Forest Service is an Executive Agency of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland.

These are challenging and important roles to develop and deliver forestry work programmes to implement all aspects of forestry work across the sector. The postholders will be responsible for supporting senior staff on forestry matters and to lead, direct and manage professional foresters and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a strong focus on delivery of outcomes which provide a wide range of ecosystem services and benefits from existing and new forestry assets and programmes.

The posts will be based at Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is envisaged that some element of home working and/or remote working may be possible in line with the NICS Hybrid Working policy and business need.

Grade 7 Divisional Officer’s are responsible leading, directing and managing professional foresters and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a strong focus on delivery of outcomes on a value for money basis within allocated budgets and resource. These include:

Forest management & inspection services

• Stewardship, sustainable management and protection of the public forest estate and its physical and biological property and assets to maintain forestry Certification and contribute to climate change mitigation
• Effective delivery of forest inspection programmes, including monitoring and reporting for both public and private woodlands, across Northern Ireland
• Preparation and implementation of operational programmes for harvesting and regeneration of woodlands that meet contractual requirements and organisational policies and procedures
• Development of forest recreational services, including working in partnership with service providers, to expand on recreational and tourism opportunities to contribute to health and wellbeing and economic benefits

Forest policy, regulation & development

•  Supporting the development of forestry policy and proposals to contribute to the development and implementation of NI climate action plans
• Implementation of forestry policy including delivery of the afforestation programme and peatland restoration objectives
• Overseeing commissioning and development of forestry plans, in consultation with public bodies and other stakeholders, and provide assurance that they meet relevant legislative requirements, UK Forestry Standards, best practice guidelines and strategic objectives
• Effective management of marketing and income generation from the supply of wood products from forestry assets including the development and implementation of marketing strategies and contract arrangements
• Meeting forestry-related legislative requirements and deliver regulatory controls, providing opinions as competent Authority on forestry projects to public bodies, relevant organisations and individuals
• Promotion and regulation of Health and Safety best practice and provision of Health and Safety assurance to the Forest Service Management Board

Additionally, the postholders will be required to:

1. Develop and manage internal and external stakeholder and customer relationships in line with the Agency, DAERA and government requirements. This will include other government and non-government organisations, land owners and commercial and non-commercial service providers
2. Lead respective multidisciplinary teams and manage the delivery of forestry programmes which will include site inspections and working on hazardous and physically demanding terrain, in line with DAERA’s corporate plan
3. Provide high quality and timely written briefings and reports to the CE, Ministers, official colleagues, statutory/non-statutory organisations and key stakeholder representatives
4. Contribute to corporate activities, decision-making and governance, including finance, within the Agency as part of the senior team and as a member of the Forest Service Management Board and relevant sub-committees
5. Represent Northern Ireland forestry interests at regional, national, inter-departmental and external events

The above list is not exhaustive but gives a good indication of the main duties of the posts. The emphasis on particular duties will vary over time according to business needs.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must, by the closing date for applications possess:

1. 1 A degree in Forestry or another relevant qualification* with appropriate experience that is assessed by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) to meet a minimum requirement of 5 points.

* These qualifications may include those acquired outside the UK.

Further information can be found at:

https://www.charteredforesters.org/what-we-do/education-careers.

AND

2. EITHER

• Hold at least current Associate Membership of the ICF or be a current member of a recognised professional forestry body.

OR

• Have at least 3 years post qualification experience in leading professional & technical staff to deliver work programmes within at least two of the following ICF competency areas:
• Business Management;
• Forestry and Woodland Management;
• Arboriculture and Urban Woodland Management;
• Environment, Biodiversity and Wildlife Management;
• Recreation Management and Planning;
• Public Consultation and Participation;
• Harvesting, Marketing and Utilisation;
• Forest Engineering;
• Policy Development and Strategic planning;
• Timber Conversion;
• Tree Nursery Management;
• Forestry and Arboricultural Research; and
• Forestry and Arboricultural Teaching.

AND

1. Have a least 3 years’ experience contributing to strategic decision making and policy development at a senior management level.

AND

2. Have at least 3 years’ experience of leading and delivering forestry work programmes and managing multi-disciplinary teams in association with a range of external and internal stakeholders within a medium sized and complex organisation.

Salary & benefits

Salary will be within the range £56,863 – £60,820 (rising to £61,673 – £64,469 from 1 August 2025) within which pay progression will be performance related.

As a Grade 7 Divisional Officer within the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) you will enjoy:

• An annual leave allowance of 25 days, increasing to 30 days after 5 years, in addition to public and privilege holidays
• An attractive pension package
• Access to NICS career pathways and job opportunities

For more detailed information and to apply, please go to www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk

Completed application forms must be submitted no later than 12:00 noon (UK time) on Friday 30 May 2025.