Woodland & Countryside Advisor

Kelda Group Limited 0000411940 - Kelda Group Limited; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company is seeking a Woodland and Countryside Advisor to manage and support the woodland estate. This role involves compliance, stakeholder engagement, and income generation through forestry projects. Ideal candidates should have a degree in forestry, five years of experience, and good communication skills. The position is based in Bradford, transitioning to Leeds. A competitive salary and numerous benefits await the successful applicant.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual incentive related bonus

Attractive pension scheme

Development opportunities

25 days annual leave

Life assurance cover

Health cash plan scheme

Gym membership discounts

Qualifications

• Five years plus practical experience in forestry or arboriculture.
• Awareness of health and safety systems relevant to practical outdoor work.
• Competent IT user.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of the existing woodland estate.
• Develop new forest plans and management plans.
• Contribute to the delivery of Nature Recovery objectives.

Skills

Compliance, statutory plant health notice, tree safety

FSC certification, audit

Stakeholder engagement and relationship management

Income generation through commercial forestry

General understanding of countryside issues

Good interpersonal and communication skills

Education

Degree in arboriculture or forestry related

Tools

MS Office suite

Job description

Woodland and Countryside Advisor

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• Competitive salary, depending on experience from £33,795 to £42,069.
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1,000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year).
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution).
• Development opportunities in line with the Woodland and Countryside Advisor progression plan.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme.
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location

This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future. However, you will be predominantly working home. Full driving licence essential with less than 6 points.

Work type

Permanent. 37 hours per week Monday to Friday.

We have a unique opportunity for a Woodland and Countryside Advisor to support the Lead Woodland and Countryside Advisor here at Yorkshire Water and will be a part of helping Yorkshire Water deliver Yorkshire Water's. Could this be you?

What we do!

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire's water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region's health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Land and Property are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

YW own and manage 1,618.45 hectares of FSC certified woodland estate split across multiple sites within Yorkshire. The ongoing management of the mature woodland estate involves Forest Planning, execution of Statutory Plant Health Notices, (which have seen a significant uplift in recent years), Forestry contract management, forest infrastructure, tree inspections and enquiries, income generation, FSC certification including audits and compliance to UKWAS standards.

In AMP 7 the woodland estate generated over £1.1 million in timber income. Recent expansion of the woodland estate through large scale woodland creation has placed additional demands on the workload of the lead woodland and countryside advisor with a £1.2M grant income against multiple partnership projects.

As well as compliance the woodland estate is increasingly delivering against multiple performance commitments such as Net Zero and contributing at a regional level to Nature Recovery objectives.

This role will support the Lead Woodland and Countryside Advisor to manage the existing estate and deliver against business objectives and compliance.

Where you fit in!

What skills, experience & qualifications you will need;

• Compliance, statutory plant health notice, tree safety across woodland estate.
• FSC certification, audit and compliance against UKWAS standards to retain accreditation.
• Forest Plan, development of new forest plans and UKWAS management plans inhouse, implementation and delivery against set objectives.
• Stakeholder engagement, liaison, statutory body relationship management e.g. Forestry Commission, Natural England, White Rose Forest, Local Authorities.
• AMP 8 delivery, e.g. WINEP projects development and delivery of capital projects to report against performance commitments both within L&P and wider business. Net Zero PC develop projects and register carbon units to use for wider business benefits.
• Partnership, develop and support partnership projects e.g Landscapes for Water seeking new partnership opportunities to help YW deliver against regional and national objectives such as Nature Recovery plans, National Forest objectives.
• Income generation, seek new grant opportunities and maximise income opportunities through commercial forestry operations to deliver cost effective land management. Grant compliance, existing and proposed woodland creation projects, monitoring and compliance with grant conditions.
• Net Zero performance commitment. Actively contribute towards company net zero targets through development and registration of woodland creation projects to offset company emissions.
• Degree or equivalent in relevant subject (arboriculture or forestry related).
• Five years plus practical experience in forestry or arboriculture countryside / environmental management.
• General specialist understanding of forestry, arboriculture, nature conservation, outdoor recreation and countryside related issues.
• Awareness of health and safety systems relevant to practical countryside work e.g. risk assessments, Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guides and lone working systems.
• Competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work effectively alone and as part of a team.

You will also benefit from having:

• Further NPTC qualifications.

Application deadline: End of January 2026.

Interview dates: To be announced shortly.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you’re an experienced Countryside and or Forestry professional and want to help us deliver exceptional service for our customers whilst protecting the environment, then apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer for you.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.