Head Forester

This is a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to take their career to the next level, enjoying invaluable experience working on sites of special scientific interest, with ancient Atlantic Riverine Rainforest, Special areas of Conservation, new plantations for carbon sequestration as well as areas of commercial woodland.

The incumbent will be able to consider and develop additional value add initiatives using existing equipment including sawmill facilities as well as propose new capital investment to deliver economic growth. They will liaise with our Kent forestry team to share best practices and experience.

Some travel should be expected as well as hosting occasional external stakeholder tours and acting as an ambassador for our best in class forestry drive.

Working alongside the Estate’s land agency team and farmers, you will have the opportunity to explore new agro-forestry and biodiversity initiatives.

The Head Forester is a ‘hands-on’ role, responsible for managing the Tregothnan woodland resource in Cornwall, and improving the long-term resilience of the woodland as a whole, both financially and environmentally; and day to day supervision of the small Woods Team, leading by example, together with nurturing and developing the team through sound inclusive management, to support employee retention.

Key day to day responsibilities include:

• Ensuring compartment schedules and records are maintained.
• Felling, including work within large mature hardwood compartments and softwood blocks.
• Enhancing growth and management of the Estate’s firewood business.
• Instructing and managing contractors.
• Planting and maintenance of young plantations, including delivery of future tree planting schemes.
• Localised management of natural regeneration.
• Marketing of timber.
• Planned and preventative maintenance of roadside trees.
• Estate maintenance.
• Managing the out of hours system, dealing with fallen trees etc.
• Ensuring health and safety compliance and safe working practices.
• Collaborative and team working with other Estate Departments.
• Ensuring equipment, machines, and PPE are in good, safe, clean, and functional order.
• Being a positive ambassador for the Tregothnan Estate.

You will need:

• To be experienced in the safe and efficient delivery of woodland operations; and able to extract and add value from forestry operations.
• Business acumen.
• To be organised, hardworking, reliable, enthusiastic, flexible and committed.
• To be professional, trustworthy and discreet.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• To be self-motivated and able to work on own initiative.
• To be a supportive and engaging team leader, with the ability to motivate and manage a small team.
• Relevant experience and qualifications to competently operate a wide range of forestry plant and machinery, including tractors, telehandlers, and loaders.
• A background of having worked on a rural Estate would be advantageous, but is not essential.

The Tregothnan Estate is a private family home with a world-renowned botanical garden and woodland. The gardens include a number of national collections. The Estate has a team of maintenance, gardening, forestry and joinery employees that maintain the core estate and manage the beautiful surroundings which are on the edge of the River Fal. The Estate also has a substantial portfolio of residential, commercial, and agricultural properties and an in-hand farming business.

The Estate is diverse in its activities and the job roles it provides. The teams have a great community spirit, the surroundings are inspiring, and the work is always interesting. Working at Tregothnan is being part of Cornwall’s heritage and its modern future.

Benefits:

• Salary circa £35,000pa, depending on experience.
• As the position is considered live-in, a house is provided in the village.
• 21 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays.
• Health care cash back plan.
• Discount scheme with high street and online retailers.
• Salary sacrifice homeware, tech and cycle to work schemes.