Nature Networks Project Officer

What you’ll do

Forestry England’s Biodiversity Plan sets out a bold ambition for nature recovery in the nation’s forests. Working across five principal focus areas, Forestry England aims to restore resilient biodiversity in the nation’s forests, delivering our vision to ensure that these forests provide the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England.  
  
Forestry England’s Biodiversity Programme is a multi-year work stream to accelerate nature recovery at scale in England. With a multi-million-pound budget, supported by Defra and a growing portfolio of external funders, the programme makes a significant investment in nature recovery, alongside Forestry England’s parallel ambitions for sustainable timber production and connecting people with our forests.  
  
The ‘Nature Networks’ project is a new addition to the wider Programme, aiming to create over 15,000 ha of dynamic habitat corridors along roads, rides and watercourses, improving ecological connectivity and enabling species movement across forest landscapes.  
  
The role is based in Forestry England’s North District which covers Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham and North Lancashire.

As Nature Networks Project Officer you will oversee the development and delivery of North District’s Nature Networks project, managing it through concept and definition project stages, and facilitating their effective implementation on the ground.  The post holder will be responsible for bringing the concept of nature networks to life, delivering at scale and pace to meet Forestry England’s ambitions for nature recovery.
  
You will develop key project documentation, including ecological feasibilities and project plans, working closely with other colleagues such as forest planners to link nature networks with existing open habitats and protected sites. As nature networks move into their delivery stage, you will plan operations and work closely with foresters and ecologists to turn them into a reality on the ground. In the longer-term, you will develop management plans for new networks and working with contractors and volunteers.   
  
This is an exciting role, at the forefront of nature recovery in Forestry England. Reporting to North District Nature Recovery Team, the post holder will also work closely with the national Nature Networks Manager, as well as other district-based staff, including ecologists, planners and foresters. The post holder will be part of a growing team of colleagues across the country delivering similar nature recovery projects, sharing expertise and experience.

Job Description

Key responsibilities and accountabilities
Project Management

• Lead on the development of the vision and project plan for nature networks in North District.
• Apply appropriate project management principles to ensure effective and timely project implementation.
• Produce, maintain and review relevant project documentation throughout the project lifecycles.
• Develop annual and long-term work programmes and budgets for projects.
• Manage a delegated budget.
• Support funding bids for external funding and ensure that commitments to funders for the projects are appropriately met through project delivery.
• Work with the Nature Networks Manager to ensure that programme, corporate and funder reporting requirements are met.

Land Management

• Lead on the development of land management plans for nature network projects, working with district and national colleagues.
• Lead the investigation of appropriate techniques which will deliver the vision for nature networks in restoring dynamic open space at scale, ensuring there is a sound evidence base for our interventions.
• Collaborate with the foresters and/or ecologists to deliver the agreed land management plans.
• Procure and manage contracts, services and contractors, including graziers, forestry contractors, consultants and academic institutions.
• Ensure Forestry England procurement and contract management regulations are followed throughout the project.

Knowledge and Monitoring

• Work with the national Biodiversity Programme team and colleagues from Forest Research and wider academia to learn from and share best practice across the programme.
• Undertake or commission feasibility studies to explore innovative approaches to secure nature recovery across nature networks.

Communications and Public Engagement

• Work with district and national communications colleagues to develop and implement communications plans for projects.
• Where relevant, support the development of partnerships with neighbouring landowners to increase the scale and effectiveness of landscape scale nature recovery.
• Showcase the project to internal and external stakeholders to gain support for projects, nature recovery and further delivery within the nation’s forests.

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