KEY WORK AREAS

• Oversee delivery of FC engagement in the LNRS programme, ensuring positive relationships are maintained throughout the programme.

• Line manage the PB3 Nature Recovery Policy Advisors.

• Oversee the budget for the Nature Recovery Team.

• Develop effective “Ways of Working” with Defra, Natural England the Environment Agency.

• Ensure that Forestry England and Forest Research are engaged in the LNRS programme through FS engagement.

• Oversee engagement in the national Nature Recovery Network partnership, ensuring that woodland and forestry perspectives are heard.

• Develop policy guidance, with the support of Nature Recovery Policy Advisors, that is practical and based on the best evidence.

• Identify evidence gaps and procure new evidence where it is required, to get the best for woodlands and nature recovery and to support staff engagement in LNRS and the NRN partnership.

• Ensure alignment with wider government environmental ambitions to combat the ecological and climate crises.

• Maximise alignment of LNRSs with other key woodland strategies, such as Tree and Woodland Strategies, the Woodland Resilience Implementation Plan and the Woodland Access Implementation Plan, and with woodland regulatory processes and targeting for incentives.

• Understand local opportunities and barriers to nature recovery and feedback to the Executive Team and other FS teams regularly.

• Share knowledge with Area teams and provide training and support where appropriate.

• Be an excellent ambassador for the role of woodlands and forestry in nature recovery and other environmental solutions.

• Seek alignment and efficiencies, to reduce workload on self, on colleagues and the forestry and woodland sector wherever there is an opportunity to do so.

The role will require some travel across England when restrictions allow - a full driving licence is required. Most of the time, the role will involve blended working – a flexible combination of working from home and working from an FC or Defra office close to the post holder's home. The role will report to the Head of the Policy Advice Team within Forest Services.

Responsibilities

You will need:

ESSENTIAL

• Degree-level qualification, or substantial equivalent experience, in nature conservation and/or forestry.

*Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

• Understanding of nature recovery principles and how they relate to woodland.

• Understanding of current changes in nature recovery policy.

• Understanding of spatial prioritisation for nature.

• Understanding of natural capital and of public goods.

• Experience of managing and motivating a team.

• Experience of successfully building and maintaining effective relationships and networks.

• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken.

• Experience in influencing policy.

• Able to prioritise effectively.

• High level of attention to detail.

• Competent with IT systems.