Forestry Commission
Infrastructure Adviser
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North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England
Job Summary
The Infrastructure Adviser will be responsible for providing the Forestry Commission's responses to major infrastructure projects including projects subject to the Lead Environmental Regulator process, to protect, enhance and expand trees and woodland as part of sustainable development. They will work closely with members of the area and national teams, from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, to identify impacts and opportunities for woodland creation, using data, evidence and good practice advice. Through positive engagement with developers, planning authorities and other Government bodies, the Infrastructure Adviser will be responsible for developing strategic mitigation that supports infrastructure, while helping to expand, protect, improve and connect woodland.
They will support the creation and roll out of a ‘paid for service’ from infrastructure developers that contributes towards the organisation’s time spent on these projects, and will act as the ‘go-to’ project and relationship leads for high-profile infrastructure projects, such as (but not limited to) High Speed 2 and East West Rail.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate and communicate.
- Lead and coordinate between colleagues across multiple teams and specialisms, to bring together clear and targeted advice on impacts and opportunities from infrastructure projects, which takes account of technical advice (eg ecology, forestry), national planning policy and legislation, local strategies (including Local Nature Recovery Strategies) and local knowledge from Area team colleagues.
- Participate positively in multi-stakeholder meetings - presenting positions robustly and effectively and positively challenging proposals to ensure good practice is followed.
Technical planning advice.
- Assess and provide detailed advice and responses to major infrastructure development proposals to determine impacts on trees and woodland, particularly ancient and veteran, as well as opportunities for trees and woodland as part of green infrastructure and to provide nature based solutions as part of development proposals. This will involve reviewing detailed evidence, such as technical reports and maps, to highlight impacts and potential solutions in relation to relevant policy and legislation including the Planning Act 2008 and the Lead Environmental Regulator process, good practice and using digital tools including the Forestry Commission’s internal GIS-based mapping system.
Relationship manager.
- Work with external customers and partners, including Government bodies, to build trust and positive working-relationships. In particular, support with the development and roll out with a consistent cost-recovery ‘offer’ for infrastructure development projects. Act as the relationship and contract lead for key projects, such as East West Rail or High Speed 2, responsible for positive engagement and giving advice. Establish and work within clear expectations according to Service Level Agreements in budget and on time.
- Help build FC’s reputation as a robust, positive and reliable consultee and advisor on infrastructure projects that help stakeholders through the planning process in a way that secures the best possible outcomes for trees/woodland which also deliver multi-functional benefits for projects as part of sustainable growth.
Most work will be desk-based but there is likely to be the need to travel to potential development sites and external meetings and events online and face to face.
The successful applicant will have a passion for woodlands and forests and for the benefits to society, the environment and the economy they provide. They will advocate with knowledge and enthusiasm the environmental and other benefits that woodlands provide.
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Person Specification
Essential
- Degree/Higher Diploma in Town and Country Planning or forestry/land management/countryside management/ environment management/ and/or significant related experience in partnership working centred on land management / planning / tree and forestry issues.
- Experience of stakeholder management - building strong business relationships and collaborative working to deliver mutually beneficial results.
- Confident interpersonal and communication skills with experience of presenting to a range of audiences, both verbally and written.
- Competent and effective IT user with experience of MS Office and also including remote working and associated communication tools (e.g. MS Teams).
- People management experience or the capability to take on this responsibility.
- Organisation: Ability to work to deadlines, manage multiple ongoing projects with peaks and troughs
Technical Essential
- Knowledge and experience of the planning system including the NSIP process
- Knowledge and experience of environmental policy/forestry/ecology
- Understanding of the Forestry Regulations
- Able to assess and analyse planning documents (plans, surveys etc)
- Comfortable with interrogating maps/spatial data
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
- Member, or eligible for membership, of one of the following, Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), Institute of Chartered Foresters (MICFor), CIEEM or other relevant chartered body.
- Experience of influencing external organisations to achieve environmental benefits
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
We will set a presentation question for applicants that pass the sift.
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. 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.
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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 should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
- A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
- Please confirm within your personal statement whether you are in the South or North of England.
The sift will be conducted using your CV, Personal Statement. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.
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.
Should you be successful at this stage you will be progressed to interview stage. These interviews will consist of a mixture of experience, behaviour, technical skills and strength based questions. We will set a presentation question for applicants that pass the sift.
Interviews will be held w/c 31st August. These dates are 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 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.
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
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