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 partnership working, Experience of resolving escalated / complex customer queries
• Experience supporting the preparation of tenders / contracts, and managing budgets and contractors.
• Good communication and presentation, literacy, numeracy and report writing, and ICT skills.

For further information on this role please see the job summary on our site.

Other information

We typically work two days in the office and the remainder of the week from home.

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Naomi Proudlove, Principal Woodland Creation Officer, via email: [email protected]; or Stephen Passmore, Climate Response Team Leader, via email: [email protected].

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.