Outreach Adviser - Croft Woodlands (Uist and Barra)

Role overview

Outreach Adviser - Croft Woodlands (Uist & Bar ra)

The Woodland Trust is seeking an Outreach Adviser to join the Scotland Outreach Team. The Croft Woodland initiative is a partnership involving Woodland Trust Scotland, Point & Sandwick Trust, Scottish Crofting Federation, Scottish Forestry, Coigach & Assynt Living Landscapes, the Woodland Croft Partnership, Shetland Amenity Trust and Orkney Woodlands Project. The aim is to engage crofters in woodland creation and management to deliver biodiversity, agricultural diversification, landscape and environmental benefits.

Location: Homebased with regular travel within the Uist & Barra landscape and wider Western Isles; occasional travel to regional offices and overnight stays. You should live within the Western Isles or within reasonable travelling distance of your area of responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and ongoing support to crofters, grazing committees and land managers on woodland creation and management projects.
• Lead the development and delivery of Forestry Grant Scheme applications, coordinating consultants or preparing proposals in-house.
• Plan and implement Croft Woodlands MOREwoods schemes, ensuring successful project delivery.
• Create and maintain accurate GIS mapping and ensure robust due diligence, including regulatory compliance and “right tree, right place” principles.
• Organise and deliver training programmes, facilitating knowledge sharing across individuals, communities and stakeholders.
• Work closely with Point and Sandwick Trust through regular liaison and updates.
• Build and maintain relationships with land managers, partners, regulators and local organisations to promote woodland initiatives.
• Manage project delivery end-to-end, including budgets, timelines, contractors and consultants, ensuring targets are met.
• Complete project administration and reporting and support stakeholder engagement and innovative approaches to increase participation and impact.

Candidate requirements

• Experience in developing and delivering woodland creation projects, particularly for small-scale initiatives.
• Experience developing woodland management plans is desirable.
• Proven ability to engage with and advise crofters, communities, schools and woodland owners.
• Experience managing and collaborating with contractors, consultants and external partners.
• Strong technical capability in digital mapping and GIS systems.
• Good working knowledge of woodland and croft grant schemes and funding mechanisms is desirable.
• Understanding of the crofting context in Scotland, especially the Western Isles, with Gaelic language/cultural awareness desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent the organisation professionally.
• Highly organised, self-motivated and flexible, capable of managing workload independently and delivering projects on time and within budget.
• A full driving licence and ability to travel across a wide area, including remote locations; overnight stays may be required.

Benefits

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. We aim to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature, engaging and inspiring people to tackle the nature and climate crisis by protecting, restoring and creating our woods and trees.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We strive to reflect society and the communities we serve. All people should benefit from trees, regardless of background, identity, ability or circumstance. We particularly encourage applicants who are people of colour and/or disabled to apply. If you need any adjustments to complete your application, please contact us.