Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Aberfoyle or West Calder, with an element of hybrid working About the job Job summary Forestry and Land Scotland is a Scottish Government agency that looks after Scotlands national forests and land (NFL). While a large proportion of our work involves timber production, we reinvest income into management of the NFL for the benefit of Scotlands economy, environment and society. In FLS were knowledgeable about multi-purpose forestry, environmental and wider land management; and were committed to managing the land to improve biodiversity, adapt to climate change, secure carbon and create great places for the people of Scotland. Central Region stretches from the Cowal peninsula in the west, across Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, to the southern parts of Fife and through the central belt. Whilst much of our landholding comprises commercial forestry, it also includes a diverse range of habitats including Atlantic oak woods in the west, pinewoods in the east and extensive areas of open hill ground and bog habitat. The Region balances traditional timber production with maintenance of extensive areas of open ground and world class visitor hotspots, renewables developments, and the management of a number of Designated sites and Scheduled Monuments. Other significant activities include rainforest and peatland restoration, new native woodland creation, restoration of Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and the management of habitats for key species (including a range of raptor species, red squirrel, great crested newt, pine marten, black grouse). The Planning & Environment Team works closely with other teams and specialists to design and shape our forests and land now and into the future, ensuring they deliver multiple benefits often within the same space. The team leads on planning our land to meet place-specific objectives; programming and organising the work that needs to be undertaken; and facilitating our environmental objectives. Job description The Planning & Environment Manager is a key role, responsible for providing environmental expertise to inform land management planning and programming of future works on the National Forests and Land, and includes significant project work which requires senior management collaboration and representation. It is interesting and challenging work which balances facilitation of the regional core work programmes (timber harvesting, restocking, civil engineering, and deer control) whilst seeking opportunities to positively contribute to the climate change/biodiversity crisis and manage the estate for optimal environmental benefit. This role will provide leadership, direction and support to teams working within the Planning & Environment function across the Region. You will lead on all elements of environmental work identifying, prioritising and planning works to support biodiversity, habitat and species management across the Region, and you will also have strategic oversight of two dedicated teams focussing on rainforest and peatland restoration. Youll need to maintain a strategic overview to make sure were focused on the most important issues at any one time; maintain momentum to ensure we achieve objectives; and take initiative, liaising across teams and with external stakeholders to ensure plans and programmes are deliverable whilst meeting Scottish Government priorities. You will work with external stakeholders to develop partnerships and represent the Region, including working to identify external funding and partnership working opportunities to develop a portfolio of shovel-ready environment projects. As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, you will have a say in the future direction of the Region, contribute to business planning and develop budgets, and adapt and innovate to efficiently deliver FLS and Scottish Government objectives. Person specification Leadership and staff management Lead, inspire and support a motivated team covering core environmental functions as well as two project-specific strands focussing on rainforest and peatland restoration. Provide direct line management for the thematic team leads for your lead work areas, managing staff in line with FLS policies, and optimise team effectiveness through innovation and prioritisation. Have a strong focus on team and individual wellbeing and skills development. Lead on implementing biodiversity objectives Engage with regional and national teams to identify, scope and set out priorities for habitat and species conservation and enhancement, and adapting our land to meet biodiversity objectives Advise and support other teams to ensure core programmes of operational work remain fully compliant with regard to protected habitats and species, and seek opportunities to optimise environmental benefits; Lead on the strategic approach to large scale environmental initiatives within the Region (e.g. PAWS restoration, Non-native invasives control, Rainforest restoration, Peatland restoration etc. Enable core programmes of environment work, including invasive non-native species control, native woodland restoration and habitat enhancement. Oversee the coordination of surveys relating to these. Project work Tree Health act as Regional lead, focussing on implementation of the FLS larch strategy and liaising with national and local Scottish Forestry Tree Health officers SUPERB research project act as Regional lead for this 4-year EU Horizon project, working in partnership with Forest Research over the final 12 months of the project Glen Croe act as main point of contact, and coordinate Central Region responses / actions, with a range of stakeholders undertaking work relating to the Rest and Be Thankful engineering works in Glen Croe (Transport Scotland, Bear Scotland, Atkins) Represent the Region/FLS and work with external stakeholders Engage with partners and other stakeholders to facilitate landscape scale initiatives Represent the Region in key stakeholder forums and relationships Identify and pursue opportunities to work with others where this can deliver externally funded projects or partnership working opportunities Contribute to Regional leadership Be an effective member of the Regional Leadership Team, helping to develop strategic appreciation of the challenges and opportunities within the Region Contribute to the Business Planning and Monitoring process, think ahead, identifying opportunities to add value and maximise the potential of the estate Contribute to wider FLS working groups and initiatives and work with external partners to deliver Scottish Government objectives Benefits Alongside your salary of £49,493, Forestry and Land Scotland contributes £14,338 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Things you need to know Selection process details Please see our recruitment portal for further details. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : John Hair Email : john.hairforestryandland.gov.scot Recruitment team Email : resourcingforestryandland.gov.scot Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail