Senior Forestry Programme Engineer

Natural Resources Wales; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

Annual leave 28-33 days

Wellbeing hour

Professional development

Job summary

Natural Resources Wales is seeking a Senior Forestry Programme Engineer to lead a rolling five-year civil engineering programme for the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. You will shape infrastructure plans, oversee forest roads, bridges and tracks, and ensure sustainable timber production across challenging landscapes.

You will mentor colleagues, drive safe-by-design practices, secure permissions, and align with Local Planning Authorities and SuDS bodies.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent engineering qualification required.
• Significant programme or multi-project management experience.
• Working towards/professional accreditation (e.g., Prince2).
• Knowledge of environmental habitats and relevant legislation.
• Extensive CDM2015 and health, safety, and environmental risk management.
• Experience with water-bound macadam road construction and drainage.
• Strong surveying and setting-out abilities.
• Proficient ICT skills: AutoCAD, ArcGIS, MS Project.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of rolling five-year civil engineering programme across NRW Woodland Estate.
• Secure permissions and prepare feasibility and tender packages.
• Collaborate with Local Planning Authorities and SuDS Bodies.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring within the team.
• Manage project documentation, forecasting, and risk controls.
• Engage external stakeholders to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

Skills

Programme management

Multi-project management

CDM2015

Health & safety

Water management

Road construction

Surveying & setting out

AutoCAD

ArcGIS

MS Project

UK driving licence

Professional accreditation

Education

Engineering degree

Prince2

ICE/IAgrE accreditation

Tools

AutoCAD

ArcGIS

MS Office

MS Project

Job description

The role

As a Senior Forestry Programme Engineer, you'll play a leading role in shaping and delivering the future infrastructure of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. Working within NRW's Integrated Engineering Team, you'll be responsible for developing and managing a rolling five‑year programme of civil engineering projects that are vital to sustainable forest management and timber production. This includes the planning and delivery of new forest roads, bridges, junctions, major forest tracks and associated infrastructure across some of Wales' most unique and challenging environments.

This is a varied and influential role where you'll combine strategic programme management with technical engineering expertise. From surveying sites and developing engineering solutions, to securing permissions and consents, preparing feasibility studies and producing tender‑ready project packages, you'll take projects from concept through to delivery. You'll work closely with colleagues across Forest Operations and Land Management, as well as external stakeholders including Local Planning Authorities and SuDS Approval Bodies, to ensure projects are delivered safely, sustainably and to the highest standards.

Beyond project delivery, you'll help drive engineering excellence across the team by providing technical guidance, mentoring colleagues and championing safe‑by‑design principles. Your work will have a direct impact on maintaining access to our forests, supporting national timber production targets, protecting environmental standards and helping NRW deliver its commitment to the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources.

If you're an experienced civil engineer looking for an opportunity to lead complex infrastructure programmes, influence strategic decision‑making and make a lasting impact on Wales' natural environment, we'd love to hear from you.

A full, valid UK driving licence is essential for this role. Regular travel is required across the South Central area, including frequent visits to remote forestry sites and infrastructure projects located within the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. As many of these locations are inaccessible by public transport, the ability to travel independently is a key requirement of the post.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the place base / location above and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

Interviews will be face to face week commencing 16 November 2026 (details of location will be shared in advance).

About us

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) plays a vital role in protecting the environment, supporting communities and businesses, and managing the natural resources that underpin Wales' economy, culture and quality of life.

As part of NRW, you'll join the Integrated Engineering Team, a specialist group responsible for designing and delivering the roads, bridges and infrastructure that support sustainable forestry across the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. Working in some of Wales' most stunning landscapes, you'll help deliver projects that keep our forests accessible, productive and resilient for future generations.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your engineering expertise to projects of real environmental and national importance, while benefiting from the flexibility, development opportunities and sense of purpose that come with working for NRW.

What you will do

• Collaborate with specialist senior officers and leads across multi-disciplinary teams in NRW. Identify all consents and permissions required and apply for/instruct colleagues to obtain these in a timely manner.
• Provide mentoring and staff development support to team members and champion health, safety, wellbeing and environmental objectives, Including CDM2015, UKWAS and ISO14001.
• Demonstrate exemplar project management principles, including financial, programme, scope, risk and contract management for infrastructure and new roads projects.
• Maintain project documentation and organise programme meetings.
• Undertake your duties in line with delegated authority and NRW policies and procedures.
• Prepare, track and manage project programmes, provide accurate forecasting of project milestones. Understand and manage programme delivery risks.
• Write and maintain register for projects and act to manage financial, commercial, legal, operational and reputational risks. Inform senior staff in good time to help resolve matters.
• Is able to include specialist knowledge and advice (either via themselves or competent contractors) into the pre‑construction information so that any engineering works can incorporate these details into the design and construction.
• Manage project communications to effectively engage and influence Local Planning Authorities, SuDs Advisory Boards and other external stakeholders to facilitate project delivery to quality, time and budget.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues to achieve solutions that deliver projects.
• Identify and share lessons learned and best practice.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy , together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post
• Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.Educated to a minimum of degree level in an engineering or related technical subject, or equivalent demonstratable experience. Post holders should have significant experience of programme & or multi‑project management and have or be working towards professional accreditation (E.g., Prince 2). Awareness of Environmental habitats and wildlife, and legislation which informs decision making in relevant Extensive knowledge, understanding and application of CDM2015 and other Health, Safety & Environmental risk management. Extensive knowledge of drainage and water management in upland environments, complying with Forest and Water Guidelines and the European Water Framework Directive. Experience of working with water‑bound macadam road construction, ground & earthworks engineering in an upland/rural environment. Surveying and Setting out road alignments. Strong ICT skills in AutoCAD, ArcGIS and Microsoft Office software, including MS Project. UK full driving licence. Member of professional body e.g., such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE).

Welsh Language level requirements

Essential: Level A1 - Entry level

Welsh language levels

Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Additional Information

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.

Benefits

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme)

28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days

generous leave entitlements for all your life needs

commitment to professional development

health and wellbeing benefits and support

weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

Please keep reading

We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under‑represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.

You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English, and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who want to work full‑time, part‑time, or job share.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the closing date to apply.

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