Working Pattern: This is a full-time time vacancy; however, we are a flexible employer and encourage applicants who wish to work other flexible working patterns to apply, as requests will be considered.
Nationality Requirements
We are currently unable to sponsor individuals to work in the UK therefore, it is essential that you ensure you have the Right to work in the UK before applying to work with us.
You are also required to meet the nationality requirements to work for the Civil Service.
Disability Confident Scheme
Applicants claiming a guaranteed interview will be invited for further assessment should they meet the minimum essential criteria listed in this document.
Further information about this post is available from Tom Hobbs tom.hobbs@forestry.gov.uk
If you have any queries relating the recruitment process or require any adjustments for the application process, please contact HR@forestryandland.gov.scot
About the team
Central Scotland Conservancy has a team of 20 staff. The Conservancy office is in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. The Conservancy covers 18 different local authorities, reaching from Ayrshire and Arran through to Fife and the Lothians. Covering Scotland’s 2 major City Regions, around 3 million people live within the area (60% of Scotland’s total population).
The Conservancy is responsible for promoting, controlling and regulating all aspects of woodland management within the Central Scotland. Working closely with partners it leads on the delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy (SFS) Implementation plan.
The region’s woodland resource of around 140,000 hectares, takes in a range of landscapes, from the highly urbanised to the very rural. Central Scotland includes large areas of productive forests as well as important native woodland remnants and urban forests. The Conservancy covers almost all of the Central Scotland Green Network as well as new and emerging forestry initiatives such as the Clyde Climate Forest and Forth Climate Forest. Community and social forestry programmes are a key feature of the forestry sector in Central Scotland.
As well as being economically significant, the region's forests are valued for their role in the provision of public access and recreation, their place in the urban landscape and the opportunities they provide for health and education related programmes such as Forest Schools and Forest Kindergarten.
We strongly believe in an inclusive and supportive work culture. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background. We are currently under-represented by women, therefore we encourage applications from females.
We are a flexible employer and encourage applicants who wish to work full time, part time or other flexible working patterns to apply.
What you will do
You will carry out regulation and development work, provide guidance to woodland owners and managers in the Conservancy and promote forestry within Scotland. Your role is key to delivering the Scottish Government’s priorities for forestry including woodland expansion.
You will also be responsible for the delivery and management of a range of work programmes within Central Scotland Conservancy.
This will include:
- Projects that support and encourage people to access to woodlands for health, educational or social benefits.
- Leading the Central Scotland Woodland Creation Programme including Conservancy support for the Clyde Climate Forest.
- Leading the Conservancy Tree Health work, including the issuing of Statutory Plant Health Notices by Area teams.
Your work will involve close collaboration with colleagues in SF and other Scottish Government agencies, plus a wide range of stakeholders in local authorities and NGO’s, charities and trusts and third sector organisations.
You will represent Scottish Forestry on partnership boards and working groups with external partners and agencies to ensure Scottish Government forestry policies are properly addressed and accommodated.
Main Duties
- Undertake regulatory roles in delivery of the Forest and Land Management Scotland Act.
- As Tree Health Champion, manage the Plant Health work programme, allocating Statutory Plant Health Notices to Conservancy Operational teams.
- Lead the Central Scotland urban forestry programme, supporting delivery at three exemplar urban woodland sites.
- Strategic lead for the Central Scotland Woodland Creation Programme, line managing the Woodland Creation Officer and managing the programme budget.
- Act as Conservancy lead for the administration of the Community Fund.
- Support the Clyde Climate Forest by managing the SF funding contribution, providing expertise and advice to support delivery on the ground.
- Leading on engagement with 18 local authorities and other statutory consultees, charitable trusts, forestry stakeholders and partnership bodies.
- Oversee successful delivery of the Commonwealth Foresters Memorial and the Urban Woodlands and Positive Imaginings projects.
- Support Conservator on delivery of Ministerial and MSP visits and casework.
- Liaise with SF Media Manager to promote key work programmes and activity within the Conservancy.
Success Profile
Below are details of the Success Profile that make up this role. You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at application and/or interview stage.
Behaviours
Behaviour 1 and Lead Criteria: Communicating and Influencing.
Behaviour 2: Working Together.
Behaviour 3: Making Effective Decisions.
Behaviour 4: Managing a Quality Service.
Experience
Essential:
- Understanding of United Kingdom Forestry Standard.
- Competent in the use of Microsoft packages, such as Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to quickly establish effective working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience of the effective planning and prioritising of workloads to meet deadlines.
Desirable:
- Familiarity with forestry grants and regulation.
- Experience of delivering presentations and report writing.
Technical
Essential:
- HND or Degree in Forestry or a related environmental subject.
Desirable:
- Experience of working in successful partnerships with a varied range of organisations.
- Student, associate or professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).
What we offer you
If successful, you will be entitled to a wide range of benefits.
This includes:
- A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years’ service. In addition, there are currently 11.5 days of public and privilege holidays, dates of which are set annually.
- A competitive contributory pension scheme.
- Annual pay progression (subject to Scottish Government approval).
- Employee discount with Forest Holidays.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- A generous paid maternity and paternity leave.
- We recognise the importance of enabling employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance by offering flexi-time arrangements in areas of the business where it is appropriate to do so.
- Access to join the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC), which offers a number of discounts, access to leisure activities, gyms and much more.
- Free car parking spaces for staff (dependent on the office location).
- Employee development opportunities - Personal and professional development with a range of in-house courses offered by our Learning and Development team.
- Fully funded professional accreditation fees required for your role, where applicable.
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme – available all year round (24 hours, 7 days a week).
- Trade union membership for those interested in joining one.
Additional Information
Where a vacancy attracts more than 10 applications, only certain ‘essential’ criteria, known as ‘lead criteria’, will be assessed at sift stage, providing this is specified in the advert. However, it is still important that you complete the entire application form in sufficient detail, as there is no way of knowing that a vacancy will have a high number of applications.
We strongly believe in an inclusive and supportive work culture. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background. We are currently under-represented by women; therefore, we encourage applications from females.
Concerns about our recruitment
Recruitment at Scottish Forestry is administered by Forestry and Land Scotland. If you believe that the Civil Service Recruitment Principles have been breached, you can submit a complaint to the Head of People and OD of Forestry and Land Scotland.
They will assess compliance with the Recruitment Principles but will not review the decision(s) of the selection board.
If you are not satisfied with the response from the Head of People and OD, you may submit an appeal to the Civil Service Commission, as set out in the complaint outcome letter from the Head of People and OD.
Closing date: 20 February 2022 at 11.55pm.
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