Forestry Technician: The Patsy Wood Scholarship
Future Trees Trust and National Trust
South Oxfordshire with optional hybrid working
£22,500 pa
Full-time, 1-year fixed term placement with possible extension
Closing Date: 11th October 2023
Interviews: 17th October at the Estate Office, Coleshill, SN6, 7PT
Start Date: November 2023
Future Trees Trust and the National Trust are seeking a motivated individual to become the New Patsy Wood Scholar. Based in South Oxfordshire, this person will have a degree in forestry, genetics or a related land science subject, or the equivalent in practical experience. You will have a keen interest in forestry and land management, and will assist the FTT research team throughout the winter. The summer months offer an opportunity to work as part of the Ranger team at the busy Buscot and Coleshill estate, carrying out practical land management tasks including site presentation, habitat management and annual tree surveys.
This full-time position is fully funded for one year, with the possibility of subsequent longer-term employment, funding permitting. The job is aimed at a young graduate looking for a career in forestry or land management.
Future Trees Trust is a research charity dedicated to hardwood tree improvement and the production of high-quality seed for forestry in the UK. We maintain many active partnerships with landowners and research organisations to establish and assess research trials and seed orchards. This job involves visiting woodlands and research trials across the UK with extensive travel and consecutive nights away from home a key component.
The National Trust is one of the leading conservation charities in the UK, dedicated to promoting and preserving those places of natural beauty and historic interest for which is has the privilege to be responsible for the benefit of the nation, for everyone for ever. They own and manage the Buscot and Coleshill estate in Oxfordshire, where Future Trees Trust have offices and host the Research Woodland, Craven Field.
The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, independent and reliable with a willingness to work outdoors in all weathers. They will have good communication skills and excellent record keeping. A full clean driving licence is essential.
Further details and a job description are available on our website.
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Jo.Clark@futuretrees.org
Forestry Technician: The Patsy Wood Scholarship
Future Trees Trust and National Trust
Based in South Oxfordshire with optional hybrid working
Summary
A rare and exciting opportunity to join two national charities: Future Trees Trust is a forestry research charity based in South Oxfordshire dedicated to broadleaved tree improvement and the National Trust is Europe’s leading conservation charity, looking after historic building and green spaces nationally. Your focus will be to assist the FTT research team during winter months, in assessing research trials, collecting graftwood for clonal orchards and archives and planting new research trials. During summer months you will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of land management skills in partnership with the National Trust on the Buscot and Coleshill estate in West Oxfordshire. You will also work alongside colleagues on other research objectives and projects such as field trial assessments and the Living Ash Project.
The role will be diverse and draw on your ability to be reliable, enthusiastic and self-motivated. Extensive travel with overnight stays and practical fieldwork in woodlands is a key part of the job.
Key Areas and Standards
Research with Future Trees Trust
- Assisting the FTT research team with planting a new series of trials: Supersizing Broadleaves
- Collect field data from research trials across the UK
- Liaising with contractors, landowners and forest managers to coordinate fieldwork and arrange access
- Providing technical and logistical support to consultants, students and interns who are carrying out research projects on behalf on the Trust
- Assisting in the establishment and assessment of field trials and seed orchards
- Record keeping
- Extensive graftwood collection for the Living Ash Project, across the UK.
Land Management with the National Trust
- Site presentation including vegetation management
- Public engagement
- Woodland establishment
- Dealing with contractors for woodland work
- Carrying out Ash dieback surveys
- Assisting with biodiversity surveys
- Habitat management.
Management and Standards
- Providing summaries of your work for the Trust’s reports
- Working according to Trust policies and procedures, especially those relating to Health and Safety
- Portraying the Trust and its mission in a positive light in all job-related dealings and working relationships
- Liaise with FTT and NT communications officers and provide material to be used in all social media platforms.
Other
- Conducting a personal skills audit and undertaking agreed training
- Obtaining professional and personal development training according to Trust policy
- Any other relevant duties that the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Research may from time to time require.
Essential requirements
- Ability to work independently on own initiative, in a variety of settings, indoor and outdoor, in all weathers
- Excellent record keeping and time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues and liaising with a wide range of external stakeholders
- An able communicator, both written and oral
- Willingness to travel away from home extensively with overnight stays and occasional weekend working
- Competent with Microsoft Office applications
- Full clean driving licence and own vehicle.
Desirable
- Degree in forestry, genetics or a related land science, or equivalent in practical experience
- Experience with GIS applications
- Knowledge of Forest Genetic Resources
- PA1 and 6
- Other tickets e.g. brushcutter, ATV training.
Download Job ad: FTT NT Patsy Wood Scholar Job ad 2023
Download job description: FTT NT Forestry Technician job description Sept-2023