Agroforestry Woodland Officer

Job summary

Although a longstanding practice, agroforestry had fallen out of favour over the course of the 20th century, due to intensification of farming. Government has set out plans to revive agroforestry, encouraging farmers and landowners to contribute towards our climatological and environmental goals, whilst increasing woodland/tree cover, and increasing productivity from farmland. This is especially important at the time of acute geopolitical crisis and global economic trends, with food security climbing the agenda.

The Forestry Commission (FC) are the government’s forestry experts: We work to protect, improve, and expand England’s woods and forests. This is done by providing policy advice to government and leading delivery through regulation, incentives, and protecting tree health. Developing the FC’s agroforestry policy is a key priority as we look to influence land management and land use change across England. Through agroforestry, we will help deliver on the Government’s tree planting ambitions, the 25Year Environment Plan, Net Zero and the England Tree Action Plan.

The Agroforestry Woodland Officer role (AFWO) will be located in the South West Area Team with the post accompanying our second regional AFWO. They will be responsible for advising on agroforestry design and implementation on the ground, working with potential applicants, landowners, and supporting Area based FC Woodland Officers (WOs) and Woodland Creation Officers (WCOs). They will play a key role in delivering and administering the In-field agroforestry grants through the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). Making connections to the Forestry Commission’s England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), identifying agroforestry opportunities on applicant’s land, and how they might complement and enhance our woodland creation objectives. Agroforestry has the potential to maximise positive environmental outcomes, along with identifying and championing sound business opportunities for the farming community.

Job description

We are seeking dynamic individuals with experience in forestry/farming and/or land management, who are quick to learn and can inspire and enthuse others. The Agroforestry Woodland Officer (AFWO) role can be seen as the ‘face’ of the Forestry Commission to landowners, managers and stakeholders interested in exploring agroforestry, representing Forest Services front-line agroforestry expertise.

As Forestry Commission Area Agroforestry Woodland Officer, you will proactively advise and support Area based staff on agroforestry, providing expert advice on agroforestry development, implementation, regulation, and environmental benefits, with a particular focus on supporting local forest and farming industries.

The Agroforestry Woodland Officer role is Area based, individually covering large regions, but will be part of a team, working alongside FC Woodland Officers (WO) and Woodland Creation Officers (WCO), who have their own geographic area. The Agroforestry officer will often be brought in on cases where WO’s or WCO’s identify opportunities for agroforestry. You will be required to stay away from home on business occasionally, both within the Forest Services Area where you work, and for National meetings and training purposes.

The In-field agroforestry grants will require direct technical input from the AFWO. They will also be expected to identify woodland creation opportunities and signpost potential applicants to FC WO/WCO staff. Occasionally the AFWO will deliver agroforestry grant schemes alongside England Woodland Creation Offer grants (EWCO), effectively combining different parts of ELMS.

You will have the ability to assist Forestry Commission staff, landowners, and agents to build strong working relationships in its efforts to encourage integrated land use models involving trees, woodland, and forestry. Local stakeholder engagement will be a core part of the role, bringing interested parties and regulators together to find innovative ways to bring farming and forestry closer together to benefit business and environment.

Key work Areas:

Work collaboratively as part of the FC Area team, complementing FC woodland creation and existing woodland management expertise and delivery, providing a bridge between forestry and farming/land use.

Champion the multiple benefits of agroforestry, as business and livestock welfare opportunities for the land owner, and as natural capital (including biodiversity, water quality, flood management, carbon sequestration/substitution, etc) for the wider environment and society; facilitate the design and delivery of new agroforestry optimising the benefits they can deliver to the owner and as natural capital; Knowledge of forestry Regulations relating to woodland creation will be essential –where agroforestry creation impact these (Environmental Impact Assessment); and process agroforestry grant applications.

Build a better understanding of landowner aspirations and their thoughts on the economic and natural capital benefits that might accrue from agroforestry systems, through stakeholder and user engagement.

Liaise with key external stakeholders, namely landowners, future applicants, and land use consultants. Engaging with locally based partners such as Natural England, Woodland Trust, CLA, NFU, Rivers Trusts, wider stakeholders, and the public.

Working with local woodland and land use-based organizations, identify and develop a network of agroforestry practitioners that (in time) will be able to deliver commercial agroforestry advice, supporting agroforestry, similar to woodland based consultants.

Work closely with the National Grants and Regulation Team Agroforestry Adviser, to link and support training and guidance outputs, providing support when delivering training courses, and at events.

The AFWO will occasionally be expected to work closely with the FC Marketing, Communications, and Engagement team at weekend shows and evening events with organisations such as NFU and CLA.

Person specification

ESSENTIAL

• Good interpersonal and influencing skills demonstrating the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues, stakeholders, and our customers.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Good computer skills with experience of MS Office and Excel.
• Ability to proactively deal with complex and contentious issues relating to people and woodland interests, leading to the delivery of project outcomes and development of work areas as necessary.

TECHNICAL ESSENTIAL

• Proven knowledge and experience of farming, land management, and/or forestry.
• Degree/ Higher Diploma in forestry / land management / countryside management and/or significant equivalent and related experience in forestry / land management (or expected to achieve a relevant qualification within 6 months).

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

DESIRABLE

• Experience of designing/creating and/or managing Agroforestry systems
• Experience and knowledge of forestry and agriculture regulation and incentives
• Experience of promoting, designing, and establishing new woodland
• Experience of working in partnership across delivery organisations
• Experience of supporting integrated land/woodland management
• Understanding the principles of landscape design
• Membership of (or working towards) a relevant professional institute (e.g. Institute of Chartered Foresters or RICS)
• Evidence of maintaining Continuous Professional Development

Licences

Behaviours