Senior Woodland Creation Officer

Overview

Are you passionate about nature based solutions and ready to play a leading role in tackling climate change? Join us at Buckinghamshire Council as we continue to make significant strides towards achieving our target of planting 543,000 trees by 2031. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute towards the development and delivery of the Bucks Tree Mission, a programme that supports climate resilience, and improves natural capital across Buckinghamshire.

You will work effectively with external stakeholders to develop, prioritise and deliver support to facilitate tree planting; manage contractors responsible for woodland design, creation, and maintenance, environmental assessments, and/or Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) validation and verification etc; help secure and manage grant funding; ensure compliance with relevant standards, including the UK Forestry Standard and Woodland Carbon Code; and directly manage tree planting projects.

If you are motivated by making a visible, lasting difference and can bring the skills and experience required for the role to drive this programme forward, we would love to hear from you.

This is a secondment/fixed term contract opportunity up to 26th April 2027 (inclusive).

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

The Climate Change and Flood Risk Management (CCFRM Team) manages flood risk in Buckinghamshire in its role as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), as well as managing the council's response to climate change. The Team is comprised of the Flood Management Team, the Sustainable Drainage Team, Project Groundwater, the Capital Flood Programme Team, and the Climate Response Team, with officers who are enthusiastic and passionate about managing local flood risk and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The CCFRM Team delivers the statutory duties of the LLFA under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) and Land Drainage Act (1991); develops and delivers a wide range of flood management and research projects; guides the flood management approach regarding large infrastructure projects; and manages large tree planting and domestic property emissions reduction programmes, and the council's Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.

The Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy (2021) outlines 60 actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and the Climate Response Team is tasked with helping fulfill commitments set out in this document. Specific actions in the Strategy relate to the implementation of nature-based solutions to climate change, including the implementation of a large-scale tree planting programme.

A motion passed on 16th February 2021 to plant 543,000 trees on Council land (one for each resident) has resulted in approximately 257,000 trees being planted in the first five years of the Bucks Tree Mission. Following a motion passed in October 2025 the scope of the programme has now been extended, allowing us to deliver tree planting beyond our own land and facilitate planting with landowners across the county.

An officer working on the Bucks Tree Mission said "This is such a rewarding job. I get to work with great colleagues every day and I know that my actions are making a difference to the residents in Buckinghamshire both today and in the future. Not only are we working to mitigate climate change, but the woodlands that we are planting will be available for generations to come."

About the role

The Senior Woodland Creation Officer will:

• Help continue the development and delivery of the Bucks Tree Mission, ensuring high quality tree planting and woodland creation that aligns with strategic targets.
• Manage projects through lifecycle stages, including commissioning and overseeing contractors for design, planting, and maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards such as the UK Forestry Standard and Woodland Carbon Code.
• Secure and manage external grant funding.
• Work effectively with external stakeholders including landowners, community groups, and government bodies.
• Provide specialist professional advice internally and externally, including responding to complex enquiries and producing reports.
• Collect, analyse and present performance data.

About you

You will have:

• Substantial relevant experience of tree planting / woodland creation projects.
• Excellent project management skills and experience, with experience of implementing change.
• Excellent knowledge of the forestry/woodland management sector.
• Expert knowledge of relevant regulations, best practice, policies and procedures, including health and safety.
• Excellent interpersonal, planning and organisational, research and analysis skills.
• Experience of…