DIO – Regional Head Forester – Scotland and NI

Ministry of Defence-Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 31st March 2025

Location

Garelochhead Camp, Helensburgh, Scotland, G84 0ED

About the job

Job summary

Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and care for the Defence Estate? DIO enables Defence to live, work, train and deploy, all with sustainability in mind. From net carbon zero accommodations to runways for the F35 fighter jets; our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!

Learn much more about DIO in our Candidate Information Guide attached.

DIO recognises that a diverse workforce is at the heart of different insights, ideas and innovation. A workforce diverse in background and life experience produces trusted public services and better decisions. We want our people to be curious and continuously strive for improvement, collaborative in an inclusive culture, ambitious and resilient and committed to Defence, empowered and able to challenge so you can play a key part in shaping the direction of our organisation.

Why Join Us

DIO cares about the Defence estate. We are a dynamic organisation that responds to the evolving needs of our military personnel, the way in which they live and work. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all their infrastructure requirements. From large scale infrastructure to everyday facilities management, our activities focus relentlessly on our customers. We deliver value for money, and consistently innovate to find proactive solutions to meet their needs. We meet our objectives as one team; capable, curious, collaborative and committed.

About Technical Services

Technical Services comprises the following core areas:

• Asset Class Engineering
• Building & Civil Engineering Infrastructure
• Electrical & Mechanical Infrastructure
• Environmental Management Protection and Sustainability
• Health & Safety
• Portfolio Office

Technical Services provides in-house consultancy to DIO and the wider MOD, the specialist skills available through the Technical Services team span Construction, Engineering, Health and Safety, Safety Systems, Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, Access and Recreation, Historic Environment and Natural Environment.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The MOD Estate includes MOD Barracks, Airfields, Naval Bases and a vast training estate that extend from the marine environment, through dune systems and across the UK to the mountainous forests and moorlands of Scotland and Northern Ireland. This post offers an exciting and unique opportunity to work within the existing forestry team supporting development and management of this varied and heavily designated estate with an emphasis on tree safety management, sustainable woodland management, natural capital and woodland creation.

1. SME Advice 35%

• Assist the Senior Forester in providing specialist advice on all issues relating to forestry and amenity tree management on the MOD estate.
• Ensure the proactive management of all the woodland/amenity tree resource across the UK and Overseas estate and provide customers with Subject Matter Expert advice for legal compliance.
• Provide legal and best practice guidance for forestry, woodland and tree related tasks/ projects to internal and external customers on both statutory and non-statutory issues.
• Support and inform long term forest management plans for the estate and act as the forestry focal point for the development of estate management and sustainability plans.

2. Audit and Assurance 35%

• Monitor compliance with MOD and DIO policy, instructions and guidance, make recommendations on actions to improve compliance, operational efficiency and the policy framework.
• Ensure audit and assurance inspections are coordinated to make best use of resources, targeting Prime Contract geographical regions. The assurance inspections will specifically target health and safety, compliance with MOD policy, forestry/arboricultural management plans & processes and industry partner contract delivery.

3. Reporting and Communications 20%

• Undertake briefings and presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage and maintain good liaison internally with DIO/ MOD staff and externally with Statutory Bodies, Non-Govt Organisations and other customers.
• Develop and maintain close working partnerships with strategic partners and contractors.
• Develop and facilitate conservation/ environmental/ sustainability awareness regarding trees, woods and forests to both internal and external stakeholders.

4. New Woodland 10%

• Carry out desktop and site inspections to identify possible woodland creation opportunities, liaising with Woodland Creation Advisors. Discuss proposals with military representatives and the wider DIO team for each site.  Identify possible constraints.
• Record woodland creation opportunities on the Natural Capital Asset Register.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrate experience and knowledge in forestry and woodland management. Evidence should include an understanding of silvicultural systems and characteristics of forest species, pests and diseases and balancing often conflicting objectives through the planning process towards delivering outcomes.
• Demonstrate a good working knowledge of health and safety as it relates to forestry and amenity treework. This will include legislation such as HASAWA, knowledge of different roles and responsibilities and examples of risk assessments, site safety rules etc.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of statutory and legal compliance for woodland/forestry operations. Candidates should offer examples of permitted felling, working within designated sites, such as conservation/ heritage designations and be familiar with the British Standards which apply to treework.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of amenity tree management, including professional tree surveys and how amenity trees relate to planning applications and development sites.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrate knowledge of natural capital and ecosystem services, natural capital asset registers and accounts and how managed forests and woodland creation can contribute to net carbon sequestration.
• Working towards membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters or relevant professional body.

Licences

UK Driving Licence

Qualifications

A minimum of a HND in Forestry (or other relevant subject) plus significant post qualification employment or equivalent combination of relevant qualifications, skills and applicable experience.

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