Forestry Officer

Do you have a background in forestry or a related discipline and want to work in one of the most stunning parts of the UK, home to many of the country’s most important and iconic natural landscapes? Are you looking for competitive pay (£38,474 - £41,714 per year) and excellent working conditions, including flexible working across a 35-hour week, minimum 28 days annual leave (plus 7 days paid public holiday), a generous pension scheme, full support for CPD and training and employee discounts? If so, this opportunity may be for you!

About the role:

Highland Council are looking for a Forestry Officer to join our small, busy and friendly Forestry Team. In this role you will be working closely with Council officers as well as a range of other professionals, to positively manage change across Highland’s outstanding regionally, nationally and internationally important natural environment. You will help secure the best outcomes for trees, with a focus on providing advice to the planning authority and developers primarily within the renewables sector. The role includes extensive travel across the Highlands.

About the Highlands:

Covering around one-third of mainland Scotland, with an area 20% larger than Wales, the Highland Council is the UK’s largest, yet least populated, local authority area. The Highlands boasts an outstanding, world-class and varied natural environment set within and against some of the UK’s most dramatic, scenic and iconic natural landscapes and features. These include the Cairngorms National Park, The Isle of Skye and the Inner Hebrides, Ben Nevis, Glen Affric, Loch Ness and The Great Glen, John O’Groats and the recently inscribed UNESCO Flow Country World Heritage Site. From land and loch to sea and sky, the natural environment of the Highlands creates a huge range of opportunities for leisure and recreation activities throughout the year which offer locals and visitors alike the benefits and enjoyment of truly wild landscape experiences and make the area an outstanding place to live and work.

Most towns and settlements are more compact compared to other parts of the UK and in some areas widely dispersed. Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, is a historic and vibrant city with all the modern services and facilities you would expect including road and rail links and an easily accessible modern international airport.

About you:

You will hold a relevant degree level qualification in arboriculture, forestry, environmental science or a related discipline, or have equivalent experience. Practical experience and up-to-date knowledge of the planning system and the application of relevant legislation, policy and guidance would be to your advantage. The successful candidate will be comfortable working with a wide range of people, including fellow officers and Council managers, developers, agents, consultants, elected Members, colleagues in both local and national organisations and the public. You will need to be self-motivated and comfortable using your own initiative and able to manage a varied workload. You will be comfortable undertaking site visits and attending meetings across a large geographical area.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Andrew Puls, Environment Team Leader by email at [email protected]