Wild Area Officer – Wild Culm

Forest Camping Limited; Beaworthy; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution 28.97%

Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension

25 days holiday, rising to 30

STA R employee benefits discounts

Career development and sponsored CPD

Free parking at Forestry England sites

Free entry to National Arboretums

Job summary

Forestry England is seeking a Wild Area Officer to lead the Wild Culm project in West District. The role focuses on delivering wild area concepts at scale, collaborating with stakeholders and ensuring timely progression through project stages.

The position is based at the Halwill Office in Devon and requires 37 hours per week. The successful candidate will help restore natural processes, support sustainable timber production, and contribute to biodiversity and nature recovery initiatives within

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Wild Culm project in West District, delivering across project stages on the ground.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement wild area concepts and scale delivery in line with Forestry England ambitions.

Job description

Job Title and Details

Wild Area Officer – Wild Culm

Salary- £35,039 per annum

Contract type – Fixed term appointment until 31st March 2029 with the possibility of extension or permanency

Hours – 37 Hours per week

Vacancy closes - Thursday 12th November 2026, 23:58

About Forestry England

Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment. Together, we’re using our scale and expertise to grow the nation’s forests for everyone. We’re already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.

What you’ll do

The Wild Area Officer will oversee the development and delivery of the Wild Culm project in West District, managing progression through the different project stages, and facilitating their effective implementation on the ground. The post holder will be responsible for bringing the concept of wild areas to life, delivering at scale and pace to meet Forestry England’s ambitions for nature recovery. The project focuses on restoring the natural processes that underpin healthy habitats and species. Working closely with stakeholders, we will make bold management decisions that enhance these processes, strengthen ecosystem service provision, and maintain sustainable timber production, through adaptive silviculture and natural process led land management.

Where you’ll work

Covering the entire 3000 ha North Devon Beat, the project encompasses a clustered network of woodlands within the Culm National Character Area. The post-holder will be based at Forestry England's Halwill Office in Devon (EX21 5UX).

Benefits

• Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension.
• You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
• 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
• STaR is our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• a commitment to lifelong learning through career development.
• Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.

Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

Nationality requirements

Nationality requirements…

Working for the Civil Service

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). This means candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative. Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English. Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in in line with/according to these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: [e-mail].

Funding and Future Plans

This role is funded by DEFRA rather than through Forestry England generated revenue, and is therefore subject to government spending reviews. While DEFRA has indicated long term support for the Biodiversity Programme and we expect funding to continue, it is possible that funding levels may change at the end of any financial year depending on DEFRA’s budget allocations. In the event of funding changes, we would prioritise retaining staff posts wherever possible. This approach is consistent for roles within publicly funded organisations. We are committed to keeping staff informed and supported through any changes.