Current opportunities

Working at Forestry and Land Scotland is all about ‘People, Pride and Purpose.’ Join us and take pride in supporting the economy, protecting and enhancing the environment by managing Scotlands National forests and land. 

Within FLS, the Digital Services Team manages the digital and technology services that support forestry, land management, energy and estate development, and corporate business activities. The team also provides shared digital services to Scottish Forestry, which is a separate executive agency of Scottish Government.

The Digital Applications Manager, will oversee the development, support, and maintenance of core business systems, while playing a key role in the organisation’s digital transformation. Supporting both established enterprise applications and emerging platforms, including low-code and automation tools, ensuring services remain reliable, secure, and well governed.

For more information about our organisation and this vacancy please review the Job Description and Success Profile

We’re looking for an Environment Ranger to join our Central Region Planning & Environment team. You’ll be based out of our Glenbranter Office in the Cowal District.

Our Planning & Environment teams play a vital role in protecting and enhancing Scotland’s national forests and land. They oversee a wide range of designated sites, scheduled monuments, and priority habitats, working closely with planners and delivery teams to ensure land management activities are sustainable and environmentally responsible. Through surveys, monitoring and specialist advice, the team contributes to biodiversity conservation, habitat protection and informed decision-making across the national forest estate.

As an Environment Ranger, you will play a key role in delivering a broad range of ecological survey, monitoring and reporting activities. This is a varied, field-based role with a strong focus on gathering baseline data ahead of forestry operations to identify and protect environmental features. You’ll undertake surveys for protected and priority species, support the monitoring of designated sites such as SSSIs and scheduled monuments, and contribute to the design of mitigation plans. You’ll also assist with data management, reporting and basic mapping using systems such as ForesterWeb and ArcMap, and provide advice to colleagues to help ensure work is carried out in line with environmental legislation and best practice.

To be successful, you’ll have knowledge of the legislative requirements relating to protected and priority species, along with experience of undertaking species surveys and designing mitigation plans. You should be confident working independently in outdoor environments, with the fitness and resilience to operate across uneven terrain and in challenging weather conditions.

Strong organisational, communication and decision-making skills are essential, as is the ability to plan and deliver surveys effectively. Experience working with species such as badger, red squirrel, otter and water vole is important, alongside an understanding of breeding bird ecology. GIS or mapping skills, protected species licences, or a specialist ecological focus would be advantageous.

Please click here to view the full list of benefits of working for us.

If this sounds like a role you’re interested in, we’d encourage you to apply with your CV and a supporting statement – please ensure you provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the attached job description and success profile document.

We’re looking for a Forest Craftsperson to join our South Region Land Management team. You’ll be based in Straiton, South Ayrshire.

Our Land Management teams play a vital role in caring for Scotland’s national forests and land, helping us manage around 9% of the country’s land area. They are involved in a wide range of activities including woodland creation, forest restocking, harvesting, environmental and wildlife management, infrastructure maintenance and enhancing visitor experiences. Through this work, they make an important contribution to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use.

As a Forest Craftsperson, you will play a key role in delivering a wide variety of practical forest management and stewardship tasks. This is a hands‑on, outdoor role working in all weather conditions, often across remote and challenging terrain. You’ll be involved in activities such as chainsaw work, tree felling and windblow clearance, tree planting and plant handling, maintaining deer and stock fencing, and supporting the upkeep of visitor facilities and forest infrastructure. You may also assist with environmental tasks including weed control, habitat maintenance and supporting timber harvesting operations, working closely with colleagues to deliver the programme of work throughout the year.

To be successful, you’ll have a passion for working outdoors and be comfortable in physically demanding environments. You should be able to work both independently and as part of a team, with good communication and time management skills. A proactive approach to learning and developing new skills is essential, along with basic IT skills and confidence using digital tools. Experience in forestry operations such as tree planting, fencing or chainsaw work is desirable, as is an understanding of health and safety in a practical setting. You’ll also need, or be willing to gain, industry‑standard certifications in chainsaw use, brushcutting and pesticide application.

Please click here to view the full list of benefits of working for us.

If this sounds like a role you’re interested in, we’d encourage you to apply with your CV and covering letter – please ensure you provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the attached job description and success profile document.

Working at Forestry and Land Scotland is all about ‘People, Pride and Purpose.’ Join us and take pride in supporting the economy, protecting and enhancing the environment by managing Scotlands National forests and land. 

Our Foresters are responsible for planning and managing programmes of work for their team such as planting, harvesting and maintaining forests. The teams also manage habitats and visitor attractions whilst ensuring efficient timber supply to customers. 

East Region manages approximately 93,000 hectares of public land, from the coastal pinewoods of Moray and Fife through Aberdeenshire to Perthshire. This region delivers around £22.5 million in annual income, mainly through sustainable timber harvesting and commercial leases, while also leading initiatives in peatland restoration, renewable energy developments, and woodland creation. 

To be successful in this role you will have experience in forestry or related land management work and leading people. 

Please review the Job Description for more information on this role, applications are received through our recruitment portal by way of CV and supporting statement.