Forest Planner – 6 positions

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is looking for enthusiastic, practical, creative people to join our Regional planning teams to help shape the future of Scotland’s forests and land. We’re responsible for managing 9% of Scotland and it’s not just forests it’s coasts, mountains, farmland, peatlands, varied habitats and recreation sites.

The planning and environment teams work closely with other teams and specialists to design sustainable forests of the future, protect and restore semi-natural habitats, respond to climate change and enhance our landscapes. They prepare spatial plans and work programmes and coordinate and manage data and surveys, as well as contribute to national initiatives and projects to ensure the public land is well cared for.

Job description

The Forest Planner plays a key role in facilitating how we manage our land to meet our economic, social and environmental objectives.

You will be responsible for preparing 10 year land management plans that set out how we will care for the forests and land that we manage. These plans then inform our future work programmes.

You will be keen to get out on site and gain first-hand knowledge of the forest and open land, work with others, explore the long term consequences of different management options, build on and develop opportunities for improving management, think laterally to come up with relevant practical solutions to land management conflicts and keep up to date with the latest good practice on caring for the land.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Land Management Plans (LMPs) based on a thorough understanding of the forest and land and then analysing silvicultural, environmental, financial and social impacts and opportunities as well as FLS commitments and resources. Plans are required to meet the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.

• Undertake site visits and collaborate with relevant colleagues to identify silvicultural requirements, explore other land management options, creatively address key problems identified and develop efficient and practical solutions to meet land management objectives over the required timeframe.

• Build and maintain excellent working relationships with external stakeholders such as community groups and statutory consultees.

• When necessary, prepare screening information for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs); make amendments to existing plans; and support the planning team as necessary, for example by coordinating work on pests and diseases, coordinating survey work or supporting data analysis.

• As a member of the planning team, you are also expected to manage staff, such as GIS and survey technicians.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website:

www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk

hr@forestryandland.gov.scot

Please quote ref 108655.

Closing date: 29 May 2021.at 23:55.

No recruitment agencies please.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all sectors of our diverse community.