Are you a leader who can nurture a team and keep Canberra green? Canberra’s urban forest comprises a diverse combination of evergreen and deciduous trees that provides important ecological and amenity advantages for its inhabitants and wildlife. We take pride in maintaining our urban forest and you will play an important role in delivering this service to ensure the biodiversity and natural beauty of our city is preserved. URBAN TREESCAPES manages and maintains more than 846,000 trees on parklands and streets throughout ACT. Specific responsibilities include the planting, watering, and follow up maintenance of newly planted trees; the maintenance of established trees; the removal of dead and dying trees; the administration of the Urban Forest Act 2023 ; the assessment of tree related claims; and the provision of technical advice on tree related matters. Applications are invited to fill the full-time vacancy for the role of Assistant Director Programs beginning in late February 2026. The Assistant Director Programs is responsible for the delivery of programs to manage Canberra’s urban forest. Leading a growing team, this role is pivotal to the renewal of the urban forest and achieving the target of 30% canopy cover by 2045. As a senior leader within City and Environment Directorate (CED), this role requires a person who can inspire, energise, and positively influence team and individual outcomes. The role is responsible for supervising, managing, and motivating a team and providing appropriate support and guidance. Effective employee engagement skills are a key factor of this role as is a value‑based leadership style. This position requires a leader with a strong, considered, and engaging people focus to successfully deliver and drive a culture of respect and a desire to achieve customer service excellence. The ideal candidate will possess an innate ability to draw on the right skills in a contextually and environmentally appropriate manner, align team performance, and develop capacity to achieve organisational objectives. Modelling commitment to continual learning, encouraging ongoing development, and engaging the right people to the right roles. Please see the Position Description for further information about the role. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people with diverse thoughts, lived experience, and perspectives can thrive and contribute their unique talents to the ACTPS and ACT community. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans, younger and older workers, and people with diverse genders, sexes and sexualities to apply. Eligibility/Other Requirements: A degree in Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Urban Forestry, or Urban Park Management, or the equivalent in a related discipline, or currently undertaking a related qualification is highly desirable. Certificate IV in Government Procurement or equivalent is highly desirable. Driver’s licence Class C (Car) is essential. Notes: This is a permanent position available from late February 2026. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only. A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months. This position is located in a workplace designed for activity-based working (ABW). Under ABW arrangements, officers do not have a designated workstation/desk. How to Apply: Applications should include: A statement of no more than four pages addressing the ‘What you require’ section in the Position Description A current curriculum vitae Contact details of at least two referees Applications should be submitted via the Apply Now button below. City and Environment City and Environment Directorate was established on the 1 July 2025. This new directorate is an amalgamation of positions previously advertised under Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate. LI-DNI Note This is a permanent position available from late February 2026.
