TREES AND WOODLAND ADVISER

Salary scale: £40,071 pa

Address: Based out of Rowallane, Saintfield, Down, BT24 7JA

Online application: https://careers.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Closing date: Sunday 8th August 2021

Interview date: Thursday 19th August 2021

As the National Trust embraces the future, we are increasing our ambitions to restore nature and step up our response to the climate crisis.

We are seeking to:
• Make habitats for nature bigger, better more & joined up
• Reach carbon net zero by 2030 not least through the planting of 20 million trees across Northern Ireland, England and Wales
• Increase access to the countryside to enable more people to enjoy the benefits of getting outdoors and feeling closer to nature.

The role of Tree and Woodland Adviser for the National Trust provides a unique opportunity to operate strategically and help to shape the delivery of our woodland establishment ambitions across the land we care for in Northern Ireland. As a key internal consultant you will help to form strategic direction and Trees & Woodlands leadership to our countryside teams who care for some of the most diverse and special wooded habitats and ancient trees in Northern Ireland.

This is a special role which requires an individual who can apply their broad experience across forestry and arboriculture to inspire and provide expert guidance to colleagues to ensure the management of our trees and woodlands is carried out to an exemplary standard.

Our existing and planned woodland provides huge opportunities for creating significant benefits for people, the climate and nature through proactive management.

What it's like to work here
We’re bigger than you think, we’re more complicated than we appear and we’re larger scale than you’d imagine. We’ve got passionate people in all our teams, and we’ve got so much more we want to achieve.

Your base location will be the office hub of Rowallane Garden, Saintfield, but flexible working arrangements are in place to support our people during the pandemic. Some travel may be required during the pandemic as deemed essential for the delivery of the project, but we encourage video calls and virtual meetings where possible as the default.

What you'll be doing
As a key member in our region-wide Land & Nature team it’s about:
• Bringing innovative thinking to our woodland creation and land management ambitions and creating a local strategy for delivery
• Using and enhancing our woodland management plans and working with property teams to restore existing woodland
• Having great connections in the forestry industry to help us mobilise resources and build strong partnerships around our key work areas
• Overseeing key forestry projects and supports the operational teams to ensure that grant funded woodland work is done in compliance with the funding requirements of any grant funding.

Who we're looking for
• Ability to deliver through teams including external contractors and colleagues outside your line management
• A good knowledge of harvesting, marketing and using timber
• A high level of technical knowledge of woodland management including arboriculture and the care of ancient and veteran trees
• Substantial knowledge of the wildlife of trees and woods with full understanding of external issues, legislation, policy practice instructions
• Excellent consulting skills of listening, building trust and acting to deliver a high-quality service
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent project management skills