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you'll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience.
Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Arboricultural Manager - Reading, Berkshire in Winnersh employer: Thames Water
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and rewarding work environment for Arboricultural Managers in Reading. With a strong commitment to employee growth, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive benefits package including generous holiday entitlement and a contributory pension scheme, we empower our team to make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Join us to be part of a diverse and inclusive culture where your contributions truly matter, and help us build a sustainable future for water management.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Arboricultural Manager - Reading, Berkshire in Winnersh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the arboriculture field. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet with potential employers, bring along examples of your work or case studies that highlight your experience in tree management. This hands-on approach can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, hit that apply button and let’s get you started on your journey with us!
We think you need these skills to ace Arboricultural Manager - Reading, Berkshire in Winnersh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Arboricultural Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in tree management and inspections, and don’t forget to mention any specific software you’ve used, like Ezee Tree.
Showcase Your Skills:In your cover letter, showcase your skills that align with the job description. Talk about your experience with contractor management and how you've built relationships with suppliers in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and concise. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences quickly.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role as soon as possible.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Trees
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of tree species, health assessments, and modern tree surgery techniques. Being able to discuss specific examples from your experience will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but have practical insights too.
✨Supplier Relationships Matter
Prepare to talk about how you've built and maintained relationships with arboricultural suppliers in the past. Think of specific instances where you successfully managed contractor performance or resolved issues, as this will demonstrate your ability to handle supplier dynamics effectively.
✨Budget Savvy
Since you'll be overseeing budgets, come ready to discuss your experience with financial management in tree management activities. Highlight any strategies you've implemented for cost efficiencies, as this will showcase your commercial awareness and ability to manage resources wisely.
✨Stakeholder Engagement
Be prepared to share examples of how you've collaborated with various stakeholders, both internal and external. Discussing your approach to building strong relationships and managing expectations will illustrate your communication skills and ability to work within a team.
