Forestry and Woodland Officer

Fixed Term, Full Time

Up to £36,057 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 25th March 2021

On a 2 year fixed term contract, working as part of the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation team, you will drive forward the Essex Forest Initiative as part of the Council's Environment and Climate Action Programme to will deliver a suite of woodland creation and management projects to address the impacts of climate change, that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience to those changes which are already inevitable between now and 2050.

You will ensure the Essex Forest Initiative will facilitate the creation or enhancement of multifunctional green and blue Infrastructure connected to wider landscape, by planting 375,000 trees by 2025/6. You will meet the annual tree planting targets through working in partnership, developing grant applications, and sponsorship agreement. The post involves annual delivery of projects with stretch targets year on year.

About the role

You will be responsible for formulating, developing and delivering effective project management methodologies for new woodland creation and woodland management projects, ensuring resources are used effectively in the delivery of projects, meeting timescales, identifying cost savings, ensuring compliance with procurement, finance, legal regulation and processes and delivery reporting to managers.

You will provide expert advice and guidance on forestry and woodland management across the extensive ECC estate, including the 140 hectares of no-staffed woodland, which will inform the council's woodland and tree planting decisions making.

You will provide an intelligent client capacity on new woodland and tree planting issues and wider cross-cutting relationship with Environment and Climate Change, and you will share best forestry and tree practice, explore and realise opportunities for joint initiatives on woodland creation and woodland management.

You will build strong networks at local and regional level in respect of new woodland creation, to deliver improved joint environment outcomes, including managing the Essex Forest Partnership, and working collaboratively with 13 local councils in Essex, as well as with internal and external partners, ensuring you develop and maintain a broad understanding of the needs and concerns of stakeholder interests, whilst exploring external tree planting funding opportunities.

With this, you will develop and deliver effective tree planting communication across partners and stakeholders, maximising tree planting education and awareness and raising the importance of the tree planting and its management and protection.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Educated to degree level in a forestry or woodland management environmental subject, you will have experience in a relevant forestry or woodland management field, with an understanding of project management and experience of successful project outcomes and delivery of environmental initiatives. You should have significant understanding of sustainability and environmental issues and their implications for Essex.

You will have experience of managing change to deliver improvements in efficiency and customer service in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. This includes knowledge and experience of working within a legal/political framework.

You should have a good understanding of key environmental agencies and partners' remit in relation to forestry, tree planting and woodland management, as well as, regional, national and international environment-based external environmental and tree planting funding programmes.

You should be confident in building strong working relationships with key stakeholders, public, private and voluntary sector bodies which encourage collaborative and partnership objectives.

This position will initially, in line with current government guidance be based from home, with an expectation of being home based for the foreseeable future. However, when government guidelines change the role may then revert to being office based, whilst retaining some flexible working options.

As part of employment with Essex County Council should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link: https://www.workingforessex.com/working-here/pay-reward/

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please email or call us on 0333 013 5888. Lines are open Monday to Friday 08:30 - 16.30.