Woodland Manager
Context
The Trust operates throughout the traditional county of Yorkshire (i.e. all of the Yorkshire and Humber region except North Lincolnshire) from the Humber to the Pennines and from the Dales and Moors to the urban conurbations of the south. It is the second oldest of the 47 Wildlife Trusts which work in partnership together covering the whole of the UK. Our purpose is to lead the way in achieving our vision of a Yorkshire rich in wildlife for everyone through pursuing our mission of creating Living Landscapes and securing Living Seas in Yorkshire. We will do this by being passionate leaders and natural partners whose objectives are to:
· demonstrate how nature works
· inspire people and communities to value and take action for wildlife
· champion wildlife and our work
and to enable this by:
· growing our resources through inspiring people to value our work
· knowledge sharing, cooperation, flexibility and effectiveness and
· ensuring excellent governance.
The Trust seeks to realise this vision through the objectives identified in the Development Plan and Business Plan. Activities that the Trust undertakes to achieve the plans are nature reserve management of 95 reserves covering more than 2,500 hectares scattered across the region, specialist projects in river and wetland management, community development and environmental education activities, publicity and promotion and campaigning and policy work.
The Trust employs more than 100 staff (equivalent of 80 F/T staff) and, crucially, enjoys the support of 40,000 members. The staff work through four teams: support services; development; and two conservation delivery teams – north & east and south west. Each team has a director who reports to the Chief Executive who is responsible for the operations of the Trust and, in turn, reports to the Board of Trustees who govern the organisation.
The conservation delivery teams are then divided into regional teams which are led by a Regional Manager who reports to the Director of the delivery team.
The Trust engages more than 900 dedicated volunteers and voluntary trainees in its work. They make a huge contribution by giving time, skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and local ownership to our vision. All employees are expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement wherever possible.
The Northern Region approximates to the districts and boroughs of Craven, Richmondshire, Harrogate, Scarborough and Ryedale. At present the Trust is engaged in three main activities in the Northern Region - managing reserves, delivering the Yorkshire Peat Partnership and delivering the Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership programme.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) owns and/or manages a number of woodlands in North Yorkshire and has experience in managing woodlands to maximise their wildlife benefits. We also have some limited timber processing capability at Appleton Mill Farm on the edge of the North York Moors.
North Yorkshire also contains significant areas of ancient woodland - the UK’s richest habitat for wildlife but a scarce and irreplaceable resource. Much of this area is now plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) - those that have been planted with non-native species which damage much of the characteristic wildlife through shading and litter build-up. However, research shows that in most PAWS sites, enough remnant vegetation remains to enable restoration to native ancient woodland. Nature conservationists regard the restoration of PAWS as one of the UK’s top priorities for conserving its wildlife.
YWT is looking to develop a Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership with other small woodland owners initially across the southern flanks of the North York Moors to manage small high nature conservation value woodlands and to restore PAWS sites. In the long-term, the Partnership would meet the following objectives:
Woodland Wildlife - promote woodland wildlife through the restoration and management of small woodlands using best practice sustainable management techniques
Woodland Economy – develop the marketing of products from the Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership and develop wider markets for sustainable timber production.
Woodland Careers - develop a programme of small-scale forestry/woodland management training courses and apprenticeship schemes at Appleton Mill Farm in conjunction with local training providers leading eventually to a centre of excellence for training provision.
Woodland Communities – wherever possible encourage local communities to take a greater role in looking after woodlands.
Woodland Learning – establish formal links between woodlands as outdoor classrooms and the educational curriculum by working with schools, colleges & universities.
The initial stages of the Yorkshire Woodland Partnership is to launch a project to woodland owners to implement the first three objectives. YWT and its partners would set up an advice and contracting service, providing advice on how to manage high nature value woodlands and convert PAWS and offering the manpower and machinery to carry out the work. We would develop local markets for the timber, the proceeds from marketing the timber would fund the felling, extraction and replanting work, with any profit returning to the woodland owner.
We are looking for an experienced and innovative Woodland Manager to lead the development of the Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership.
Woodland Manager
Job Description
Outline
Responsible to: Regional Manager
Responsible for: up to three members of staff plus apprentices, volunteers, voluntary trainees and contractors
Based at: Appleton Mill Farm, Appleton-le-Moors
Brief
To lead the development of the Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership in North Yorkshire, initially targeting the southern fringes of the North York Moors. You will be responsible for fund-raising, establishing, training and managing a specialist team of staff, apprentices and volunteers, developing woodland management plans, carrying out and/or supervising others to carry out sustainable woodland management works. You will also be responsible for developing sustainable harvesting and processing methods and for developing markets for the timber produced.
1. Woodland Wildlife
· Establish a Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership steering group.
· Working with other partners such as the North York Moors National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission identify, contact and coordinate a group of small woodland owners to become part of the partnership.
