Forest/woodland manager job profile

Forest or woodland managers are responsible for the sustainable management of timber production and the preservation and protection of trees and the forest environment

Working as a forest or woodland manager, you'll manage a designated forest or woodland area, overseeing activities such as timber production, conservation and recreation.

You'll also manage other associated matters, such as commercial interests, biodiversity and public access. Establishing a balance between competing economic and social demands (for forest and land use) can present a challenge. This may mean you become involved in the creation of multipurpose forests, sustainable forest management and the regeneration of native woodlands.

You could also be known as a forest officer or forester.

Responsibilities

As a forest/woodland manager, you'll need to:

advise clients on good forestry practice and provide a contract service to woodland owners, including those interested in acquiring land for the establishment of new forests
advise woodland owners on the most appropriate tree species (for planting or natural regeneration), and on budgeting, public access, ecological surveys and forest certification
organise the growing, harvesting, marketing and sale of timber
plan and implement annual work programmes and ensure the effective use of resources to meet objectives for the forest area
supervise forest workers and contractors in the field, which may involve negotiating with subcontracting companies
ensure forest operations are carried out to professional health and safety standards, to protect workers and members of the public
liaise with customers, landowners, timber merchants, the public and local authorities
liaise with other professionals, such as landscape architects, archaeologists, biologists, geologists, chartered surveyors and engineers
liaise with charitable bodies
attend meetings
keep up to date with changes in legislation and industry developments
work to, and maintain, globally recognised forest certification
plan and control budgets and prepare costing and financial forecasts
promote the expansion of new woodland coverage and, where possible, the restoration of ancient woodland in the UK.

You may also carry out the following tasks, in relation to forest protection:

conduct research in areas such as silviculture, pathology, tree improvement and entomology
monitor existing forestry practices
protect forests from illegal felling, pests and diseases
ensure that forests are not detrimentally affecting the environment and wildlife around them, by damaging wildlife habitats, water supplies or soil.

Salary

The two-year Forestry England Graduate Leadership Programme offers a permanent appointment and a salary of £27,235.
Qualified forest/woodland manager or officer salaries are usually in the region of £25,000 to £45,000.
At the top end with considerable management responsibility salaries can reach £60,000.

Salaries and other benefits in the private sector vary much more widely than in the public sector. The lowest pay is generally for roles on private estates, but these posts may come with other benefits such as accommodation and a car.

Income data from Forestry England and Natural Resources Wales. Figures are intended as a guide only.

What to expect

The role involves a mixture of office-based and outdoor work and at times you will need to work in adverse weather and possibly in remote places.
With enough experience and specialist knowledge you could work in a self-employed or freelance capacity, by establishing a contract business. There are especially good opportunities for consultancy work in urban areas.
According to the Forestry Commission, women now make up almost a half of the organisation's employees. The government forestry organisations promote equal opportunities and there are no bars to progression within the industry. The impression that the job is physically tough may deter some people, but the role is more managerial and technical than industrial labour.
Working hours may include unsocial hours and weekend work.
Travel within a working day is common and occasional overnight absence from home may be required. Depending on the role, overseas travel may be a feature of the job.

Qualifications

Traditionally, completing a forestry HND, degree or postgraduate course would have been the norm and there are a few such specific courses offered at UK universities and colleges.

However, with greater diversification in the industry, you can these days usually enter the profession from a broader range of relevant degrees, provided you have at least a 2:1 degree. These include:

business studies
civil engineering
ecology
environmental science
forestry
geography
horticulture
land, estate or property management
rural studies.

Entry without a degree or HND is possible at lower levels, but further progression will depend on gaining relevant experience and study towards a qualification on a part-time basis.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification, either a postgraduate diploma or an MSc in Forestry, is necessary for holders of a non-relevant degree or HND.

The Forestry Skills Forum (FSF), supported by The Forestry Commission, promotes education and skills across the forestry sector in England and Wales.

Successful completion of an accredited Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) course will be the quickest route to associate membership. With further experience and study, this can lead to chartered membership, from which you'll earn professional recognition. The ICF also provides details about Level 2 apprenticeships.

