Infrastructure Adviser

Job summary

The Infrastructure Adviser will be responsible for providing the Forestry Commissions responses to major infrastructure projects including projects subject to the Lead Environmental Regulator process, to protect, enhance and expand trees and woodland as part of sustainable development. They will work closely with members of the area and national teams, from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, to identify impacts and opportunities for woodland creation, using data, evidence and good practice advice. Through positive engagement with developers, planning authorities and other Government bodies, the Infrastructure Adviser will be responsible for developing strategic mitigation that supports infrastructure, while helping to expand, protect, improve and connect woodland.

They will support the creation and roll out of a ‘paid for service’ from infrastructure developers that contributes towards the organisation’s time spent on these projects, and will act as the ‘go-to’ project and relationship leads for high-profile infrastructure projects, such as (but not limited to) High Speed 2 and East West Rail.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

1. Coordinate and communicate.

Lead and coordinate between colleagues across multiple teams and specialisms, to bring together clear and targeted advice on impacts and opportunities from infrastructure projects, which takes account of technical advice (eg ecology, forestry), national planning policy and legislation, local strategies (including Local Nature Recovery Strategies) and local knowledge from Area team colleagues.

Participate positively in multi-stakeholder meetings - presenting positions robustly and effectively and positively challenging proposals to ensure good practice is followed.

2. Technical planning advice.

Assess and provide detailed advice and responses to major infrastructure development proposals to determine impacts on trees and woodland, particularly ancient and veteran, as well as opportunities for trees and woodland as part of green infrastructure and to provide nature based solutions as part of development proposals. This will involve reviewing detailed evidence, such as technical reports and maps, to highlight impacts and potential solutions in relation to relevant policy and legislation including the Planning Act 2008 and the Lead Environmental Regulator process, good practice and using digital tools including the Forestry Commission’s internal GIS-based mapping system.

3. Relationship manager.

Work with external customers and partners, including Government bodies, to build trust and positive working-relationships. In particular, support with the development and roll out with a consistent cost-recovery ‘offer’ for infrastructure development projects. Act as the relationship and contract lead for key projects, such as East West Rail or High Speed 2, responsible for positive engagement and giving advice. Establish and work within clear expectations according to Service Level Agreements in budget and on time.

Help build FC’s reputation as a robust, positive and reliable consultee and advisor on infrastructure projects that help stakeholders through the planning process in a way that secures the best possible outcomes for trees/woodland which also deliver multi-functional benefits for projects as part of sustainable growth.

Most work will be desk-based but there is likely to be the need to travel to potential development sites and external meetings and events online and face to face.

The successful applicant will have a passion for woodlands and forests and for the benefits to society, the environment and the economy they provide. They will advocate with knowledge and enthusiasm the environmental and other benefits that woodlands provide.

Person specification

Essential

• Degree/Higher Diploma in Town and Country Planning or forestry/land management/countryside management/ environment management/ and/or significant related experience in partnership working centred on land management / planning / tree and forestry issues.
• Experience of stakeholder management - building strong business relationships and collaborative working to deliver mutually beneficial results.
• Confident interpersonal and communication skills with experience of presenting to a range of audiences, both verbally and written.
• Competent and effective IT user with experience of MS Office and also including remote working and associated communication tools (e.g. MS Teams).
• People management experience or the capability to take on this responsibility.
• Organisation: Ability to work to deadlines, manage multiple ongoing projects with peaks and troughs

Technical Essential:

• Knowledge and experience of the planning system including the NSIP process
• Knowledge and experience of environmental policy/forestry/ecology
• Understanding of the Forestry Regulations
• Able to assess and analyse planning documents (plans, surveys etc)
• Comfortable with interrogating maps/spatial data

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

• Member, or eligible for membership, of one of the following, Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), Institute of Chartered Foresters (MICFor), CIEEM or other relevant chartered body.
• Experience of influencing external organisations to achieve environmental benefits

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• We will set a presentation question for applicants that pass the sift.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension (opens in a new window) with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates in