South East

PAWS Woodland Surveyor

South East England

Job details

Location

Hartfield

Hours of work

Full Time

Contract

Permanent

Closing date

October 29, 2026

Location

Hartfield, South East England, TN7

About the Job

Job summary

Forestry England is seeking a Woodland Surveyor in East England Forest District to carry out inventory surveys across PAWS (Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites) in the Sussex and Kent woodlands. You will need to assist in updating the sub compartment database with data collected from the field. You will work with colleagues and contractors across the district and information derived from the surveys will be used to inform both Forest plans and Forestry England operations where appropriate.

The Forest Surveyor will be based at the Bedgebury National Pinetum office as part of the Planning and Environment team and will be responsible to the Forest Planner (East Anglia), who will be the reporting officer. While the post will be based at the Bedgebury office the post holder may be required to travel around the district on occasion. The post holder can also benefit from blended working enabling home working where appropriate, in agreement with your line manager.

The successful candidate will work as part of a team to provide superb survey support to colleagues within the land management team.

Job Description

Key responsibilities & accountabilities 
 
Responsibilities 
  
• Carry out and manage a range of forest surveys in all weathers – identifying woodland components, standing timber measurement, planting density assessments and tree disease monitoring.  
• Enter and edit data in GIS, including the core dataset and local datasheets ensuring that information is accurate, up to date and at the appropriate level of detail. Ensure that survey data is completed timeously and is of a high standard.  
• Work closely with the beat foresters and planning team to deliver the districts aims and objectives. We require all our staff to be welcoming, enthusiastic and approachable, with a willingness to engage with team discussion and with visitors to the forest in a polite and appropriate manner.  
• This post involves physically demanding work in a forest environment; applicants need to be able to perform under these conditions.  
 
Key work areas  
 
• Collate data from the compartment database and prepare maps for areas to survey  
• Survey agreed areas, making sure that relevant mensuration variables such as basal area and other crop changes are collected  
• Summarise data in a format ready for input in the compartment database  
• Input mensuration data and other crop / component changes into the compartment database  
• Carry out plant assessments  
• Monitor the progress of surveys in place and constructively advise contractors as necessary  
• Audit the quality of contracts and share findings with the planning team

Person Specification

Skills, knowledge & experience 

Essential professional and technical experience 

• Experience of working in UK forestry, including different crop types, site types and silvicultural systems.
• Ability to identify stand types and tree species in the field.
• Navigation by map and OS features.
• Use of Microsoft Office products

Desirable professional and technical experience 

• Experience of survey work in forests and using GIS, electronic callipers and GPS.
• Able to identify non-tree species

Qualifications

Essential

• Driving licence – The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, Forestry England is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by other means.

Desirable 

• Qualification in forestry or related subject.

To learn more about the benefits and to see how to apply please view the full job description on the Civil Service Jobs website here.