Delivery Foresters
We are recruiting for Delivery Foresters to manage and care for Scotland’s national forests and land.
If you enjoy getting outside, working with others and managing forests and land to meet a range of objectives, from increasing timber value to enhancing biodiversity and creating attractive visitor sites; and you are experienced in motivating teams, managing contractors and dealing with the unexpected, this may be the job for you.
We are looking for enthusiastic people who have an interest in managing our land for future generations – you could be involved in restoring former coal field sites or vast peatlands; or managing extensive productive forests, coastal pinewoods, urban edge greenspace, and mature broadleaved woodlands.
These posts are based in offices across the country – in one of five Regional teams. We will provide you with training and mentoring and you will be working within an experienced and supportive team to help you settle quickly into this role.
Working for us
We look after nearly 9% of Scotland’s land. We manage woodlands and open hills, peatlands, coastlines and greenspace around towns to provide a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits for the people of Scotland.
Is this for you? You may be looking for a change of direction, a new challenge managing land or a move from the private sector, you may want a sideways step, or be returning to work after a career break.
The posts have a generous pay, holiday and pension package, and we also offer:
• Genuine consideration of flexible working options, such as compressed hours, job share and flexible part-time options;
• Flexitime with the ability to accrue and take off up to 2 days per period (in addition to your holiday allowance)
• An environment that supports work/life balance for everyone in the team
• Personal and professional development, with options of financial and study support to help you expand your knowledge and develop your career
Person specification
Key duties:
• Working with in house teams or contractors to deliver a wide range of land and forest management objectives;
• Preparing and managing contracts and budgets, assessing health and safety risks, planning site and operational work;
• Liaising effectively with neighbours, customers, the public and in house teams.
What we are looking for:
• Experience in forest or land management;
• Experience with managing teams and/or contractors;
• Ability to make decisions quickly and safely under pressure;
• Good communication skills.
Below you can read some testiomals from current Foresters:
Mike Beveridge, North Region
"I work as a Delivery Forester having being a Works Supervisor beforehand. My role has primarily been in forest establishment although my new title of FM and stewardship delivery forester more accurately describes my diverse role. Delivery of forest operations means for a busy and active life at the frontline of FLS activities. No two days are the same and you need to adapt and problem solve at pace. I am constantly learning new ways of doing things from silviculture through to operational techniques.
My role ranges from establishing commercial conifer restock through to broadleaved habitat and amenity woodland. The diversity of woodland types along with the knowledge that you are providing eco system services and future proofing is stimulating, challenging and motivating. I can have my hands covered in mud soil sampling in the morning, organising plant orders in the afternoon and then be assessing a fence line overlooking a stunning view the next day.
Like most areas of work there is a fair amount of desk based computer work to be done. The staff are great to work with and the knowledge some have is inspiring. I contribute to the land management plans for my beat and this involves working closely with the planning, harvesting, and environment and deer teams. From these plans flow the work plans that I deliver. A lot of time is spent managing staff and contractors to deliver the work plans. This requires a good knowledge base, communication and people skills!
You’re never going to be a millionaire in this line of work but for me it’s lifestyle that counts. Being a forester allows me to live in a beautiful place, gets me into the landscape and involved in managing it."
Donald Macdougall, West Region
"If you have a hankering for clear open space, hills, fresh water and the sea, Mid Argyll is the place for you, throw in working in some of most diverse productive forests within FLS and you are made!
When I came to Argyll over 10 years ago now, I was able to draw on a wealth of forestry experience from the committed friendly local staff who are willing to share their a wide range of personal knowledge. Now I effectively deliver (at times challenging) harvesting programmes and this has given me a great deal of personal satisfaction. It’s great to achieve targets economically while also delivering FLS environmental and social objectives."
Toby Austin, Central Region
"I work as a delivery forester in Central Scotland and my role covers the delivery of forest establishment and stewardship.
Stewardship is a diverse role incorporating essential recreation and environment delivery, plus management of barriers, march fences and tree safety within my beat area. The role allows me to regularly visit lots of different forest sites to advise other staff, conduct safety and quality checks and meet other professionals and members of public.
I lead a team of work supervisors and craftspeople coordinating a work program across my forest beat. I’ve found it very satisfying managing this team to support their personal development plans. It is very useful having a direct field team for the delivery of visitor site maintenance, tree safety, planting projects and surveys. Much of the work is also undertaken by forestry contractors.
A key role is the establishment and maintenance of young tree stands following harvesting. This could be timber production orientated conifer and broadleaved crops or amenity and conservation planting. I work with the planning team and influence local species design and layout. The establishment of these sites is very satisfying, seeing large areas of woodland grow and develop. This is also an essential role in the delivery of sustainably managed woodlands.
My role is a good mix of outside and office based tasks such as operational work planning, annual budgeting, contract management, procurement and staff management. I enjoy using map based systems (GIS) which helps me plan operations, design new features and manage contracts.
I receive great support from my immediate team and line manager but also from other foresters in the region and national advisory teams in the organisation. The job allows for practical task development experimentation and learning, which can then be picked up nationally.
You will never get bored doing this role. There are always new and interesting challenges, but you have great organisational support to help you deliver.
It is both a creative and a practical role, hugely satisfying and important in the management of Scotland’s forests and land."
You can find further information on the areas you can be based at here.
The closing date for applications was 29 May, with sift due to take place on 1 and 2 June. Interview dates are to be confirmed, however these will take place over Microsoft Teams.
Get in touch
If you would like further information or have any questions, please contact: