Field Manager (North East)

The Forestry Commission are the governments forestry experts and we work to protect, improve and expand Englands woods and forests. This is done by providing policy advice to government and leading delivery through regulation, incentives and protecting tree health.

Field Managers coordinate and lead the area's Woodland Officers to expand, protect, improve and connect woodlands across the area. They also ensure the effective use of Forestry Commission incentives and regulations.

The Field Manager role, as part of Forest Services, is responsible for leading a team of Woodland Officers based in their geographical area and for ensuring the effective coordination of our incentives and regulatory activities.

Field Managers play a critical role in delivering a step change in our woodland creation levels, and in supporting the woodland management activity across the area. This includes working closely with Natural England, Environment Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Forestry England and the Forestry Commission Admin Hubs.

The role available oversees the Northumberland area - The post will be based from the Newcastle Office (Tyneside House) with regular travel required across the area. There is the opportunity for blended working from home where this meets business needs (with regular attendance at the local office). The post will report to either the Area Operations Manager or the Partnership and Expertise Manager.

Responsibilities

Team working and Managing People Provide leadership and support to the Woodland Officers, Regulations & Incentives Support Officers and Development Woodland Officers to ensure the effective delivery of our incentives and regulatory programmes. The Field Manager will undertake recruitment and induction of Woodland Officers and their development.

Delivery of Government aspirations for trees and woodlands - play a key role in supporting the operational delivery Forest Services Business Plan. This includes work to help promote the opportunities of the Forest Services Strategic Framework and working with delivery partners.

Manage Tree Health and forestry regulation Respond to tree health issues and ensure the effective delivery of our regulatory requirements. Work with Plant Health Forestry colleagues to respond to pest and disease outbreaks. Ensure our regulatory work meets the UK Forestry Standard and is completed within the required timescales.

Manage Incentives Oversee the delivery of incentives across the area through supporting their team and partners by building positive working relationships to ensure the effective promotion and delivery of our incentives programme. Including seeking support from technical specialists to process complex cases and influencing the evolution of new initiatives to best deliver government forestry policy.

Engaging with stakeholders and partnership working - Work with the Area Management Team to identify the partnerships to engage in order to deliver appropriate sector support in identified priority areas. Developing and maintaining good working relationships with advisers and stakeholders.

Vision and Culture Support the overall work of the team to ensure the effective delivery of our vision and culture ambition and to help lead on the development of a proactive Health & Safety culture. Play an active role in the wider work of the team including supporting Management and Area Team Meetings.

Experience

Essential:

• Experience or relevant working knowledge of Incentives and Regulations for land based schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship;
• Significant knowledge of forestry and silviculture, including having a clear understanding of the UK Forestry Standard;
• Confident interpersonal and communication skills with experience of presenting to a range of audiences, both verbally and written;
• Experience of stakeholder management - building strong business relationships and collaborative working to deliver mutually beneficial results;
• Demonstrate ability to manage a team to deliver results to an agreed standard;
• Proactively deal with complex and contentious issues relating to people and delivery of project outcomes.

Desirable:

• Experience of managing people and demonstrable ability to manage a widely distributed team to deliver results to an agreed standard;
• Practical woodland management experience of both deciduous and coniferous woodland;
• Experience of delivering forestry incentives and regulations.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Degree/Higher Diploma in forestry/land management/countryside management/environment management and/or significant related experience in land management / tree and forestry management.
• Competent and effective IT user with experience of MS Office and also including remote working and associated communication tools (e.g. MS Teams)

Desirable:

• Membership of a relevant professional institute (e.g. Institute of Chartered Foresters);
• Evidence of having undertaken appropriate management development training

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.

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.