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Job description

Salary: £77,904 per annum (under review). In addition, a Recruitment and Retention allowance of £10,000 per annum is payable to recognise the specialist and scarce skill required for the role. Job Role: The Head of Forestry Division within Forest Service is a senior leadership role of national importance. The postholder will shape how Forestry contributes to climate action, biodiversity recover, sustainable land use and economic development across Northern Ireland. They will lead a multidisciplinary workforce, oversee significant public assets and investment, and work closely with ministers, senior officials and partners across the UK and Ireland. Forest Service delivers forestry and plant health functions on behalf of DAERA. It operates as an Executive Agency since 1 April 1998 and was further classified as a Non-Financial Public Corporation from 1 April 2020. The work of Forest Service is led by the Chief Executive who is also the Agency Accounting Officer. DAERA’s VISION: Delivering a net zero nature positive future, supporting sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities. DAERA has responsibility for food, farming, environment, fisheries, forestry, sustainability policy and the development of the rural sector in NI. We support the development of thriving rural communities; the protection, conservation and enhancement of the environment; the sustainable development of the agri-food industry, having regard for the needs of the consumers, the protection of human, animal and plant health and the welfare of animals; the development of the fisheries sector; and the development of our forested land.

Responsibilities

• Development of forestry policy options and long term forestry strategies and plans to ensure appropriate forestry contribution to the NI Climate Action Plan, including meeting afforestation and peatland restoration objectives.
• This includes meeting complex and challenging afforestation, peatland restoration and renewable energy objectives in balance with each other and with sustainable forestry management Standards.
• Influencing the development of external policies, strategies, UK Forestry Standards, best practice and Forestry Certification requirements.
• Representing and communicating forestry matters at regional, national, inter departmental and external events.
• This includes working in collaboration with senior forestry professionals and relevant organisations to develop mechanisms tailored to ensure that future challenges and opportunities for the forestry sector are addressed.
• Regulation of forestry related legislative matters and provision of the Forest Authority role.
• Securing and managing appropriate budget and resources to ensure delivery of policies, strategies and operational plans, including development and service delivery through partner providers.
• This includes stewardship of forest assets of approx. £400m - £600m, annual operational expenditure of up to £10m and sales receipts for timber of £12m.
• Development of commercial arrangements, value for money marketing strategies and contract supply arrangements and oversee the management and marketing of timber sales to meet strategic and best-value objectives.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships and provide high quality strategic and professional advice and support to Ministers, Chief Executive, senior official colleagues and key stakeholder representatives.
• Provide leadership and change management to secure delivery of new and emerging strategic workstreams prioritised by Ministers as well as oversee multi-disciplinary forestry programmes and staff.
• This includes direct line management of three Divisional Forest Officers and one General Service Grade 7. The full span of control includes circa 120 staff across professional and technical and administrative disciplines.
• Contribute to corporate activities, decision making and governance within the Agency in their role as an Executive Member of the Forest Service Management Board and ensure strategic alignment across the Divisions within the command.
• Agency and Departmental objectives and priority workstreams.
• Provision of assurance to Chief Executive & Agency Accounting Officer on stewardship of the Dept forests, appropriate & effective regulation and that expenditure represents value for money, standards for regularity & propriety in the public service.
• Oversee and manage delivery of forestry programmes which will include site inspections and working on hazardous and physically demanding terrain.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications: Possess a degree in Forestry or another educational qualification that meets the minimum requirement of 5 points as assessed by the Institute of Chartered Foresters ICF.
• And Hold current membership of a recognised professional forestry body such as ICF, Society of Irish Foresters or another professional body considered by the competition panel to be of equal standing.
• Or be in a position to achieve membership within 12 months from appointment.
• And have either at least 3 years’ experience of strategic decision making and policy development in a forestry or forestry-related context at a senior management level within a medium sized complex organisation.
• Or have at least 3 years experience in successfully leading & directing a range of work programmes in a forestry or forestry related context, involving strategic decision making & a diverse range of senior management level stakeholders.
• And staff, within a medium sized complex organisation.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date 13th November 2026 at 12 noon. Please Note: This is generic and may change from competition to competition. Applications from females, young people (people under the age of 35) people with a disability and people from minority ethnics communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC331266)