About the job

Summary

Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. Our Prime Minister and our government are committed to creating 30,000 hectares of woodland a year across the UK by the end of this Parliament.

This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to government’s wider environmental targets. This was supported by the announcement at the 11 March budget of £640m for a new Nature for Climate Fund ‘to support natural habitats like woodland and peat’.

The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Forestry Commission have set up a joint tree planting programme for England to support the forestry sector, landowners and communities in the delivery of these ambitions.

Forestry Commission will lead the delivery of the following parts of the tree planting programme:

- Developing sector capacity

- Woodland creation on public land

- Woodland creation on private land

- Engagement

If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in realising that, we want to hear from you.

By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to revolutionise how we work together and reach new stakeholders.

Our staff engagement levels are consistently well above the Civil Service average and staff turnover is well below. We value our people, we look after them, and we will look after you. We hope you will join us for the challenge.

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic individual with experience in forestry and/or land management, who is quick to learn and can inspire and enthuse others.

This Woodland Officer post will cover western Surrey.

If you live within that area then you have the opportunity to work in a blended manner directly from your home, once you have become fully established in the role.

New WO’s are expected to attend your substantive office 2 to 3 days per week to allow you to learn the role from managers and colleagues.

When fully established we would expect you to spend 1-2 days per week in BHO. If your home lies outwith your work area you will be expected to travel to your work area or BHO in your own time and cost.

The Woodland Officer role can be seen as the ‘face’ of the Forestry Commission to landowners, managers and stakeholders.

As the Woodland Officer for Surrey you will engage with a network of local stakeholders and partners; and understand the challenges and opportunities. You will inspire those engaged in the landscape by providing advice and technical support.

You will be working with both the public and private forestry sectors, Defra colleagues and partner organisations with the aim of together expanding, protecting, improving and connecting Surreys diverse landscape.

Internal team working is also integral in the Woodland Officer role, for example across the Area Team (e.g. assisting others in ‘unlicensed felling’ investigations) and the wider Forestry Commission (e.g. opportunity for review of national guidance and procedure).

Through both, you will have the ability to assist the Forestry Commission build strong working relationships to help create and manage diverse, resilient multi-purpose woodlands.

Responsibilities

Engaging partners, stakeholders and the public:

- Encourage, enthuse and support key partners and stakeholders to help facilitate the expansion, protection and improvement of our woodlands and treescape; and

- champion the many values of trees and woodland to the wider public helping them understand and appreciate the importance and values of active management.

Expand woodland cover:

- Champion the multiple benefits of new woodland as business opportunities for landowner and as natural capital (including biodiversity, water quality, flood management, carbon sequestration/substitution, etc) for the wider environment, business and society;

- facilitate the design and delivery of new woodlands optimising the benefits they can deliver to the owner and as natural capital;

- administer the Forestry Regulations relating to woodland creation (Environmental Impact Assessment); and

- administer/process applications for grants.

Improve the condition and resilience of our existing woodlands and wider treescape:

- Champion the benefits of actively managed woodland;

- support woodland and tree owners and managers in responding to key challenges of pests and diseases including Chalara ash dieback, Oak Processionary Moth , deer and grey squirrels;

- work to increase resilience within woodlands to the challenges of a changing climate; and – facilitate closer working across the forestry and arboriculture sector – for instance between markets, contractors, managers, etc.

Protect our existing trees and woodlands:

- Administer Forestry Regulations to include:

i. Forestry Act – Felling Licences to ensure tree felling is carried out legally in accordance with the principles of the UK Forestry Standard as appropriate;

ii. Environmental Impact Assessments – afforestation, deforestation, forest roads and forest quarries, and

iii. Habitats Regulations – re forest operations within Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation;

- advise on the links with other legislation such as those pertaining to European Protected Species; and

- provide specialist advice to planning authorities re the impact of proposals on existing woodland and how new trees and woodland, as well as locally sourced timber and wood, could be used to enhance new developments.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Good interpersonal and influencing skills demonstrating the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and our customers.

• Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.

• Good computer skills with experience of MS Office and Excel.

• Ability to proactively deal with complex and contentious issues relating to people and woodland interests, leading to the delivery of project outcomes and development of work areas as necessary.

Technical:

• Proven knowledge and experience of lowland forestry, with a focus on multifunctional woodland management and creation practice

• Degree/ Higher Diploma in forestry / land management / countryside management and/or significant equivalent and related experience in forestry / woodland practice

Desirable:

• Experience of practical woodland management

• Experience of practical urban forestry

• Experience and knowledge of forestry regulations, incentives and tree health

• Experience of promoting, designing and establishing new woodland

• Experience of working in partnership across delivery organisations

• Experience in facilitating market growth in the forestry sector

• Experience of supporting integrated land / woodland management

• Practitioner level understanding of landscape

• Membership of (or working towards) a relevant professional institute (e.g. Institute of Chartered Foresters).

• Evidence of maintaining Continuous Professional Development

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Proven knowledge and experience of lowland forestry, with a focus on multifunctional woodland management and creation practice
• Degree/ Higher Diploma in forestry / land management / countryside management and/or significant equivalent and related experience in forestry / woodland practice