- Full-time permanent role (based on 38 hours per week)
- Lead a visible, high-impact service
- Shape the future of Merri-bek's urban forest
- Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government
- Hybrid Working
- Full-time permanent role (based on 38 hours per week)
- Lead a visible, high-impact service
- Shape the future of Merri-bek's urban forest
- Senior Executive Officer (SEO) salary
- 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 195,125 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, cutting-edge 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
Grow something extraordinary. Merri‑bek is looking for a capable, practical and forward‑thinking leader to help our urban forest thrive. This is an opportunity to lead the people, strategy and services that keep our trees and natural spaces healthy, resilient and valued by the community. You will lead a diverse and technically skilled team, balancing the day‑to‑day delivery of essential services with long‑term planning, investment and improvements to our urban forest. In this role, you will:
- Lead the care, protection and growth of a diverse, healthy and climate‑resilient urban forest.
- Ensure Council provides trusted arboricultural advice that protects trees and supports sound, defensible decisions.
- Balance community benefit with the proactive management of tree‑related risk.
- Protect and enhance Merri‑bek’s natural environment, including supporting the protection of trees on private land.
- Turn the Urban Forest Strategy into visible, meaningful outcomes across the city.
- Shape contemporary policy, planning and long‑term investment in the urban forest.
- Lead efficient, responsive and well‑managed maintenance, planting and renewal programmes.
- Strengthen asset management, service planning and performance to support informed decisions about risk, resources and long‑term sustainability.



You will create a positive, safety‑first culture where people are trusted, supported and encouraged to develop their skills and deliver excellent work. You will be accountable for service performance, financial management and the effective use of Council’s resources, while keeping community needs at the centre of decision‑making. This is a highly collaborative role. You will work across Council, build respectful partnerships with Traditional Owners and engage with community groups and other stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes. You will bring sound judgement and an adaptable approach to complex operational and strategic challenges. You will also contribute to Council’s emergency management responsibilities as a Deputy Municipal Emergency Management Officer, including participation in an after‑hours on‑call roster. What makes this opportunity special
- Be involved in the full lifecycle of public trees, from planning and planting through to protection, maintenance and renewal, while contributing to Council’s role in protecting trees on private land.
- Lead substantial in‑house teams and major service contracts delivering proactive, visible work across the city.
- Help address Merri‑bek’s low and uneven canopy cover through streetscape transformation, renewal and ambitious new planting.
- Work with highly engaged community groups that care deeply about trees and want to contribute to a greener city.
- Improve the way Council manages its urban forest through better data, digital systems and technology, including OneCouncil, TreePlotter and GIS analysis.
- Influence long‑term investment, service standards and the future direction of urban forest management in a changing climate. Skills and experience required to perform

📌 Unit Manager Urban Forest (Melbourne)
🏢 Merri-bek City Council
📍 Melbourne