Arboriculture Apprentice NMWTRA

Location: Bangor, Conwy, Dolgellau or Helygain

We are the team responsible for managing, inspecting, maintaining, and improving over 1,000 kilometres of roads in North and Mid Wales, including the A55 tunnels, over 2,000 road structures and many other assets. It’s our job to keep the road network moving, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

That’s a lot of roads. But we don’t stop there, we are also tasked with protecting natural roadside habitats and reducing the environmental impact of activities along the road network. We’re busy planning, planting, and protecting the land to make sure every journey is greener and full of happy wildlife.

Managing the road network day-to-day is a big job, so behind our frontline teams there’s a bigger behind-the-scenes team that provide support in ways that are essential but not always visible to the public.

The apprentice will receive a salary in accordance with the National Minimum Wage.

Make a genius decision, choose an apprenticeship in Cyngor Gwynedd.

Have you considered a career in this field?

To be successful in this apprenticeship, we are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is willing to learn. We are also looking for an individual who can communicate with confidence, work as part of a team, and demonstrate their potential to succeed as an apprentice.

Pursuing an apprenticeship is only the beginning of the journey, as it can lead to a number of exciting career paths. So don’t miss out on the opportunity – apply today!

CLOSING DATE: 12:00pm, FRIDAY 29TH MAY 2026

Please remember to follow the guidelines in the INFORMATION PACK when completing the application form.

If you are selected to be shortlisted, we will call you.

Interviews held on 22/06 and 24/06.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT TRAINING

ESSENTIAL

• An arboricultural related qualification equivalent to a Level 2 qualification and a willingness to achieve a level 4 or
• Relevant experience and a willingness to achieve a level 2 arboriculture related qualification.

DESIRABLE

• LANTRA Basic Tree Inspector Certificate
• Health and Safety training
• Membership of an appropriate professional body such as the Arboricultural Association or the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Experience of working outdoors ideally within the natural environment and / or with urban trees.
• Experience of tree identification.
• Experience of using tablets and computers.

DESIRABLE

• Experience of working / studying Arboriculture / urban forestry.
• Experience of carrying out risk assessments
• Experience of working in a construction environment.

SKILLS AND SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE

ESSENTIAL

• Ability to deliver work on time
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to adapt to a broad range of operational issues
• Ability to receive, evaluate and follow information and instructions
• Ability to deliver work programmes
• Ability to use IT software utilised in managing tree maintenance e.g. tablets and mobile phones
• Current valid driving licence

DESIRABLE

• Familiar with the Trunk Roads in North and Mid Wales.
• Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety Legislation
• Ability to complete risk assessments

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

ESSENTIAL

• Ability to work under pressure
• Self-motivated and committed
• Ability to work with others.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Welsh is desirable, English is essential

Job description

Purpose of the Post

• To assist with managing the trees, woodlands and hedgerows on the trunk network in the North & Mid Wales regions in accordance with Welsh Government requirements.
• To assist with tree safety surveys and condition inspections of trees along the North and Mid Wales trunk road routes.
• To assist with the co-ordination and management of work programmes for the maintenance of trees, woodlands, hedgerows and associated soft estate undertaken by service providers.
• To assist the NMWTRA Environmental Team in the management of the Welsh Government trunk road soft estate and where necessary undertake surveys or inspections of the soft estate infrastructure.
• To assist and provide general advice or training on arboriculture and soft estate management to NMWTRA staff.

Responsibility for functions  . e.g. staff, budgets, equipment

• Assist to organise and prioritise work schedules to meet targets and deadlines
• Assist with planned and reactive WGTRMM activities undertaken by service providers
• Assist with the management of contractors (20+)
• Inspection equipment (binoculars, distance measurement device, digital capture device, misc. survey equipment, mobile phone)
• Access to a vehicle

Main Duties  .

Surveys and Inspections

• Tree safety surveys

Assist with the undertaking of systematic inspections of trees and hedgerows along the Trunk Road Network in accordance with Welsh Government Trunk Road Maintenance Manual (WGTRMM) requirements. This includes all trees within falling distance of the highway or causing an obstruction to visibility or lights, both those growing in the Welsh Government (WG) Trunk Road soft estate as well as third party privately owned trees. It also includes trees growing in the soft estate within falling distance of a third party property.

Survey records to be collected in the field using hand held digital capture devices fitted with GPS. Tree inventory and condition data and management actions are to be collected for trees and hedgerows.

Defects are to be risk assessed, prioritised and recommended actions assigned. Where necessary further inspections and investigations may be required on individual trees. Input and maintain data within Welsh Government’s asset management systems (ENVIS) and tree management systems.

