Current opportunities

Are you passionate about Climate Change? Would you like to play a crucial role in supporting the climate change strategy of Forestry and Land Scotland, spanning across topics from forestry and land management to buildings and contracts? We are looking for a experienced and motivated individual to join the FLS Climate Change Team.

Reporting to the Climate Change Manager, the post holder will work with colleagues across FLS, ensuring that we embed climate change action into FLS’s work at all levels.

The post holder will be required to lead and support a range of initiatives, processes and projects to help FLS achieve its emission reduction, adaptation and carbon capture targets. This will require the post holder to engage with and influence cross-functional groups, and they will be key to helping us to achieve our climate change ambitions.

This is an opportunity to help shape a rapidly evolving work area to scale up our response to the climate emergency.

Our Planning and Environment team is a national strategy, policy, delivery and support function enabling FLS to deliver against its climate change targets and adapt to the changing climate. Members of this team work cross functionally with staff in other national support teams and with colleagues in our 5 Regions, located across Scotland

Key Job Criteria:

• An in-depth understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation risks and opportunities facing Scotland, and how these might impact natural and built environments;
• Good experience working with/processing complex data and information;
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and stakeholder management skills with experience of building and maintaining relationships, and influencing, at all levels

Please note that this is a fixed term post.

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

*This opportunity is only open to current Civil Servants

The Interim Head of Planning provides strategic leadership for planning, GIS and land management functions across Forestry and Land Scotland. Leading a multidisciplinary team of around 25 staff, the role drives the development of robust, deliverable plans aligned to corporate priorities, ensures environmental and UKWAS standards are met, and harnesses technology to support effective decision-making and organisational transformation. 

The Planning team forms part of the new Directorate of Forestry, working with colleagues across technical, operational and environmental functions to shape sustainable forestry and land management practice. The team supports regional delivery while leading innovation and transformation to ensure the national estate is productive, resilient, financially sustainable and delivers Scotland's climate, nature and economic ambitions. 

To be successful in this role you will possess  strategic planning capability, with experience of developing and implementing medium-to long-term strategies. 

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. 

We’re looking for an Infrastructure Project Manager to join our South Region team. You’ll be based in Dumfries, Ae or Dalbeattie.

Our South Region teams play a vital role in caring for Scotland’s national forests and land, helping us manage around 170,000 hectares of public land across southern Scotland. The region delivers a wide range of activities including timber production, woodland creation, peatland restoration, renewable energy developments and visitor attractions. The Energy and Infrastructure team plays a key role in supporting large-scale utility and infrastructure projects, ensuring they are effectively integrated with forestry, environmental and wider land management objectives to deliver benefits for people, nature, the climate and the economy.

As an Infrastructure Project Manager, you will play a key role in leading the delivery of major utility and infrastructure projects across the national forest estate. This is a strategic and collaborative role where you’ll lead and support a multidisciplinary team, oversee complex negotiations with utility providers and help ensure projects are successfully integrated with wider forestry and land management activities. You’ll maintain oversight of a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects, coordinate engagement with internal and external stakeholders, support decision-making and provide strategic leadership as a member of the South Region Leadership Team. Working closely with planners, engineers, land agents and operational teams, you’ll help balance infrastructure development with environmental, operational and commercial priorities.

To be successful, you’ll have experience in project management, along with strong negotiation and decision-making skills. You’ll be confident leading, motivating and developing a team, with the ability to assess complex situations, prioritise competing demands and direct resources effectively. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential, as is the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. You should hold an HND or higher-level qualification in a relevant discipline such as construction, engineering, land management, planning, landscape architecture or forestry, together with professional membership of a relevant professional body or a commitment to achieve this within two years. Experience of utilities infrastructure, construction project management, large-scale land management or the planning and regulatory environment 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 covering letter – 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 Liaison Officer (FLO) to join our Infrastructure Project Management Team within South Region. You’ll be based in Newton Stewart, Dalbeattie, Dumfries or Ae.  

Our teams play a vital role in managing Scotland’s national forests and land, delivering sustainable timber production, enhancing biodiversity, creating recreation opportunities and supporting Scotland’s renewable energy and net zero ambitions. The Infrastructure Project Management Team works closely with foresters, planners, engineers, environmental advisers and developers to help accommodate and manage utility, renewable energy and other infrastructure developments across the national forests and land. Through this work, the team ensures infrastructure projects are successfully integrated with wider forestry and land management objectives.

As a Forest Liaison Officer, you will play a key role in supporting the planning, coordination and delivery of infrastructure projects across the estate. Working as part of the Infrastructure Project Management Team, you’ll act as a key point of contact between Forestry and Land Scotland operational teams, developers, utility providers, contractors and specialist advisers. You’ll help coordinate infrastructure proposals and construction activities with forestry operations, environmental requirements and land management objectives, while supporting effective communication between stakeholders. The role will also involve providing information and mapping to developers and colleagues, monitoring project activities on site, helping resolve operational issues and ensuring projects are delivered in line with agreements, permissions and Forestry and Land Scotland objectives.

To be successful, you’ll have relevant knowledge and experience in forestry, land management, infrastructure, utilities, renewable energy or construction projects. You’ll be confident building positive relationships with a wide range of colleagues, stakeholders and regulators, with strong communication, facilitation and engagement skills. You should be well organised, able to manage competing priorities and comfortable working collaboratively with both internal and external partners. Good Microsoft Office skills are essential, while experience of project management, working with developers, land use planning, GIS software or infrastructure development processes would be advantageous. Qualifications or experience related to forestry, civil engineering, construction, renewables or electrical infrastructure would also be beneficial.

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.

We’re looking for an Infrastructure Project Team Forest Planner to join our South Region team. You’ll be based in Dumfries, Ae or Dalbeattie.

Our South Region teams play a vital role in caring for Scotland’s national forests and land, managing around 170,000 hectares of public land stretching from the eastern Scottish Borders to the Isle of Arran and the Solway Coast. The region manages extensive forests and open land, producing timber, creating tomorrow’s forests, supporting world-class recreation facilities, restoring peatlands and helping deliver Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions.

The Energy and Infrastructure team plays a key role in ensuring renewable energy and infrastructure developments are successfully integrated with wider forestry, environmental and land management objectives.

As an Infrastructure Project Team Forest Planner, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of large-scale utility and infrastructure projects across the national forest estate. Working closely with the Infrastructure Project Manager, Civil Engineer, Forest Liaison Officer and specialist colleagues, you’ll help assess the impacts of proposed infrastructure on forestry operations and long-term land management plans. You’ll prepare and manage amendments to Long-Term Plans, Environmental Impact Assessment submissions and other regulatory requirements, while ensuring compliance with forestry legislation, policy and standards. The role requires strong collaboration with colleagues, regulators, landowners and external stakeholders to develop practical solutions that balance infrastructure development with sustainable forest management and environmental objectives.

To be successful, you’ll have a sound understanding of forestry practice and land management planning in Scotland, together with experience of working within the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), the wider Scottish forestry regulatory environment and UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) requirements. You’ll be confident building strong relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and regulators, with excellent communication and influencing skills. You should be able to analyse complex information, balance competing priorities and develop practical solutions that support wider organisational objectives. A HND or higher-level qualification in forestry or a related land management subject, or equivalent technical forestry knowledge gained through experience, is essential, along with competence in the use of GIS software. Experience of utilities infrastructure, construction projects, forestry operations or project management 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 covering letter – please ensure you provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the attached job description and success profile document.