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Job summary

Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife.

The Government has committed to establishing nature recovery networks to improve, extend and connect wildlife-rich habitat, and introduced a range of incentives to recover nature for wildlife, climate and people. Protection, restoration, management and expansion of woodland and trees plays a major role in establishing this network to support the Government’s statutory targets on climate change mitigation, tree cover, biodiversity and water quality, as well as climate change adaptation, access and wellbeing.

Landscape Recovery (LR) is one of several new initiatives introduced to deliver these outcomes through Environmental Land Management schemes. LR supports ambitious land-use change and habitat restoration. The scheme offers farmers and land managers the opportunity to co-design a bespoke agreement to produce environmental and climate goals across landscape scale projects.

The Forestry Commission works as a delivery partner, collaborating with Natural England, Environment Agency and Defra to design, develop and deliver the Landscape Recovery programme.

There are four main distinguishing features of the Landscape Recovery scheme:

• Large-scale projects: the scheme is designed to deliver outcomes that require collaborative action across larger areas, such as restoring ecological or hydrological function across a landscape.
• Long-term public funding (for example for 20 years or longer): the scheme will support outcomes that take a long time to deliver, such as peatland restoration, woodland management or habitat restoration.
• Bespoke agreements: the scheme can fund activities that contribute to priority outcomes but are specific to the locality and so difficult to facilitate through other schemes.
• Blended funding: the features above and the provision of development funding should enable projects to attract private investment. It is a requirement for all successful projects to acquire private finance.

Landscape Recovery is encouraging farmers and landowners to contribute towards our climatological and environmental goals, whilst increasing woodland/tree cover and increasing productivity from farmland. This is especially important at the time of acute geopolitical crisis and global economic trends, with food security climbing the agenda. The Forestry Commission (FC) are the government’s forestry experts: We work to protect, improve, and expand England’s woods and forests. This is done by providing policy advice to government and leading delivery through regulation, incentives, and protecting tree health.

Job description

We are seeking dynamic individuals with experience in forestry/farming and/or land management, who are quick to learn and can inspire and enthuse others. The Landscape Recovery Woodland Officer (LRWO) role can be seen as the ‘face’ of the Forestry Commission to landowners, managers and stakeholders interested in exploring planting trees and managing woodland. As Forestry Commission Area Landscape Recovery Woodland Officer role, you will proactively advise and support Area based staff on landscape scale projects, providing expert advice on project development, implementation, regulation, and environmental benefits, with a particular focus on supporting local forest and farming industries. The Landscape Recovery Woodland Officer role is Area based, individually covering large regions, but will be part of a team, working alongside FC Woodland Officers (WO), Agroforestry Woodland Officers (AFWO) and Woodland Creation Officers (WCO), who have their own geographic area. You will have the ability to assist Forestry Commission staff, landowners and agents to build strong working relationships in its efforts to encourage integrated land use models involving trees, woodland, and forestry. Local stakeholder engagement will be a core part of the role, bringing interested parties and regulators together to find innovative ways to bring farming and forestry closer together to benefit business and the environment. You will be required to stay away from home on business occasionally, both within the Forest Services Area where you work, and for National meetings and training purposes.

Key work Areas:

Work collaboratively as part of the FC Area team, complementing FC woodland creation and existing woodland management expertise and delivery, providing a bridge between forestry and farming/land use. LRWO’s will be required to field questions from the LR project officers and will help to drive additional aims of the projects including Natural Flood Mitigation measures, river and water course improvement, fenland and open habitat restoration. You will need to provide regulatory and grant support alongside private finance schemes, competent support of delivery of these outcomes through BNG and or private finance. You will be required to assist in the review of LR woodland management plans which will be undertaken on a bespoke workspace.

Knowledge of forestry Regulations relating to woodland creation will be essential (Environmental Impact Assessment); as will the ability to process grant applications. You will be required to build a better understanding of landowner aspirations and their thoughts on the economic and natural capital benefits, through stakeholder and user engagement. Liaise with key external stakeholders, namely landowners, future applicants, and land use consultants. Engaging with locally based partners such as Natural England, Woodland Trust, CLA, NFU, Rivers Trusts, wider stakeholders, and the public. Work closely with the local network of farm cluster groups and our own National Grants and Regulation Team, to link and support training and guidance outputs, providing support when delivering training courses, and at events.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Degree/ Higher Diploma in forestry / land management / countryside management and/or significant equivalent and related experience in forestry / land management.
• Proven knowledge and experience of forestry, farming and/or land management.
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills demonstrating the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues, stakeholders, and our customers.
• Ability to proactively deal with complex and contentious issues relating to people and woodland interests, leading to the delivery of project outcomes and development of work areas as necessary.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Good computer skills with experience of MS Office and Excel.

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.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of designing/creating and/or managing forestry and land systems.
• Experience and knowledge of forestry and agriculture regulation and incentives.
• Experience of promoting, designing, and establishing new woodland.
• Experience of working in partnership across delivery organisations.
• Experience of supporting integrated land/woodland management.
• Understanding the principles of landscape design.
• Membership of (or working towards) a relevant professional institute (e.g. Institute of Chartered Foresters, CIEEM or RICS).
• Evidence of maintaining Continuous Professional Development.

Licences

UK Driving Licence

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• You will be asked to prepare a short presentation. Instructions will be given to the successful applicants at sift stage.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,537, Forestry Commission contributes £10,874 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).

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.a
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• 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.

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.

2 x Fixed Term Appointments ending 30th March 2027, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.

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

1. A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 3 parts and requests: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, and Full Qualification Details.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.
3. A statement, of no more than 250 words, providing an example of how you have demonstrated the key behaviour of Communicating and Influencing.

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

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

Interview

Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours and Strengths in addition to Technical Skills and Experience.

Interviews will be held in person at our Bucks Horn Oak Office – Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LS. Please keep this in mind when applying.

Sifting is planned for week commencing 24th August 2026

Interviews will be held week commencing 31st August 2026

Please note that these dates are subject to change

FurtherInformation

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission 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.

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. This includes grade on return.

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.

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

This role is full time only: 44 hours a week. 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.

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.

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.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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 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.