The Forestry Commission is seeking a deer officer with an annual salary range of £37,485 – £40,590.
The deadline for applications is 11:55p.m on Sunday, July 7, 2024.
The chosen candidate will be part of the South East & London (SEL) team or South West (SW) area team and line managed by their respective partnerships and expertise manager.
The deer advisor (part of the national policy advice team) will be the candidate’s countersigning officer.
As such, their work will be directed and delivered locally but with national oversight and strategic steer, the Forestry Commission said.
Deer officer
The Forestry Commission said the deer officer plays a critical role as the interface between Forest Services and landowners, land managers and forestry agents in providing advice and facilitation for the management of wild deer to reduce their impacts on woodland condition and establishment.
The deer officer role involves engaging with woodland owners, agents and stakeholders to provide guidance and advice on deer impacts on woodlands and how they can be managed, with an aim of encouraging and enabling collaborative, landscape scale deer management activities.
The role will also look to share best practice among the deer community to ensure the sustainable management of deer populations in a safe, humane manner.
The chosen candidate will be expected to have strong experience and understanding of the issues regarding deer management, and be able to demonstrate an existing or be able to gain a rapid understanding of how these issues impact on the objectives and activities of the Forestry Commission (both Forest Services and Forestry England – managers of the public forest estate), Natural England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and wider government.
They will be expected to show initiative and to work autonomously, and to establish excellent working relationships with colleagues.
Requirements
On person specification, the Forestry Commission said the chosen candidate will have extensive and proven deer management experience.
Other essential requirements include:
- A proven track record of engagement with stakeholders, developing constructive partnerships and delivering results on the ground;
- Understanding and experience of practical wildlife management and forestry issues in England;
- Demonstrable skills in influencing and negotiation;
- Competent IT user, experienced in using MS office, remote working and associated communications management.
