Veteran Tree and Wood Pasture Lead

Are you passionate about preserving ancient and veteran trees? Do you have a wealth of experience in tree ecology and conservation management? Are you great at collaborating with others in planning and implementing complex conservation programs? We would love to hear from you and hope you can join us working for one of the world’s most ancient institutions providing world class conservation practice on 57,000 veteran trees set amidst the stunning woodpasture landscapes of Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest and Ashtead Common.

This important role will be responsible for leading and coordinating veteran tree management, research and promotion and building the City of London’s reputation as a leading expert in veteran tree conservation and management while developing and implementing site-based and landscape-scale conservation at Burnham Beeches Special Area for Conservation.

You will join the team at Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common in Buckinghamshire, helping manage these nationally and internationally recognised nature reserves which together consist of 300 ha of ancient woodland, wood pasture, valley bog and heathland visited by over 600,000 people each year. You will also influence and advise on conservation management of other sites within ‘The Commons’ including National Nature Reserves in Surrey and Kent.

As the professional lead for veteran tree and woodpasture management policy and practice for the City of London Corporation you will work with locally based specialist teams on planning and executing an agreed and costed programme of veteran tree and woodpasture research, surveys, monitoring and inventory programmes and representing the City of London at internal and external working groups on veteran tree and wood pasture management.

We are looking to improve the quality of our evidenced base approach to conservation and in this role you will monitor and report on the impacts of our management and operations and be responsible for overseeing/maintaining the species databases for Burnham Beeches. This role will coordinate the administration of local agri-environment agreements and work closely with other staff to engage with emerging policy and develop opportunities to deliver work programmes and nature recovery across The City Common’s sites.

You will be an enthusiastic and professional officer who is organised and motivated and able to prioritise their workload.  You will need to have the ability and confidence to work independently using your own initiative but also work effectively as part of a wider team and engage with a variety of stakeholders in the private and public sectors.

This role will offer opportunities to look outwards, working closely with our neighbours and colleagues in other organisations looking to deliver nature’s recovery on a landscape scale.

What we need from you

• Post-graduate qualification and or equivalent experience in ecological sciences / environmental management/ Arboriculture
• Substantial experience of veteran tree and wood pasture conservation and management
• Ecological survey, monitoring and research skills in a wide variety of habitats such as woodland, wood pasture, mire and heathland, including writing reports
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) – including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public and advocating a position to those who may have a different view.
• Understanding of landscape scale conservation; land use and management; planning systems; to be able to lead casework response and advise staff on appropriate responses and interventions
• Demonstrable identification skills for a broad range of flora and fauna (e.g. to genus level for a range of taxa)
• Strong experience and proficiency in working co-operatively with others to achieve common goals, including staff and volunteers
• The ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS
• Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive fleet vehicles. (cars and vans)

You will work 35 hours per week, your duties will often require you to work outside and also occasional weekend and evening.

Starting salary will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.

For further information about Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common you can visit our website https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/burnham-beeches-and-stoke-common

This role requires a Standard Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The closing date for returned applications is 12.00pm Friday 29 March 2024.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 9 April 2024

Please see Job information pack in the attachment section.

To apply online please click the Apply online button below.

Alternatively, please contact 020 7332 3978 (24 hr answerphone) quoting reference number OENV0259.  A minicom service for the hearing impaired is available on 020 7332 3732.

The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. 

Application closing date: 29 March 2024

APPLY HERE