Forest Planner – Sustainable Forest Management

About the role

The Forest Planner will be based at The King’s House in Lyndhurst and will travel regularly across Forestry England’s South District. The role focuses on developing, reviewing and consulting on forest plans that meet UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) and UK Forest Standard (UKFS) requirements, ensuring sustainable and resilient forest management.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the review and update of the New Forest Inclosures Forest Plan, ensuring compliance with statutory and policy requirements.
• Evaluate existing plan objectives, assess effectiveness, and propose revisions based on evidence and site conditions.
• Coordinate consultation with internal teams, statutory bodies, stakeholders and partner organisations to build consensus on plan changes.
• Prepare clear planning documents and supporting materials for internal governance and approval processes.
• Collect and verify data for forest plan areas, supporting spatially‑informed decision‑making.
• Monitor progress and report on delivery against forest resilience and management targets.

Required profile

• Experience in forest planning, habitat or heritage plan preparation, or related environmental management.
• Strong understanding of UKWAS, UKFS and relevant statutory frameworks.
• Ability to work independently in the field, managing time effectively.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Required skills