Forest Craftsperson – Rothbury

About the Job

You will support the beat forester shaping the land we manage doing a range of operations and inspections in the forest, including helping with practical matters that may arise. Be a champion of our health & safety culture demonstrating our value of ‘look out and look after’ in our work.

Job Description

Operational:

• restock and establishment work: hand planting, tree guard construction, repairing fences and controlling
vegetation.
• clearing and maintaining trees: high pruning, cutting back and felling.
• tree safety work: surveys, putting up safety signs and safety fencing.
• tree survey work related to managing potentially hazardous trees.
• estate maintenance work such as high pruning operations to maintain access and the management or
clearance of trees or other vegetation.
• make sure work programmes you are responsible for are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• surveying, including measuring/tariffing, tree safety, stocking density and a variety of recreation trails.
• when needed, gather operational data accurately and efficiently and maintain appropriate up to date
records to the standard required.

Team working and Health and Safety:

• operate and maintain tools and resources to required standards and make sure work on site meets our
health and safety standards.
• by effectively liaising with colleagues and stakeholders, plan, implement and deliver efficient work
programmes that help meet Forestry England’s aims and objectives.
• engage proactively and respond constructively to existing and prospective customers and present the
highest standards of professionalism when representing Forestry England in the marketplace.
• carrying out risk assessments working to high health and safety standards which are guided by FISA (Forest
Industry Safety Accord).

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person Specification

Essential professional and technical experience:

• practical experience in forestry or countryside / environmental management.
• general understanding of forestry, arboriculture, nature conservation, outdoor recreation and countryside related issues.
• competently use a range of hand tools.
• awareness of health and safety systems relevant to practical countryside work e.g. risk assessments, Forest
Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guides and lone working systems.
• competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications.
• good interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work effectively alone and as part of a team.

Qualifications

Essential:

• City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award or equivalent in one or more practical forestry skills such as chainsaw
maintenance, cross cutting, and felling and processing trees up to 380mm or equivalent qualification.
• full UK driving license, however the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward
by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
• NPTC (or equivalent) in safely applying pesticides using handheld applicators.

Desirable:

• forestry or land management qualification.
• further NPTC and Lantra qualifications in Forestry based skills.
• emergency first aid at work + forestry (F).
• a GCSE in Maths and English or functional skills equivalent

Full job details and how to apply