The Forestry Commission in England is a non-ministerial department, which serves to increase the value of woodlands to society and the environment. Its website details the type of protective and sustainable management work it carries out. Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own state forestry departments. Responsibility for forest policy was devolved to Scottish Forestry in 2019 and Scotland's state forests are now managed by Forestry and Land Scotland.

Skills

You'll need to show:

a passion for the outdoors and a desire to create a beautiful landscape for future generations
good physical fitness
good teamworking skills
organisational ability
good communication
leadership ability
numeracy
the aptitude to achieve commercial outcomes
an understanding of the need to deliver a cost-effective, quality service
that you meet the specifications of the competency framework - if applying for a job within the Civil Service
you hold a full driving licence or have the means to get to locations as required.

Work experience

Relevant experience is extremely valuable and will help strengthen your application when searching for jobs. You may find it possible to arrange some summer work experience, either paid or unpaid, and speculative applications to forestry companies and forestry management groups are worthwhile.

In addition to relevant qualifications and skills, practical experience is important for entry to the profession, some forestry degrees are sandwich courses, allowing you to complete a year in industry as part of your study.

There are several voluntary organisations working in woodland management:

Overseas volunteering opportunities are available through specialist agencies such as:

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Thousands of people are employed in the forestry sector in the UK. A significant proportion of those work for Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service Northern Ireland and DEFRA. The rest work for private estates, other forest management companies, timber harvesting companies and the wood processing industry.

The types of employers involved in forest management can be roughly divided into the following categories:

government agencies
other public sector employers, such as town and county councils
charities such as The Woodland Trust and the National Trust
private companies such as Tilhill Forestry and Scottish Woodlands
private estates, which employ either their own staff or have contracting companies doing the work
timber companies
contracting companies employed by landowners to provide a range of services and expertise
cooperatives formed from groups of landowners to provide management and marketing services
self-employed subcontractors who may work for any of the above employers at a pre-agreed rate.

You could also work on the conservation side of forest management, for an organisation such as The Woodland Trust. Although volunteers perform crucial roles for such organisations, there are paid jobs open to graduates with suitable experience.

The sector offers jobs with timber merchants, contractors and importers, and in sawmills, pulp mills, and paper and panel-board mills.

Recreation and amenities also form a significant part of forestry and woodland management, as do biofuels and collaboration with energy firms. From time to time, government agencies (such as Forestry England) run initiatives covering specific aspects of forest management and offer special training opportunities. Check individual websites for details.

Civil Service Jobs
Environmentjob.co.uk - also a source of voluntary opportunities
Forestry England - graduate scheme and voluntary opportunities
Forestry Journal
Natural Resources Wales
NIjobfinder
Woodland Trust
NICS Recruitment

Specialist recruitment sites such as Horticulture Jobs, arbjobs.com and GreenJobs advertise relevant jobs.

Members of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) receive a quarterly Trees magazine, access to jobs through its vacancy service, online CPD activities and support with the route to chartership.

It may be worth applying speculatively to local woodland management companies and contractors. The ICF register of consultants is a useful directory, in which you can find chartered members offering forestry and arboricultural services.

Professional development

Government forestry agencies and all large private companies within the industry provide structured technical and management training and you'll be given a large amount of practical training on the job.

If you take a degree course accredited by the ICF and become an associate member, you can follow the ICF's Professional Membership Entry (PME) route. This leads to professional chartered status and the use of the initials MICFor after your name.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential and the ICF recommends undertaking 100 hours of CPD every three years. Suitable CPD activities include participating in conferences, meetings, discussion groups and short courses, as well as publishing technical work and delivering lectures.

For a range of skills-based forestry courses, see Lantra - Our Courses. As a professional member of The Arboricultural Association you'll gain access to a wealth of training and support.

Career prospects

Achieving chartered status, which you can do through ICF, is the best way to make sure you have the right skills and experience for promotion.

Being geographically mobile can be helpful, as changing jobs and location is often necessary to gain a range of industry experience. The promotion opportunities open to you will also depend on the size and structure of the organisation you join.

If you work for a charitable organisation or public body, you may have the opportunity to be involved with influencing government policy on the nation's woodlands.

Progression to senior roles inevitably means less time spent in forests and more time spent in the office and in meetings. This can be difficult if your love for the outdoors is the main reason for choosing a career in forest or woodland management.

Forest/woodland manager