Operational Delivery Forester, FM/Stewardship Forester, Harvesting Forester/Peatland Forester – 6 Positions

Do you have a passion for the outdoors? Do you want to join a dedicated team managing public forests and land? Then this may be the job for you.

We are looking for enthusiastic people who have experience of working in forestry operations or other relevant land management to join the delivery teams in Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS). We are responsible for taking care of public land to meet a variety of objectives including producing a range of timber products, increasing biodiversity and managing the setting of recreation sites.

Depending on the location, you might be preparing and overseeing timber sales (from intricate thinning to steep ground sites to large scale clear felling), restoring extensive peatlands, managing the restocking of felled areas, helping to establish and maintain a new woodland on a former coalfield site, managing a popular urban woodland or restoring a native pinewood.

The delivery teams prepare, procure and manage contracts, coordinate and supervise our own site staff and operations and work with others to ensure that the public land is well cared for and managed sustainably for future generations.

We are seeking to fill the current vacancies:

•             Post 1: Harvesting Forester, Lochgilphead.

•             Post 2: Forest Management & Stewardship Forester, Achmore.

•             Post 3: Forest Management Forester, Aberfoyle.

•             Post 4: Forest Management & Stewardship Forester, West Calder.

•             Post 5: Peatland Forester, Lochgilphead or Oban or Torlundy.

•             Post 6: Peatland Forester, Lochgilphead or Oban or Torlundy.

Job description:

You will work closely with other teams and contractors to deliver long term sustainable management of the woodland to meet UK Forest Standards.

You will be responsible either for timber harvesting and sales (Harvesting Forester) or the establishment and restocking of the forest and on-going management of other land, including sites important for peatland restoration, biodiversity and recreation (Forest Management and Stewardship Forester) or the restoration of important open peatland habitat sites (Peatland Forester).

You will be keen to get out on site and gain first hand knowledge of our land, the forest and how we work, safely deliver a range of operations, manage teams and develop staff, sharing your knowledge and expertise and learning from others, develop a good relationship with customers, neighbours and the public, build on and develop opportunities for improving our management of the forest and our open space, understand and make the most of our contractor base and keep up to date with the latest good practice on caring for the land.

Responsibilities:

•             Provide leadership to Forest Management & Stewardship and/or Harvesting team members, focusing on their development needs to support the delivery of timber production, woodland establishment, peatland restoration and other land management work programmes and responsibilities.

•             Work closely with FLS colleagues and contractors to prepare and safely deliver a wide range of operational activities.

•             Manage contracts to deliver Forest Management and Stewardship and/or Timber Harvesting objectives, whilst meeting all relevant guidelines and legislation.

•             Communicate effectively with colleagues, neighbours, the general public, contractors and trade customers in keeping with FLS values.

•             Undertake procurement, contract management, planning, implementation and monitoring of budgets following all relevant guidelines.

•             Monitor and ensure that high standards of Health, Safety & Well Being are implemented both within your team and by contractors, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidance.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website: www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk

hr@forestryandland.gov.scot

Please quote ref 109100.

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

No recruitment agencies please.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all sectors