Forestry Supervisor

What you’ll do

Reporting to the Estate Manager, this role involves supporting the Estate Manager and Forestry Consultant, together with the wider Forestry team, to deliver the long-term management plan for the forest. You will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of traditional woodland operations, including planting, harvesting and other traditional landed estate husbandry tasks. Contractor management is a key aspect of this role, ensuring woodland works are carried out as directed, safely and timely. You will also support the delivery of the WD2 grant and other higher tier grants and compliance matters for all forestry operations.

Where you’ll work

Longleat Estate, Wiltshire

Job description; Key responsibilities

Forestry Operations and Compliance
• Ensure sufficient supply of round wood timber to meet the demand of the firewood business.
• Planning and producing schedules of works.
• Ensuring Health & Safety checks are completed and fully documented.
• Assisting with grant-related work, including ride-side management as requested.
• Support the Wildlife and Conservation Supervisor as required with estate wildlife control.
• Working closely with the Forestry Consultant to advise in the setting and delivery of budgets and KPIs.
• To support the delivery of the Heritage Management Plan, liaising with other departments as necessary.
• Work closely with the Firewood team to identify sale opportunities, such as woodchip supply.

Contractor Management
• Delivering Health & Safety inductions for contractors undertaking replanting and restocking, ensuring compliance.
• Day-to-day oversight of forestry contractors onsite. This includes tendering for works, reviewing quotes, booking works in-line with budget, and reviewing completion.
• Monitoring progress and quality of works instructed by the Forestry Consultant.

Stakeholder and Community Engagement
• Act as a liaison for community, educational outreach and local stakeholders, such as delivering educational talks to local schools on Forest visits.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external agencies/partnerships such as Forestry Commission, local landowners, Environment Agency, Natural England.
• Effective and efficient use of all plant, machinery and equipment to ensure maximum output to the highest standards, using the best and safe working practices and manufacturers guidelines.

General
• Work collaboratively with all Forestry teams, including Arboriculture, Wildlife, and Firewood.
• To act as a brand ambassador for Longleat ensuring that all work adheres to our brand guidelines/proposition and aligns with our vision of a Picture-Perfect site whilst performing the function required
• To provide a guest focused service at all times ensuring that all work is completed to the highest standards of the brand
• Represent the Company at all times by being smart in appearance and presentable whilst behaving in an appropriate manner in line with our cultural values
• Be accountable for their own development seeking out opportunities to learn new skills to continuously improve
• Work in a responsible and safe manner at all times adhering to Health & Safety, safe working practices and Company Policies and Procedures
• Such other reasonable duties as and when required by your Line Manager
• The above list of duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role, including general forestry and estate work.

The ideal candidate: knowledge, experience and qualification

Essential
• Forestry degree or equivalent
• Forest works manager training
• Silviculture and Woodland Management experience including: CCF, harvesting, planting and long-term forest planning
• A sound knowledge of forestry skills and issues
• Experience of contract management and supervision of contractors
• UK forestry legislation and compliance
• Environmental best practice
• Risk Assessment wand Safety Management Planning
• Good understanding of habitat management
• Promote and progress strategic opportunities on the Estate to enhance value
• Commercially astute and practically minded
• Good IT skills (including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Desirable
• Experience in Historic Landscapes/Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• First Aid+F
• NPTC/LANTRA chainsaw maintenance & cross-cutting, felling up to 380mm andclearing saw
• Professional Tree Inspection certificate
• Training in ecological awareness such as protected species
• Timber measurement, grading and product specifications
• Passion for sustainable development and management of habitats for native wildlife.

The ideal candidate: key competencies

Essential
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to build relationships and engage effectively
with stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with crossfunctional teams
• Committed to conservation and woodland management
• Ability to multitask, prioritise workload and meet deadlines
• Familiarity with health and safety regulations and a commitment to promoting a culture of safety
• The ability to deal with conflict and provide resolutions
• Full clean driving licence

Desirable
• Project management
• Flexible in approach to working hours
• An interest and understanding of the forestry industry and firewood market

For more information and to apply for the position, please email  georgia.verdon@longleat.co.uk