Forest Planner in Pickering

As a Forest Planner with Forestry England in Yorkshire, you will help shape the long‑term future of some of England’s most diverse and valued landscapes. You’ll lead the development of forest management plans that set the direction for how our woodlands are cared for over the next 30 years and beyond, balancing objectives for biodiversity, forest resilience, sustainable timber production and public access.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across Forestry England and a wide range of external partners, you’ll bring together evidence, data and professional judgement to produce UKFS‑compliant Forest Plans and help maintain our UKWAS certification. Covering a varied district from the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales to the Humber and West Yorkshire, the role combines strategic planning with practical delivery. You’ll use GIS and field surveys to inform decisions, consult widely with stakeholders, and support operational teams by providing high‑quality data, mapping and specialist advice. Around a third of your time will be spent outdoors, often working independently, with flexibility to manage your own workload.

You’ll be part of a supportive district team and a national network of forest planning professionals, with access to tailored training, mentoring and development opportunities to grow your expertise and career.

The post will initially be based at Forestry England’s Yorkshire Office in Pickering, moving to the Dalby Forest Office in autumn/winter 2027. Regular travel around Forestry England’s estate in Yorkshire will be required, with occasional trips outside of Yorkshire for Forestry England‑wide meetings, which may require an overnight stay.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday a year, increased by one day each year of service, up to 30 days (pro‑rated for part‑time employees) plus bank holidays.
• Employees benefits scheme offering discounts on supermarket shopping, hotel stays, clothing, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts and household bills.
• Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• Commitment to lifelong learning through career development, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.

How To Apply:

You will be asked to write a 200‑word statement on your relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words. You will be assessed on both during sifting. Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and a government baseline personnel security standard check.

Behaviours assessed at interview:

• Changing and improving
• Working together
• Delivering at pace
• Making effective decisions

Applicants who pass the interview but are not the leading candidate may be placed on a reserve list. Candidates on the reserve list may be considered for other roles at the same or lower pay bands.

Nationality Requirements:

Working for the Civil Service Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). Candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative. Applicants must be able to provide accurate spoken English.

The recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.