Habitat Restoration Officer

What you’ll do

The successful candidate will join the Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS) project team based in the New Forest. The team plans and delivers landscape-scale habitat restoration projects with external funding from the New Forest HLS scheme. The Verderer’s of the New Forest HLS scheme is focused on restoring and enhancing internationally-important habitats, renowned for their flora and fauna, and covering around 20,000 hectares. As a Habitat Restoration Officer you will play a vital role in planning and overseeing our habitat restoration projects.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work…

Based at The King’s House, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43 7NH in the South District team.

Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people, containing a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers and ecologists to marketing professionals, we all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares (ha) of public forest estate and national parks that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight.

Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

The following provides an overview of the key responsibilities of the role. This list is not exhaustive, and additional duties may be assigned as required, consistent with the nature and level of the post

1. Plan work programmes to restore internationally important habitats in the New Forest by carrying out fieldwork and preparing practical plans to deliver works, including wetland and river restoration and terrestrial restoration work including tree felling, scrub removal, and ridge and furrow removal. This will include:

• Reviewing and updating HLS team databases to identify priorities for restoration.
• Carrying out walkover surveys to assess restoration work requirements.
• Preparing practical habitat restoration plans.
• Identifying constraints and implementing appropriate mitigation.

2. Engage with our staff and stakeholders, including leading consultation site visits, to get agreement for restoration proposals and to manage site-specific constraints (physical, ecological, archaeological etc):

• Work collaboratively across the HLS and Wider FE teams to integrate restoration work with other operational priorities.
• Liaise with Forestry England colleagues to guide the production of restoration Operational Site Assessments (OSAs).
• Engage with other stakeholders (e.g., Natural England, New Forest National Park Authority, EA, CDA, Verderers, etc.) on restoration proposals and secure approval to enable delivery of the HLS works programme.
• Work with the HLS Engagement Officer to engage with stakeholders such as Parish Councils, local landowners and other interested parties.

3. Deliver restoration projects on the ground by setting up and managing contracts, providing site-specific technical advice and liaising with contractors to ensure restoration is undertaken to agreed specifications with high standards of safety:

• Follow procurement protocols to set up and manage contracts for the HLS programme of restoration projects.
• Ensure contractors have the necessary information to undertake contracts safely, including all constraints maps and H&S documentation.
• With guidance from the HLS Ecologist, communicate ecological constraints to contractors (toolbox talks, maps, pre-commencement meetings).
• Liaise with contractors throughout the delivery phase and ensure restoration is undertaken to agreed specifications.

4. Report progress and monitor outcomes of habitat restoration projects:

• Update HLS team databases to enable accurate auditing and reporting.
• Report on progress quarterly to HLS Project Manager for updates to the HLS Board.
• Work with the HLS Communications Officer to keep relevant pages of the HLS website up to date.
• Provide verbal updates on work programmes at HLS team meetings and New Forest Operations meetings.
• Contribute to evaluating restoration effectiveness and recommend adjustments to future work proposals or methods.

5. Line management responsibilities

• This is a management role and, as such, there may be opportunities in the future to undertake line management responsibilities, including the supervision of a Works Supervisor and/or Volunteer Ranger.

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

How to apply

We cannot accept applications via email. Please follow the steps outlined below. Any CVs and/or personal statements sent outside the system will not be considered for shortlisting.

You will be asked to write a 200 word statement on your relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words. You will be assessed on both during sifting. More details about how to apply are listed on the application form.

The Behaviours being assessed at interview are –

• Making Effective Decision
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

You may also be assessed on Experience, Strength based questions, and/or the Technical Success Profile at the interview. The technical element could include a presentation, practical or written task.

Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.

If you're planning to use AI to support your application, please ensure you've read our guidelines here first.

Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.