Job Description

The Development Woodland Officer role is a new and exciting career pathway into the Forestry Commission for people from all backgrounds and abilities looking to start or continue their journey to becoming a professional Forester. We are seeking ambitious, driven individuals who are eager to support our ambitious tree planting plans and protect and enhance our current woods and forests.

As part of Forest Services, Development Woodland Officers will build the skills and experience needed to be carry out incentives and regulation work, provide guidance to woodland owners and managers in Areas and promote sustainable woodland management in England. They will be playing a key role in helping to deliver of the Governments current priorities for forestry in addition to the England Tree Planting Programme.

The role is development focused which will see Development Woodland Officers engaged on a formal learning programme supported by Area staff and a central programme delivery team. Development Woodland Officers will spend 20% of their normal working hours engaged in off-the-job learning lead by the National School of Forestry at the University of Cumbria, This off-the-job learning will consist of bi-monthly residual blocks delivered at one of the University Campuses within Cumbria or at the Forestry Commission training Centre at Cannock Chase. The remaining 80% of the time will be spent consolidating skills in a real-life working environment including up to 9 months of wider sector work placements to further build on the consolidation and expansion of skills and experiences.

On completion of the programme, successful graduates will earn a Professional Forester Apprenticeship (equivalent to Level 6), a BSc (hons) in Forest Management and the potential to gain Chartered Forester status with the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), in addition to gaining 3 years valuable work experience. This programme will provide the building blocks to continue a career in the forestry sector as a professional forester, planning, advising, managing, and supervising forestry activities and/or operations.