Woodland Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 323972**Salary**:

- £32,612 - £35,343- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Executive Officer- Pay Band 5(Op)**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- FC - Forest Services - The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and facilitate the protection, improvement and expansion of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector.**Type of role**:

- Environment and Sustainability**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 3Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- South East EnglandAbout the job

**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 as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan to increasing the tree canopy cover across England from the current 14.5% to at least 16.5% by 2050 - this means 34,000 ha of new tree cover by 2028. 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 in the 2021 budget of £640m for a new Nature for Climate Fund ‘to support natural habitats like woodland and peat’ and the publication of the England Tree Action Plan.

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.

If you are passionate about the role of trees, woods and 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 dynamic individuals with experience in forestry and/or land management, who are quick to learn and inspire and enthuse others.

The Woodland Officer role can be seen as the ‘face’ of the Forestry Commission to landowners, managers and stakeholders. Each Woodland Officer has their own geographic area of primary responsibility, enabling them to develop a strategic view of the local landscape, a network of local stakeholders and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities.

In your ‘patch,’ you will be at the forefront of delivering the Forestry Commission’s incentives and Regulations, and able to provide advice and support to the private forestry sector in addition to Local Authorities and Defra colleagues. Internal team working is also integral in the Woodland Officer role, for example across the Area Team (e.g., assisting others in ‘alleged 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.

There are three Woodland Officer vacancies: East Kent, West Sussex, and Surrey.

The substantive offices will be as follows: Tonbridge (East Kent), and Bucks Horn Oak (for the West Sussex and Surrey posts). 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 Woodland Officers 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 their respective office. If your home lies out with your work area you will be expected to travel to your work area or office in your own time and cost.

**Responsibilities**

**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 and society; facilitate the design and delivery of