• 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.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Significant knowledge of forestry and silviculture, including having a clear understanding of the UK Forestry Standard

Salary and 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.
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• 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).

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

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

• A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience and Full Qualification Details.
• A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the person specification.

Applications will be sifted week commencing 3rd August 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interviews will be held face to face in Newcastle and are planned for the week commencing 10th August 2026. This date is subject to change.

Further Information

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
• Any move to the Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
• If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
• 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.
• Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on 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.
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
• 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 circumstance 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.
• This role is full time only. 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.

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.

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