Programme Manager

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is an agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for managing 9% of Scotland’s public land. We’re looking for enthusiastic, practical, creative people to join the West Region planning team to help shape the future of Scotland’s forests and land.
As one of three Programme Foresters within West Region you will be responsible for developing and organising the range of activities that we undertake across 145,000ha of public land across the west of Scotland. West Region covers mainland Argyll (excluding Cowal), Mull and Lochaber. It is in one of the most wooded areas of Scotland. The landscape is characterised by the spectacular mountain scenery, coastal features, sea and inland lochs and extensive hills.
This is an exciting and forward thinking role that combines team working with logistical and problem solving skills. Work programmes are diverse and include woodland management, timber production and road construction, open land and habitat conservation management, peatland restoration, as well as community engagement and supporting public access and the management of tree pests and diseases. The programmes need to be efficient, practical, and integrated wherever possible as well as responsive to the opportunities that the land offers. The successful candidate will be comfortable with juggling the sequence and scale of a range of work across a large geographic area.
Preparing and monitoring work programmes requires you to work with others from a range of disciplines on a daily basis, to regularly get out and about to gain first-hand knowledge of the land, sometimes on difficult terrain, and to develop a thorough understanding of the key management issues.
As a member of the Planning Team you will be encouraged to think laterally and to work closely with others to find the best work programming solutions to make the most of the opportunities Scotland’s national forests and land has to offer., + Prepare 5 year programmes of work based on a thorough understanding of the land and analysing environmental, silvicultural, financial and social impacts, as well as FLS resources and commitments. To deliver Land Management Plans which are a primary source of programme information. Plans and programmes are required to meet the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
+ Work closely with the delivery, planning and environment teams in the preparation of detailed challenging but deliverable and affordable programmes of work for harvesting, civil establishment and environment looking for opportunities for integrated working and efficiency savings
+ Work closely with delivery teams in the management of the work programmes throughout the year being flexible to amend and adapt the timing and location of work as circumstances change to ensure that FLS objectives can still be met.
+ Organise and manage regular beat team meetings to support the development of the annual programmes, monitor in-year progress, identify coupes at risk and actions required to ensure their completion and maintenance of the programme
+ Create and maintain GIS spatial programmes and spreadsheets to record programmes and their progress. Liaise with relevant staff to monitor progress against targets;
+ Prepare Work Plans for individual coupes and activities and manage progression of these through to completion;
+ Support the Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician to maintain the local GIS system and its data and the programme related layers???
Input to the Land Management Planning process by providing data and knowledge relating to crop condition and marketability.

+ Able to analyse complex information, assess evidence and write well, which we would normally expect to be demonstrated through a degree or HND in Forestry or equivalent Land Management;
+ Relevant knowledge and demonstrable experience of forest operations, forest management or land management;
+ Ability to coordinate and manage time critical programmes of work and see opportunities for integrated working;
+ Demonstrable experience of building strong working relationships with internal colleagues and a wide range of external stakeholders and regulators;
+ Good facilitation, communication and engagement skills, including the ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues;
+ Competent in the use of Microsoft Office software
Desirable:
+ Competent user of Geographical Information Systems;
+ Experience in programme coordination or logistical planning;
+ Knowledge of UK Woodland Assurance Scheme, UK Forestry Standard or Environmental Impact Assessment
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Technical
Desirable:
+ A degree or HND in Forestry or equivalent Land Management qualification;
+ Member, or working towards membership, of the Institute of Chartered Foresters or another relevant professional body., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £34,028, Forestry and Land Scotland contributes £9,857 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%