Woodland Restoration Manager - Derbyshire Dales NNR

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?

 If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes:

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive;
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change;
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods;
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing.

We are the Government’s Adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

Find out more about the work of Natural England at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

The Role

Natural England are seeking a highly motivated, professional person with a real passion for nature conservation and woodland management, to help deliver the EU grant-funded LIFE in the Ravines partnership project.

The LIFE in the Ravines project is centred within the ravine woodlands of the Peak District Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and aims to:

• Restore more than 800 hectares of the SAC’s mixed ravine woodland which are currently dominated by ash
• Diversify existing woodland structures to ensure long-term viability and to lessen the impacts of climate change and future diseases
• Inspire and promote better knowledge of the value of natural ravine woodland and promote best practice in restoration techniques and practices.

 The project will achieve this by working with several partner organisations, including Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and Chatsworth Estate.

The Woodland Restoration Manager will join the core LIFE in the Ravines team. This includes a Project Manager, a Finance Officer, an Engagement and Communications Officer and two other site-based Woodland Restoration staff and several winter seasonal site staff.

Key tasks/accountabilities

Managing and supervising the delivery of site operations by both the project team and external contractors, this role will be wide-ranging. It will require a good practical aptitude, proven experience in Health and Safety and contract management, in addition to excellent team management and communication skills.

As well as being a team player you will also need to work alone so will need good initiative and self-motivation. Day-to-day tasks will be conducted on steep challenging terrain and require working outside in all weather conditions. Therefore, you will need to be physically fit and have the ability to operate safely and effectively in remote locations.

You will be expected to lead demonstration of and safe working practices whilst managing, working alongside and supervising staff and contractors. Managing the site team, you will work with the Woodland Restoration Supervisor to drive work plans, coordinate people and resources and plan logistics. You will need to have knowledge and experience in the safe use of tools and machinery associated with delivering manual practical woodland management, i.e., tree felling, tree planting and aftercare, in addition to instructing and supervising others to do so.

The main tasks associated with the role will be:

• In conjunction with the Project Manager, reviewing delivery of the site-based team's project milestones and deliverables and, where necessary, adjusting plans.
• Managing day-to-day project risks relating to delivering work plans on time & within resource.
• Recruiting winter seasonal site-based staff.
• Overseeing relationships with landowners and partners to ensure effective delivery of the project's site-based actions.
• Ensuring woodland management is undertaken to all necessary standards and exemplar working practices are being followed.
• Operating relevant off-road vehicles, woodland management tools/machinery alongside other associated equipment, and overseeing their associated upkeep and record keeping.
• Supervising Health & Safety management of the project for the site-based team, through risk assessments, method statements, checks and record keeping.
• Working with the Project Manager and Engagement & Communications Officer to investigate further opportunities to share learning from the project with wider audiences and other interested groups in the UK and EU.
• Leading applications for felling licences and other statutory permissions and consents, road closures and any local access permissions. Ensuring that correct licences are in place and team are adhering to any relevant conditions within them.
• Co-ordinating and forward planning procurement activities required for site-based actions by site-based team and project partners.
• Contract management to include creating contract specifications, procurement and contract/contractor supervision.
• Consolidating and overseeing seed collecting, tree cloning and drone seeding strategies.
• Working in conjunction with the Project Manager and partners to use survey data to inform work planning, including measuring and marking-up of felling coupes and work areas.
• Mapping of work areas, through both site survey and desk based IT systems (i.e. ArcGIS).
• Overseeing completion of required monitoring activities by site-based staff and/or external contractors.
• Using IT and other associated technology to deliver your work

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• A qualification, at Level 4 or higher, in a relevant subject (e.g. countryside management, woodland management or forestry) or an employment history which demonstrates operating at, or above, that level.
• Sound knowledge of trees, woodlands, nature conservation, habitat management and ecology.
• Substantial relevant hands-on work experience in practical land management, within woodland management, forestry, or nature conservation.
• Experience of planning, managing, and delivering practical work tasks (in a relevant field).
• Experience of managing, supervising, and directing people in the safe and effective delivery of practical site work (in a relevant field).
• Experience of leading partnership working and stakeholder engagement.
• Contract management experience from creation to execution.
• Chainsaw qualification, for a minimum of maintenance, cross-cutting and small tree felling (e.g. NPTC CS30 & CS31 or equivalent), with consolidated experience.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Good knowledge of health and safety, in particular adherence to relevant good practice and legislation and experience of conducting and implementing site and equipment risk assessments.
• Experience in mapping programs.
• Good knowledge of relevant legislation/regulations in relation to nature conservation land management.

Additional information

• A driving licence is essential for the role due to remote/rural locations.
• Limited national or European travel will be required, which will involve some overnight stays and anti-social hours. Natural England encourages staff to travel by public transport wherever this is feasible.
• Your employment shall, unless terminated earlier by either you or the Employer giving no less than five weeks’ notice, continue for a fixed period until 30/11/25 upon which date it shall automatically terminate without the need for notice by either party to the other. There is a strong possibility that the project will be extended until 30/11/26 in which case your employment would be also extended.

Benefits 

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing. 

Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer. 

You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us. 

You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events. 

Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated. 

We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan. 

Locations 

Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated office for a minimum of one day a week. 
 
Staff members are required to carry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work related travel is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office. 

National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be linked with an office in the relevant geographic area. 

View a map of our office locations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations 

Pay 

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.