Woodland Carbon Code Communications Officer

Job summary

The Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) team in Scottish Forestry is responsible for the management and development of the WCC, an innovative carbon standard whose use is rapidly expanding and at the forefront of forest policy. We work with project developers, buyers and intermediaries on the development of new projects, as well as with validators and verifiers who independently check all projects.

The Woodland Carbon Code team is a small team where all members are encouraged to contribute to the future development of the programme. It is part of the Policy and Practice team at Scottish Forestry. Scottish Forestry is an agency of Scottish Government. Our purpose is the sustainable management and expansion of forest and woodlands to deliver more for Scotland.

Job description

What you will do

This is an exciting time in the development of the WCC, one of the world’s leading domestic carbon standards.

The Woodland Carbon Code Communications Officer works with the WCC team and others across government to produce engaging and informative content to promote and widen the understanding of the WCC.

This is an opportunity to help shape a rapidly evolving work area to scale up our response to the climate emergency.

Main Duties

Develop, manage and oversee communications for the UK’s WCC programme, both within government and externally, including:

Channels and content

• Manage and update content on the WCC website
• Regularly provide content for the WCC mailing list, social media and regular emails to market participants
• Engage proactively and efficiently with project developers and other stakeholders to increase awareness and understanding of the WCC
• Work with the WCC team and others in government to produce and implement relevant and effective communications that support the WCC team’s objectives
• Support the secretariat function for the WCC’s Executive Board, Advisory Board and the Woodland Nature Markets Strategy Board.

Outreach and innovation

• Coordinate events for woodland officers and other front-line teams across the UK to empower them to advise landowners and agents on nature markets
• Host and coordinate webinars to engage and update market participants and other interested parties around key events such as publishing a new version of the Standard
• Liaise with communications teams in UK Government and Devolved Administrations to coordinate WCC messaging and activity with wider government communications

Planning and Evaluation

• Create forward plans for WCC communications to ensure they are timely, align with communications teams in UK Government and Devolved Administrations, and the overall volume of information is manageable for customers
• Regularly evaluate the impact of communications activity with the WCC team and key customers

Person specification

Success Profile

The Success Profile below set outs the essential and desirable elements that make up the vacant position - you’ll be expected to demonstrate these elements in your application and/or during your interview and/or assessment.

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of planning, developing and implementing communications activities to support a programme or initiative
• Excellent communication skills and experience in creating content for websites, newsletters and webinars to effectively engage interested parties
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues and external partners across different teams and levels of experience

Desirable:

• Understanding of the UK Woodland Carbon Code, Peatland Code and/or experience of applying voluntary standards and certification schemes to projects
• Understanding of forestry, the environment and/or climate change issues

Technical

Essential:

• Proficient using a content management system such as Joomla or a similar for web publishing
• Ability to convey complex information in a concise and easily understandable manner, for a range of audiences
• Proficient using MS Office Suite (especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint) and ability to work with new software and platforms

Desirable:

• Ability to advise, negotiate with and influence colleagues of all levels
• Flexibility and enthusiasm for learning new skills and acquiring technical knowledge in a quickly evolving new work area

Behaviours

On the application form you’ll find four free text boxes to provide your behaviour responses. Please note, you’re only required to provide evidence against the below behaviours on your application. This means that if less than four behaviours are noted, you can leave the relevant free text(s) box blank on your application:

Behaviour 1 and Lead Criteria: Communicating and Influencing

Behaviour 2: Seeing the Big Picture

Behaviour 3: Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,987, Scottish Forestry contributes £10,715 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

See more information on the selection process on our recruitment portal: Success profiles for candidates , Scottish Forestry

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

Security

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

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

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

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 : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot
• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot