Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is looking for enthusiastic, practical, creative people to join our Regional planning and environment teams to help shape the future of Scotland’s forests and land. We’re responsible for managing 8% of Scotland – and it’s not just forests, it’s coasts, mountains, farmland, peatlands, varied habitats and recreation sites.
What you will do
We accommodate a significant number of renewable energy developments, utility projects and other third party construction projects such as radio masts on the land we manage. They often involve associated infrastructure such as access tracks, grid connections and ancillary equipment.
As a Forest Liaison Officer (FLO), you will be the main point of contact between an FLS Regional team, the national Renewables team, and developers and their contractors on day-to-day issues regarding these projects.
- In North Region there are 20 operational hydro schemes and 4 windfarms.
- In East Region there are 2 operational windfarms and 6 hydro schemes.
- In South Region there are 6 operational windfarms.
All three of the regions have several large scale interconnectors and a complex network of overhead and underground services. Each region has more than twenty projects at scoping, planning and construction stage within national forests and land, within many other developments requiring access across it.
You will liaise with colleagues to consider the impacts of the projects on the management of the forest and other land uses; help to support and integrate the projects into FLS wider land management, within the context of our Land Management Plans and organisational objectives; and ensure that development is compliant and sustainable.
In addition, you will engage with colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure third party activities are fully communicated and, as a result, integrated into our core activities.
Main duties
- Build and maintain excellent working relationships with FLS colleagues, developers, stakeholders such as community groups, neighbours, statutory consultees, and agreement holders.
- Support and assist national Renewables team and other regional staff in general liaison with third parties including agreement holders, such as facilitating permissions for surveys and work to be carried out by them on national forests and land.
- Prepare and provide developers with relevant information held by FLS, and support others in assessing proposals, testing options and revising Land Management Plans.
- Provide support to third parties and internal teams, including gathering relevant forest related information and mapping, environmental mitigation and details of Land Management Plans.
- Liaise with third parties over management of sites, ensuring FLS’s interests are protected in relation to tree felling, quarrying and roading operations.
- Carry out regular site monitoring to ensure no breaches of health and safety or environmental guidelines, and that the project remains within the terms of plans and agreements.
- Adhere to FLS national and regional policies and procedures.