Assist with monitoring inspections required to validate that work has been completed on defect trees identified in the survey. Feedback and coordination with the Business Team to ensure that the tree management systems are kept up-to date.

• Woodlands

Assist to undertake surveys and inspections of the woodlands and planted plots within the soft estate and recommend management, implement and record.

Identify tree pest and diseases, non-native species that may pose a threat to tree health or biodiversity.

Undertake ad-hoc surveys of trees at the request from others such as Welsh Government, NMWTRA staff or a complaint from the public.

• Biodiversity

Identify constraints that may impact on management of trees or woodland such as protected species, sites or designations Tree Preservation Orders, Conservation Areas and arrange necessary surveys or applications for consent.

Undertake inspection or monitoring of biodiversity infrastructure and other soft estate assets as required by the Environmental Co-ordinator or Ecologist.

• Maintenance

Assist with the design and implement management programmes for soft estate works in accordance with Welsh Government environmental management plans, the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), legislation and best practice requirements.

Assist to organise and prioritise work schedules for the delivery and management of tree and hedgerow remedial works programmes.

Assist to design and implement management programmes for the woodland areas and hedgerows to include thinning, pruning and, tree disease management and enhancing biodiversity as agreed with the Environmental Co-ordinator or Ecologist.

Assist to arrange work programmes, draw up project briefs and procure works in co-ordination with the route management teams and other NMWTRA staff.

Assist to meet with specialist contractors to discuss work required and assess work method statements, risk assessments and other documentation received from them. To assess quality of work undertaken by contractors and ensure that environmental legislation and good working practices complied with.

Assist with implementing third party hazardous and nuisance tree processes under s154 of the Highways Act 1980. This may include site visits to meet and discuss tree related issues with third party landowners.

Assist to support the NMWTRA Route Management teams with environmental management issues during emergencies including occasional incidents out of hours.

• Capital Improvements

Assist to provide assistance in identifying opportunities for risk mitigation and improvement works and liaising on environmental works at the same time as other asset management work programmes.

Assist to provide support and assistance to the Delivery & Inspection Unit and service providers in the design and implementation of planned capital improvement projects including work programmes for street lighting, structures, drainage and geotechnical works and ensure that trees are adequately considered and given appropriate protection to roots etc.

Assist to liaise with and oversee, service providers and supervisors engaged in the construction of biodiversity improvement works.

• Other Requirements

To assist to respond to queries from members of the public.

To identify own training needs and participate in providing and receiving training as required.

To assist to liaise with SWTRA, Highways England, UK Highways Ltd, Coed Cymru, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), and Principal Designers, Principal Contractors (e.g. developers, landowners, utilities and Network Rail) in respect of planning or operational issues on or adjacent to the network.

• General

To ensure that Health and Safety matters are fully considered and managed in all aspects of the work of the Agency.

To assist NMWTRA and Service Providers to ensure compliance with:

• NMWTRA health & safety procedures;
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations;
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations.
• To deal with complaints and enquiries in a courteous and professional manner.
• To foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. In this context, to monitor technological and other developments in the industry, including new methods, with the aim of adopting best practice wherever appropriate.
• To support and assist the Ecologist in the fulfilment of his / her duties and responsibilities.
• To assist other Agency staff in fulfilling their technical, financial and administrative duties.
• To communicate effectively and courteously with elected members, the public, members and officers of the Welsh Government and other external organisations and bodies.
• To co-operate and liaise with staff from other Departments of the Council, and Partner Authorities in order to promote the effective management of the Agency.
• To supervise and provide guidance on work carried out by subordinate staff.
• To ascertain and hold the latest information regarding professional standards, statutory requirements, technical developments and computer applications.
• Responsibility for self-development.
• In the fulfilment of the above duties, to liaise as appropriate with Welsh Government Officers, Partner Authorities and other relevant bodies.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.

This is an illustrative list only.  The post holder is expected to have a role in the process of managing and monitoring performance in accordance with the requirement of the post and to carry out other duties relevant to the nature and grade of the post in accordance with the Arboricultural Coordinator’s requests.

Special Circumstances  . e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.

• The requirement to work outside normal working hours in order to meet the requirements of the Service.
• Incident Management and emergency situations may occur outside normal working hours.
• Attend meetings in other parts of the UK (e.g. Llandrindod, Cardiff).

If you have any questions please email prentisiaethau@gwynedd.gov.wales

For more information – https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/apprenticeships

Here is a link to the 2026 Jobs Prospectus, where you can find more information about the roles and the application guidelines.

For further information about this post please contact Lisa Thomas on 01286679094.

Application forms are available from Support Service, Gwynedd Council, Council Offices, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH

Tel: 01286 679076

E-Mail: Swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru