Woodland Officer

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Central Scotland Conservancy has around 3 million people living within the area, which equates to 60% of Scotland’s total population. 

The region’s woodland resource, roughly 140,000 hectares, takes in a range of landscapes, from those with a high environmental value, such as Arran and the Pentland Hills, to those suffering significant environmental blight and degradation through previous industrial activities.

The conservancy is responsible for promoting, controlling and regulating all aspects of woodland management within the region and provides advice and support on areas of Scottish Government policy and delivery. This includes the delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy and the Central Scotland Green Network.

The conservancy also coordinates the pre-approval process of all applications to the Clyde Regional Project Advisory Committee (RPAC) and handles applications from both the Forth and Ayrshire RPAC areas.

The Conservancy covers two major Forest Enterprise Districts, part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and 15 Local Authority areas from East Lothian through to North Ayrshire and Arran.

The purpose of the job is to carry out Grants and Regulation work, provide guidance to woodland owners and managers in the area and promote forestry within the Central Scotland Conservancy. The post holder will help deliver the Scottish Forestry Strategy and the Conservancy Business Plan. The post holder will be based in Hamilton, and their likely beat area will include North Lanarkshire, City Of Glasgow and East and West Dunbartonshire.

Act as a Case Officer under the Scottish Rural Development Plan processing applications for Rural Development Contracts and the Woodlands in and around Towns and Forestry for People Challenge Funds.

Process Forest Enterperise Forest Design Plans, Long Term Forest Plan applications and applications for Felling Licences.

Provide guidance to woodland owners and managers regarding proposed forestry work an d respond to consultations from Local Authorities and developers in connection to proposed developments affecting trees and woodlands.

Carry out inspections of grant schemes to ensure compliance with contract conditions.

Process Forest Enterprise Forest Design Plans and private sector Long Term Forest Plan applications.      

Support promotional and development work in the Conservancy in line with the strategic objectives of the SFS and represent Forestry Commission Scotland at meetings with other organisations.

 

 

Desirable

Proven experience of dealing with grants schemes, felling licences and EIA regulations.

Professional & Technical Expertise

Desirable

An HND or Degree in forestry or a related subject.

Membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

You will be confident in the use of all Microsoft Office programmes, Word, Excel and Outlook or have the ability to rapidly acquire them. Familiarity with GIS would also be an advantage.

Work with other people
Essential

Respect diverse backgrounds, views and approaches.

Seek to build good working relationship.

Know who your customers are and take responsibility for providing a service that meets customers' needs.

Understand customer needs through maintaining regular contact and building effective relationship.

Communication
Desirable

Choose content, style and language to suit the audience and context.

Seek feedback from customers on their needs and report back on the actions taken.

Be an effective representative of the team/FC.

Make use of a network of contacts inside or outside the FC to help achieve objectives.

Deliver Results
Desirable

Work without prompting and progress tasks using initiative.

Prioritise and organise own time and resources effectively day to day.

Plan ahead to meet agreed deadlines and objectives.

Adjust your plan when workload and priorities change or difficulties occur and suggests options if deadlines cannot be met.

Learn & Apply
Desirable

Identify potential problems and offer practical ideas and innovative solutions.

Take responsibility for own work, admitting to and learning from experience and mistakes.

Using your initiative, look for ways to improve the way in which we work and put forward suggestions for change.

Understand how own technical area/professionalism fits into the wider picture and the likely impact of own actions on other areas.

Other

The duties of this post require frequent travel, including to remote areas, therefore applicants need to have a full driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.