Deer Officer

Job summary

Trees and forests help tackle the climate emergency while providing habitats for wildlife and places for people to connect with nature. The Government has ambitious targets for tree planting and woodland management. The Forestry Commission supports the forestry sector, landowners, delivery partners and communities to achieve them with grants funding, technical expertise and practical guidance.

The Forestry Commission and wider DEFRA family are committed to ensuring that wild deer remain a valued part of England’s landscapes. However, when populations become too high, deer can have significant impacts on woodland health by hindering natural regeneration, damaging trees and changing woodland structure. Excessive browsing can reduce ground flora and biodiversity, limiting the resilience and recovery of woodland habitats.

This Deer Officer role will lead work to improve protected sites under the DEFRA Protected Sites Strategy (PSS), with a particular focus on the New Forest, while also contributing to the wider South East and London Deer Officer team.

Protected Site Strategies bring together public bodies, landowners, managers and other partners to address environmental pressures that cannot be effectively resolved within a single site or by one organisation alone. The postholder will lead the Forestry Commission’s deer-related contribution within the New Forest PSS area, working collaboratively to develop evidence-based and practical solutions while also contributing to the work of the wider Deer Officer team.

This is an applied evidence and partnership role. You will identify where deer are contributing to unfavourable site condition or constraining the recovery of designated features and habitats, then help translate that evidence into coordinated and proportionate action. The role combines habitat assessment, deer ecology, spatial evidence, monitoring, landowner engagement, strategy development and practical delivery.

We welcome applications from individuals with backgrounds in ecology, conservation, forestry, land management, applied research or deer management. Operational stalking experience is not required. Instead, we are seeking sound ecological judgement, strong partnership-working skills and the ability to develop deer-specific knowledge where needed.

Based within the Forestry Commission’s South East and London Area Team, the role will work closely with Natural England, Forestry Commission specialists, the national Policy and Advice Team and local delivery partners. If you are passionate about the role of trees, woodlands and sustainable deer management in creating a better future for England, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working alongside committed and knowledgeable colleagues.

Job description

This Deer Officer will play a critical part in co-ordinating and developing landscape efforts to reduce the impacts of deer on nationally important protected sites within the New Forest area. The post holder will work with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders to support and facilitate effective deer management.

1. Understand habitat condition and identify priorities

• Work with Natural England, Area Team colleagues and partners to understand the designated features, conservation objectives, condition evidence, ecological sensitivities and wider landscape factors affecting the protected sites.
• Review, collect and, where justified, commission ecological, spatial, woodland and deer evidence. Distinguish deer impacts from other pressures, record uncertainty and identify where intervention is most likely to support protected-site recovery.
• Establish proportionate baselines and outcome measures, coordinate repeat monitoring and determine whether deer impacts are reducing and habitats are responding as intended.

2. Turn evidence into coordinated delivery

• Develop and maintain the Forestry Commission's deer delivery plan for the PSS landscape, with clear outcomes, actions, owners, permissions, funding routes, milestones, risks and review points.
• Advise on an integrated and proportionate package of measures, which may include active population management, habitat and silvicultural work, protection, exclosures, access, high seats and monitoring.
• Coordinate action across landholdings, helping partners align woodland, habitat and deer-management objectives and secure the commitments needed for sustained delivery.

3. Build commitment and remove barriers

• Build constructive relationships with landowners, managers, agents, deer practitioners, ecologists, public bodies and environmental or community organisations.
• Explain evidence, uncertainty and management choices clearly, including where deer impacts are disputed or stakeholders are reluctant to support active management.
• Identify and help resolve practical barriers such as fragmented permissions, limited capacity, public sensitivity, carcass handling, infrastructure or gaps in the local venison supply chain.

4. Enable investment, assure delivery and share learning

• Support appropriate use of the UK Forestry Standard, woodland management plans and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier including reviewing deer management plans and the delivery of direct support for deer management.
• Define and monitor commissioned surveys, specialist support or enabling infrastructure.
• Maintain accurate evidence, delivery and financial records; report progress, risks, expenditure and ecological outcomes; and share learning with other PSS Deer Officers, Area Deer Officers, the PSS Deer Coordinator and delivery partners.

Person specification

We value relevant experience gained through different routes. Your evidence should show that you can apply ecological judgement, work with others and turn evidence into practical delivery.

Essential criteria

• Applied experience in ecology, conservation, forestry, habitat, wildlife, land or deer management, with the ability to relate habitat condition and ecological pressures to clear management or conservation objectives.
• Ability to collect, interpret and explain field and spatial evidence, including repeatable monitoring, uncertainty, alternative explanations and the limitations of survey methods.
• Working knowledge of wild deer ecology and impacts, or relevant transferable knowledge of herbivore ecology or wildlife impacts, together with the capacity to develop deer-specific competence rapidly.
• A strong record of working with landowners, managers, practitioners or partner organisations to influence decisions, build cooperation and turn advice into action, including on contested issues.
• Experience of translating evidence into proportionate strategies or work plans with clear priorities, responsibilities, risks, resources, milestones and measures of success.
• Clear written and verbal communication, sound independent judgement, effective contribution to multi-agency teams and the ability to maintain accurate digital, spatial and audit-ready records.

Desirable criteria

• A relevant qualification, or equivalent applied experience, in ecology, environmental science, forestry, conservation, land or wildlife management.
• Experience of protected sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, conservation objectives or work with a statutory environmental body.
• Knowledge of the UK Forestry Standard, woodland management planning, current forestry, or the management of commissioned work and public funding.
• Experience of GIS or field-data systems and habitat-condition, herbivore or deer-impact assessment using proportionate, repeatable methods.
• Practical understanding of deer management, relevant qualifications such as DSC1 or DSC2, or knowledge of constraints affecting carcass recovery, handling and local venison markets.

Licences

This post will involve regular travel including to more remote areas, therefore applicants need to hold and continue to hold, a full current driving license that enables them to drive in the UK and should be willing to stay away from home overnight.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Observation task at interview

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension (opens in a new window) with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 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. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.

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.

Fixed term Appointment to 30th March 2027. This is a Temporary Appointment with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

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

• A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. 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 500 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
• A statement, of no more than 250 words, providing an example of how you have demonstrated the key behaviour of Working Together.

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

Sift

Application sift is planned for Monday 5th October 2026

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

Interview

Interviews will be held on one of Wednesday 14th, Thursday 22nd or Thursday 29th October though this date is subject to change. The interviews will take place in person and will be held at Bucks Horn OaK, nr Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LS

Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours and Strengths in addition to Technical Skills and Experience. You may be asked to complete an exercise to explore your technical skills as part of this.

Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.

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 Service 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 emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.

Travel options include:

• Use of private car: some Officers choose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. Emissions are unrestricted below 4,000 miles per year. A reduced mileage payment is applied to travel above 4,000 miles per year, where not in a zero emissions vehicle.
• Use of Forestry Commission van: usually based from an FC office (NOTE: such vehicles can only be used for official business).
• Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation, they can opt for a CAPES car (the user pays a monthly rate for private use). All new CAPES vehicles are zero emissions.

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current 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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.

Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.

This role is full-time. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.

This post will involve regular travel including to more remote areas, therefore applicants need to hold and continue to hold, a full current driving license that enables them to drive in the UK and should be willing to stay away from home overnight. The Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants which would allow them to do the job by any other means.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : FS Recruitment
• Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.