Senior Surveyor

Senior Surveyor
Forestry England | £48,765 - £52,557 | 37 Hours |
Fixed-Term to 31st March 2030 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee

I'm delighted to be partnering with Forestry England to recruit a Senior Surveyor for their National Woodland Creation Team. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Chartered Surveyor to play a leading role in one of the UK's most ambitious environmental programmes, helping to create approximately 1,000 hectares of new woodland every year until 2030.

Forestry England is responsible for growing and managing the nation's forests, delivering sustainable timber production, biodiversity gains, carbon sequestration and greater public access to green spaces. As a Senior Surveyor, you'll be at the forefront of this programme, identifying and securing land acquisition opportunities that will shape England's future landscapes.

This is a commercially focused role with significant strategic impact. You'll lead on the acquisition of rural land across England, managing transactions from initial identification through to legal completion.

Working closely with landowners, agents, legal advisors, forestry specialists and government stakeholders, you'll assess opportunities, negotiate purchase terms and ensure acquisitions deliver both value for money and long-term environmental benefits.

This is a fast-paced role as part of an intense programme with ambitious targets
The role can be based from any Forestry England office nationwide, with a blended home-working arrangement and occasional travel across England, including some overnight stays.

• Identify and secure on-market and off-market rural land acquisition opportunities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with land agents and professional stakeholders across England
• Working collaboratively with the Woodland Creation and local area teams in assessing site suitability and acquisition
• Undertake due diligence and assess land suitability for woodland creation projects
• Make recommendations on acquisitions to senior leaders and Defra
• Negotiate commercial terms for land and property acquisitions within programme budgets
• Work alongside legal advisors to manage transactions through to successful completion
• Identify and mitigate legal, commercial and operational risks
• Negotiate and renew leases, licences and other agreements supporting woodland establishment
• Undertake valuation work for internal purposes
• Provide surveying expertise across the woodland creation programme
• Advise operational teams on land agency, property and legal matters
• Implement financial controls and reporting requirements
• Represent Forestry England at regional and national level, promoting the Woodland Creation Programme and building stakeholder support
• Support wider estate management activities across the National Estates Team where required

We're keen to speak with experienced Chartered Surveyors who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience in rural land acquisition, estate management or general practice surveying
• A successful track record in land transactions and commercial negotiations
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels
• Experience of working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
• Strong commercial awareness and problem-solving abilities
• The ability to work independently while managing multiple projects

• Professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (AssocRICS, MRICS or FRICS)
• Degree (or equivalent) in Rural Estate Management or a related discipline

• Registered Valuer status (RICS)
• Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers
• Experience using GIS systems
• Knowledge of woodland creation and sustainable forest management
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office

In addition to a competitive salary, Forestry England offers an outstanding benefits package, including:

• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of approximately 28.97%
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays
• Flexible and blended working arrangements
• Employee discounts through the STaR benefits scheme
• Free parking at Forestry England sites
• Free entry to Westonbirt and Bedgebury National Arboretums
• Ongoing professional development and CPD support
• Sponsored membership of relevant professional bodies
• Access to wellbeing resources, including the Headspace app

This is an opportunity to use your surveying expertise for something bigger than a transaction. Every acquisition you complete will contribute to the creation of new forests that support biodiversity, tackle climate change, improve public access to nature and create sustainable woodland resources for future generations.

If you're a Chartered Surveyor looking for a role that combines commercial property expertise with genuine environmental impact, I'd love to hear from you.