Forest Wilding Project Officer

This role will progress our aspirations for harnessing natural processes in forest management to deliver nature recovery. This will take the Wild Neroche project through delivery phase with our partners, project planning the steps needed to take our vision forward. The post holder will manage successful relationships with our stakeholders and begin the implementation of key steps on the ground, including monitoring data and introducing land management techniques to lay the foundations to meet our long-term objectives. This role may be involved in progressing other Forest Wilding projects such as species re-introductions.

Managed by the Operations Manager Environment, the Wilding Officer will work closely with Forestry England colleagues across West England District and with our national forest wilding and communications functions to help deliver nature recovery. You can expect to spend up to one third of your time outdoors, often independently and remotely, and you will usually be expected to manage your own time to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.

Where you’ll work… The role will be based at our office near Staple Fitzpaine in the Blackdown Hills (TA3 5BL), other locations may also be considered, with flexibility for some optional blended working.

• Project Management

• Lead the development and delivery of the Wild Neroche project plan.
• Develop long-term budgets for Wild Neroche and potentially other Forest Wilding projects, alongside seeking opportunities for fundraising to potentially include Environmental Land Management, corporate sponsorship and green finance.
• Carry out financial planning, forecasts and expenditure monitoring.
• Ensure Forestry England procurement and contract management regulations are followed throughout the project.
• Contribute to project steering group meetings for Wild Neroche and potentially other Forest Wilding projects.

• Undertake scoping of potential introductions of ecosystem engineer species and keystone species to drive ecosystem function.
• Work collaboratively with Natural England, the Blackdown Hill NL and other key local stakeholders to share and develop Forestry England’s vision for Wild Neroche.
• Lead on the implementation of appropriate land management works (e.g. fencing, introduction of herbivores, tree planting, peatland restoration, deer management), working with other Forestry England staff and contractors.
• Ensure that proposed land management interventions are approved through appropriate regulatory mechanisms, e.g. Forest Plans, Natural England assent.

• Commission, manage and interpret surveys and monitoring to gather baseline information relevant to the project at Wild Neroche, including eDNA soil analysis, vegetation and species surveys, and hydrological information.
• Build a network of academic and other advisors, internal and external, and critical friends to advise and guide the project at all stages.
• Work with the national Forest Wilding programme team, colleagues from Forest Research and wider academia to learn from and share best practice from the project.
• Undertake or commission feasibility studies to explore alternative approaches to land management, which explore the natural capital, economic and biodiversity benefits.

• Lead the development and delivery of a stakeholder management plan to build support for the project.
• Work with our existing partners to develop the Wild Neroche vision and engage widely to build support for the project.
• Showcase the project to internal and external stakeholders to gain support for forest wilding, nature recovery and further delivery within the public forestry estate.
• Develop relevant events and activities to engage the public with Wild Neroche, working closely with Forestry England’s recreation, communications and Forest Wilding programme teams.

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

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