Director in Bristol

Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week, flexible hours.

Location: Primarily office based in central Bristol, with use of other partner locations for ad hoc use. This role will involve travel across the Western Forest region and occasionally within England, with a travel expenses budget. Hybrid arrangement by agreement.

The Western Forest is a brand-new programme having been launched with national and Ministerial profile in March 2025. The Forest will support over 2.5 million people, cultivating a greener, more connected future by creating a landscape with trees and woodlands at its heart. The Western Forest will deliver landscape scale change and real green investment, connecting people and nature across three regions: Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the West of England (including North Somerset).

The Western Forest Director will drive, direct and manage the delivery and strategic direction of this new national forest. The Director will inspire and work alongside partners and the core Western Forest team to achieve the goals and targets set for the forest, ensuring it develops sustainable income streams and models of delivery by 2030. The Western Forest Director will head up the core team in supporting and directing resource and expertise throughout the region.

Some key duties include:

• Lead on strategic development and impact.
• Support the shaping and organisational effectiveness of the Western Forest team and partnership, with a focus on collaboration, learning and knowledge sharing.
• Be responsible for the creation and management of relationships with partners and funding bodies working to build and develop existing partnerships and encouraging new ones.
• Develop open, trusting and respectful relationships throughout the governance structure and between the team and Boards.
• Manage and ensure delivery of the programme KPIs and partnership delivery model.

This list is not exhaustive but highlights the key duties of this role. A full job application pack can be requested.

To meet the needs of this role you will need:

• Demonstrable experience of impactful leadership, working across organisations and a wide range of sectors and stakeholders.
• Experience of advocacy, engaging with external stakeholders to influence social change or public policy.
• Proven track record of securing significant financial resource for an organisation through large funding bids or other sources of income generation, ideally with a good knowledge of the tree and woodland funding sector.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leaders, community groups, and the public.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to plan resources appropriately and understand financial reports including budgets/cashflow management, risk management and forecasting models.

The Forest of Avon are an equal opportunity employer and applications will be considered without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, veteran status or age. The Forest of Avon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. We seek to challenge the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. We encourage different perspectives and seek to support our team and partners to share and implement new ideas, to continue improving and to realise our full potential.

This is a rare, unique and exciting opportunity to take a lead role in developing the programme and setting the strategic path for the Western Forest - the first new national forest in over 30 years.

To apply for this role please submit your CV detailing your relevant experience and a covering letter of no more than 4 A4 pages to the recruitment team.