Forester (FLS)

Forestry and Land Scotland; Straiton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Forestry and Land Scotland is seeking an Operations Forester to join the Land Management Delivery Team in the South Region, based at the Straiton Office in South Ayrshire. You will help deliver forest establishment and maintenance programmes and work with contractors and communities.

The ideal candidate will have forestry or related land management experience, excellent communication, and the ability to manage workloads for a team.

Qualifications

• Experience in forestry or related land management work.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to manage own workload and a team.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Qualification in forestry-related discipline or significant transferable experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver forest establishment and maintenance programmes.
• Contribute to woodland creation projects and stewardship activities.
• Collaborate with contractors, stakeholders and local communities to ensure successful delivery of operations.

Skills

Forestry experience

Communication skills

Team/workload management

MS Office proficiency

Problem solving

Driving licence

Education

Forestry-related qualification or transferable experience

Job description

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The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

We’re looking for an Operations Forester to join our Land Management Delivery Team in the South Region. You’ll be based at our Straiton Office in South Ayrshire.

Working across southern Scotland, the South Region manages a diverse landholding that includes commercial forests, woodland creation projects, nationally important conservation sites, native woodlands, and popular recreation destinations. The region plays a vital role in delivering sustainable timber production, environmental enhancement, biodiversity objectives, and high-quality recreational opportunities for local communities and visitors.

As an Operations Forester, you will play a key role in delivering forest establishment and maintenance programmes, woodland creation projects, and wider stewardship activities across your allocated area. You’ll work closely with colleagues, contractors, stakeholders, and local communities to ensure the successful delivery of forestry operations while helping to achieve Scotland’s climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable land management objectives.

To be successful, you'll need experience in forestry or related land management work, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage and prioritise both your own workload and that of a team. You should be confident using Microsoft Office applications, able to solve problems independently and collaboratively, and committed to developing your skills through learning and training opportunities. A qualification in a forestry-related discipline, or significant transferable experience in forestry, land management, or environmental management, is essential. Experience in forestry operations, contract management, and applying health and safety principles is desirable, as is membership of, or working towards membership of, the Institute of Chartered Foresters or another relevant professional body. A full UK driving licence is required.