· Working with the Regional Manager identify and apply for funding to purchase appropriate specialist harvesting and processing equipment for use within the partnership and to employ additional staff/apprentices to carry out on-site woodland management works.
· Develop a woodland management advisory service to survey, provide woodland management advice, legal compliance, and certification requirements, draw up woodland management plans and assist woodland owners with applying for woodland grants and other funds.
· Develop a woodland management contracting service to mark up sites for felling and carry out or oversee felling, forwarding and stacking operations.
· Establish monitoring protocols to assess the impact of woodland management on the woodland wildlife of partnership woodlands.
· Oversee and/or carry out all woodland management and tree safety works on YWT Reserves in North Yorkshire.
2. Woodland Economy
· Develop a timber mensuration protocol to maximise the value of timber harvested from partnership woodlands.
· Establish viable markets for the timber produced from partnership woodlands.
· Develop and manage innovative and efficient systems for processing, packaging and distributing woodland products
· Establish systems for ensuring profits from timber markets are returned to the partnership members.
· Establish monitoring protocols to assess the success of the marketing programme.
3. Woodland Careers
· Establish links with local training providers and determine which courses would be in demand.
· Devise course programme including fee structures, certification schemes, resource needs, accreditation requirements, logistics, staff and venue requirements.
· Carry out and review the course programme and amend as necessary
· Working with other partners establish a sustainable woodland management apprenticeship scheme.
4. Promoting the Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership
· Develop an active online and social media presence for the Yorkshire Woodlands Partnership.
· Actively support other woodland management initiatives such as the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Woodland Partnership and LEADER programmes.
· Attend workshops, conferences & events to promote the partnership as necessary.
· Run open days and demonstration events in sustainable woodland management.
Other
· Promote the Trust and partner organisations whenever possible.
· Abide by all Trust policies.
· Undertake other duties as requested by your line manager and in line with the post.
Woodland Manager
Person Specification
Experience
· Significant experience in a woodland management or sustainable forestry role / Essential· Significant practical experience in managing teams carrying out woodland management activities / Essential
· Significant experience in marketing timber products / Essential
· Experience of practical woodland management / Essential
· Experience of carrying out tree safety risk assessments and implementing the works arising from these / Essential
· Experience of fundraising / Essential
· Experience in developing woodland management/forestry skills training programmes / Desirable
· Experience of promoting conservation programmes to a range of audiences in innovative ways / Desirable
Knowledge and Understanding
· Significant knowledge of sustainable woodland management techniques for small woodlands / Essential· Significant understanding of all legislation relating to ancient woodlands, woodland management and timber marketing / Essential
· Significant understanding of timber markets / Essential
· Significant knowledge of the ecology and conservation requirements of ancient woodland & PAWS sites / Desirable
Skills and Qualifications
· Qualified to degree level or equivalent in subjects related to sustainable forestry or woodland management / Essential· Chainsaw certificate for felling trees over 380mm / Essential
· Tree safety assessment and management skills / Essential
· Tree climbing and aerial chainsaw use / Desirable
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills / Essential
· IT literate / Essential
· Full driving licence / Essential
· Own car available for business use / Essential
Personal Qualities
· Ability to communicate with enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and confidence to a number of different audiences / Essential· The ability to learn quickly and develop ideas independently / Essential
· Willingness to be flexible, respond to changing circumstances and to assist with a number of tasks at short notice / Essential
· Willingness to work outside normal office hours / Desirable
Woodland Manager
Details
Terms and Conditions
Salary: / £26,650 per annum.Hours: / 35 working hours per week, Monday to Friday. The nature of the post’s duties may from time-to-time require evening and weekend work. Paid overtime is not available, but time off in lieu will be given.
Holidays: / 25 working days per annum in addition to normal public holidays.
Pensions: / You will be eligible to be auto enrolled into the Trust’s Group Flexible Retirement plan. The Trust will contribute to this plan on your behalf at a rate set by the Trust’s Council. The rate is currently 3% of your basic salary. However, if you choose to make an employee contribution the Trust will make an employer contribution of up to 9% depending on the amount you choose to contribute as an employee. Written terms of the scheme are available on request form finance.
Childcare Vouchers: / The Trust operates a Childcare Voucher Scheme. Details of which are available on request.
Employee Assistance Programme: / The Trust provides paid staff with access to an Employee Assistance Programme. This is a confidential service which aims to provide staff with support for a range of issues. Further details are available from the HR and Training Manager.
Notice Period: / Generally 4 weeks
Place of Work: / The post will be based at Appleton Mill Farm, Appleton-le-Moors.
Travel: / Public transport is encouraged although pool vehicles are available. In exceptional circumstances the use of the officer’s own vehicle may be necessary for business use for which a mileage rate of 27.5p per mile will be paid.
Training: / The Trust is fully committed to personal development and training.
Closing date: / 9 am on Tuesday 30 June 2015.
Interview dates: / July 14 & 15 2015.
150602 Woodland Manager job description TT