Woodland Officer

Job summary

The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and facilitate the protection, improvement, expansion and connection of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector. Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife.

Our Prime Minister and our government are committed as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan to increasing the tree canopy cover across England from the current 14.5% to at least 16.5% by 2050 – this means 34,000 ha of new tree cover by 2028.

This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to government’s wider environmental targets.

Forestry Commission will lead the delivery of the following parts of the tree-planting programme:

Developing sector capacity. Woodland creation on public land. Woodland creation on private land.

If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in realising that, we want to hear from you.

By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to revolutionise how we work together and reach new stakeholders.

Our staff engagement levels are consistently well above the Civil Service average and staff turnover is well below. We value our people, we look after them, and we will look after you. We hope you will join us for the challenge.

Job description

We are seeking 2 dynamic individuals to join our team, with experience in forestry and/or land management, who are quick to learn and inspire and enthuse others.

The Woodland Officer (WO) role can be seen as the ‘face’ of the Forestry Commission to landowners, managers and stakeholders. Each team member has their own geographic area of primary responsibility, enabling them to develop a strategic view of the local landscape, a network of local stakeholders and understanding of the challenges and opportunities.

In your ‘patch’, you will be at the forefront of delivering the Forestry Commission’s incentives and regulations, and able to provide advice and support to the private forestry sector in addition to Local Authorities and Defra colleagues. Internal team working is also integral in the Woodland Officer role, for example across the Area Team (e.g. assisting others in ‘alleged unlicensed felling’ incidents) and the wider Forestry Commission (e.g. opportunity for review of national guidance and procedure). Through both, you will have the ability to assist the Forestry Commission build strong working relationships to help create and manage diverse, resilient multi-purpose woodlands.

You will:

1. Expand woodland cover:

• Champion the multiple benefits of new woodland as business opportunities for land owner and as natural capital (including biodiversity, water quality, flood management, carbon sequestration/substitution, etc) for the wider environment and society;
• Facilitate the design and delivery of new woodlands optimising the benefits they can deliver to the owner and as natural capital;
• Administer the forestry Regulations relating to woodland creation (Environmental Impact Assessment); and
• Administer/process applications for grants.

2. Protect our existing trees and woodlands:

• Administer Forestry Regulations to include:

Forestry Act – Felling Licences to ensure tree felling is carried out legally in accordance with the principles of the UK Forestry Standard as appropriate;

ii. Environmental Impact Assessments – afforestation, deforestation, forest roads and forest quarries, and

iii. Habitats Regulations – re forest operations within Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation;

• Advise on the links with other legislation such as those pertaining to European Protected Species; and
• Provide specialist advice to planning authorities re the impact of proposals on existing woodland and how new trees and woodland could be used to enhance new developments.

3. Improve the condition and resilience of our existing woodlands and wider treescape:

• Champion the benefits of actively managed woodland;
• Support woodland owners and managers in responding to key challenges of pests and diseases including Chalara ash dieback, Phytophthora ramorum, deer and grey squirrels;
• Work to increase resilience within woodlands to the challenges of a changing climate; and
• Facilitate closer working across the forestry sector – for instance between markets, contractors, managers, etc

4. Engaging partners, stakeholders and the public:

• Encourage, enthuse and support key partners and stakeholders to help facilitate the expansion, protection, improvement and connection of our woodlands and treescape; and
• Champion the many values of trees and woodland to the wider public helping them understand and appreciate the importance and values of active management.

Person specification

Essential technical skills :

• Knowledge and experience of upland and/or lowland forestry
• Degree/Higher Diploma in forestry / land management / countryside management or similar, and/or related experience in forestry / woodland practice.

Other essential skills:

• Good interpersonal and influencing skills demonstrating the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and our customers.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Good computer skills with experience of MS Office and Excel
• Ability to proactively deal with complex and contentious issues relating to people and woodland interests, leading to the delivery of project outcomes and development of work areas as necessary.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

Desirable skills :

• Working knowledge of the UK Forestry Standard
• Experience and knowledge of forestry regulations, incentives and tree health
• Experience of promoting, designing and establishing new woodland
• Experience of working in partnership across delivery organisations, including with stakeholders who may have conflicting views or objectives
• Membership of (or working towards) a relevant professional institute (e.g. Institute of Chartered Foresters)
• Evidence of maintaining Continuous Professional Development.

We welcome applications from candidates who are currently completing a relevant degree or Higher National Diploma. However, successful applicants must obtain their degree or diploma within the first 6 months of employment.

• Licences
• UK Driving Licence
• Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Proven knowledge and experience of upland and/or lowland forestry

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,537, Forestry Commission contributes

£10,874 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 30th March 2027 with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following:

• A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two The CV will be split into 3 parts and request: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
• A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the essential criteria of the Person Specification.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Applications will be sifted week commencing 14th September 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interview

Interviews planned for the week commencing 21st September August 2026. This date is subject to change.

Candidates will be further assessed on Behaviours/Experience at interview, in addition to Technical Skills and Strengths. Candidates invited to interview may be asked to provide a short 5-10 minute presentation. Further information will be detailed within an interview invitation.

We will be conducting interviews in person. Candidates would therefore be expected to attend interviews at our York Office, Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PX.

Please note that these dates are subject to change.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.

You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website .

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by email