Head of Estate Development

About Forestry and Land Scotland

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is a national organisation with a powerful mission: to look after Scotland’s national forests and land for the benefit of all, now and for the future. Managing 9% of Scotland’s land area, FLS plays a vital role in the country’s environmental, social, and economic wellbeing. It supplies 40% of Scotland’s timber, supports the green energy transition as the UK’s largest onshore wind estate, welcomes 10 million visitors annually, and leads on conservation and restoration of iconic landscapes.

With a commercial income of approximately £140 million per year, supplemented by Scottish Government grants, FLS is on a journey to become fully financially sustainable within three years. This transformation includes ambitious productivity improvement projects and a renewed focus on commercial performance across timber, estates, renewables, and visitor services.

The Opportunity

FLS is seeking a strategic and forward thinking Head of Estate Development to join its senior leadership team. The Head of Estate Development is a high profile, customer facing strategic leadership role. They play a senior role in overseeing land transactions and the day to day management of the National forests and land which make up 9% of Scotland’s land area (640,000 hectares). They are also responsible with project delivery leads for setting the direction of and growing and developing our energy and estate development value stream to generate economic, social and environmental benefits and improve commercial performance.

As a member of the FLS Senior Management Team, you will play a key part in setting the strategic direction and transformation of FLS. You will oversee national specialists as well as the strategic direction and approach for other staff embedded in our 5 Regions collectively responsible for managing a large and diverse land and property portfolio and with bringing forward and integrating major projects into a working landscape.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide visible and inspiring leadership and build strong networks and relationships across the whole organisation and with partners by influencing beyond the sphere of your directly managed team.

• Bring together national and regional aspirations and plans, ensuring our teams are capturing opportunities, delivering a quality service and making an impact in a coordinated way across the whole of the FLS estate.

Strategy

• As an FLS Senior Management Team Member and Member of Commercial Development Leadership Team you will set and lead the delivery of an estate development strategy for the National forests and land leading to innovation and a step change in our commercial performance.

• Ensure the delivery of an efficient and effective estates operation and service whilst consistently improving standards and securing compliance.

Collaboration

• Role model visible & inspirational leadership, collaborative working and partnering with and influencing other senior leaders in FLS and across Government to ensure join up between functions and organisations.

• Collaborate in the identification and development of commercial opportunities and actively seek opportunities for other organisations to work with or for us, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources, knowledge, skills and experience.

Portfolio management

• Manage an existing portfolio of leases from a land manager perspective.

• Grow the estate development portfolio and the management of stakeholders and the establishment of strong commercial partnerships for this purpose.

• Bring forward clear and effective strategy for management of the land and property portfolio, including the integration of linear infrastructure projects.

• Ensure an asset management approach leading to value being understood and protected and increased over time.

Acquisitions and disposals, including Community Asset Transfer Scheme

• Oversee a strategy and approach to the disposal and acquisition of property assets.

• Oversee FLS’ involvement in the Community Asset Transfer Scheme.

• Oversee a programme of land development opportunities leading to improvement and investment.

Person Specification

Experience – Essential:

• Inspirational leadership and management of large and dispersed teams.

• Track record of changing, improving and growing a successful commercial operation.

• Developing strategy and managing organisational performance.

• Delivering results through a multi-site matrix management structure in a large organisation.

• Influencing and persuading professional and lay audiences.

Experience – Desirable:

• Relevant industry experience.

• Large scale public sector estate management experience.

Technical – Essential:

• Land, estates, infrastructure or estate development, including overseeing teams of specialists.

• Membership of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and/or relevant professional experience.

• Business, budget, performance and project management skills and experience.

Technical – Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of forestry.

• Management and/or leadership qualification.

How to Apply

Applications should be made by way of sending a covering letter and CV to applications@fwbltd.com. For a confidential discussion, interested candidates should contact Kirsten Hendry on +44 131 539 7087.