Forest Operations Senior Officer

Team / Directorate: Forest Operations NW Team Gwydir / Operations

Starting salary:  £41,132 rising to £44,988 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern:  Full time, 37 hours per week (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Interview Date: 03/09/2025

Post number: 200158 ENV

The role

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and experienced forestry professional to join our welcoming and driven Forest Operations Team, based near Llanrwst. As a Senior Officer for Forest Operations, you’ll play a vital role in delivering sustainable forest management across one of Wales’ most diverse and beautiful landscapes.

In this key position, you’ll lead on the planning and implementation of forest operations — from clearfelling and restocking to managing low-impact silvicultural systems — ensuring our Forest Resource Plans are delivered efficiently and sustainably. You'll manage a small team, collaborate with internal and external partners, and take ownership of your own geographic area and silvicultural specialism.

This is a role for someone who thrives on both big-picture planning and hands-on site management. You’ll be preparing detailed coupe plans using GIS and IT tools, coordinating with stakeholders to identify constraints and opportunities, and ensuring work on the ground is carried out safely and to a high standard.

At Natural Resources Wales, we offer more than a job — we offer a mission: to protect, manage and enhance Wales’ natural resources now and for the future. We’re a flexible, forward-thinking employer, committed to your development and wellbeing. You’ll join a tight-knit team, benefit from excellent working conditions, and make a real difference to our landscapes and communities.

If you’re passionate about sustainable forestry and ready for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

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

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Kath McNulty - kath.mcnulty@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will take place in person at the Gwydir Uchaf Office, Llanrwst. 

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.

About us

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) manages the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. Our team area extends from Anglesey to Porthmadog in the south and Abergele in the east. We are a small motivated team of 10 and work closely with colleagues in other teams, particularly land management, recreation and conservation. This role is one of three Senior Officers who support the team leader. It is key to delivering our sustainable forest management programme. NRW offers a great place to work with some seriously progressive employment conditions.

What you will do

• Act as the NRW technical lead for forest management and silviculture.
• Participate in the development of team work plans and deliver any agreed actions to contribute to business planning.
• Where appropriate act as NRW lead for specific technical sectors. 
• Be required to participate in NRW technical/strategic groups and represent NRW on external forums. 
• Interact with other specialists in NRW to promote consistent industry and specialist subject practices. 
• Be responsible for direct delivery of delegated programmes and agreed budgetary control, including all relevant compliance and adhering to procurement process.
• 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.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.

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.

1. Professional membership, or at least working towards such accreditation of a related subject, within an agreed timescale.
2. Experience of working across a wide range of land management disciplines. 
3. Knowledge of sustainable forest management, UKWAS and forest certification schemes. 
4. Coaching and mentoring skills. 
5. Good understanding of commercial business processes and pressures. 
6. Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and the public, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing. 
7. Extensive knowledge and experience of all aspects of forest practise, including, forest planning, forest operations.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)​

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.

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. 

Apply for this role

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