Forests & Ecosystem Services Officer

Reports to: Forest Standards Manager
Contract type: Permanent (subject to successful completion of a probationary period)
Location: Home-based, with occasional travel (and overnight stays) within the UK and beyond. Desk-space can be made available in FSC UK’s Llanidloes Offices if this is preferred and there will be times when attendance at the Llanidloes office is required for meetings.
Salary: Starting salary from £32,000 p.a. pro rata, depending on experience.
Hours: 35 hours per week (Part-time hours may be considered)
Holiday: 26 days annual leave (increasing to 28 days after 2 years) plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata). The FSC UK office closes between Christmas and New Year and staff are required to use annual leave over this period.
Pension: The organisation uses the Government “Nest” pension scheme with employees contributing a minimum of 5% and FSC UK contributing 6%

Introduction to the role:

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to drive forward our approach to independent verification and data-driven claims about ecosystem services in forestry projects.

Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity to use and expand your skills and interest in forestry, conservation, nature markets and sustainable investment? Would you be suited to a position which would require you to engage with a broad range of multi-sector stakeholders to ensure the delivery of high quality and verifiable ecosystem services and to increase awareness of the value of forests and FSC certification in the context of climate mitigation and biodiversity?

If so, perhaps you would like to join our small and dedicated team who are committed to promoting the values of FSC and the benefits of certification and place yourself at the heart of delivering woodland based ecosystem changes.

The Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC®) is an international organisation dedicated to ensuring that forests are managed in a responsible manner across the globe. FSC UK is a registered charity responsible for promoting the FSC’s aims and objectives throughout the United Kingdom.

A key element of FSC UK’s work is to promote responsible forestry and FSC forest management certification and to support and represent FSC forest management certificate holders. FSC Verified Impact (formerly ecosystem services verification) builds on FSC forest management certification by providing forest stewards with a framework for monitoring and verifying the impact of conservation and restoration activities.

Once impacts are verified by an FSC-accredited certification body, FSC Verified Impact helps forest managers and owners to quantify the intangible value of their forest with third-party validation. This data can be shared with stakeholders, showing the real-world impact of their responsible forestry practices. It can also be used to attract investments, sponsors, and other rewards for maintaining services that are not recognised by traditional markets.

Main purpose and responsibilities

• Encourage uptake of FSC forest management certification and impact verification though technical support and guidance to forest managers/FSC group scheme managers
• Promote FSC’s Verified Impact to potential funders and help to connect businesses to ecosystem-services projects in FSC-certified forests.
• Support and, where appropriate, approve the promotion of FSC Verified Impact claims.
• In conjunction with the Training & Outreach Officer, develop and maintain training resources on FSC Verified Impacts.
• Lead on the development of a UK market strategy for FSC Verified Impact projects including value proposition, partnership opportunities and communication guidance.
• Increase awareness of the value of forests and FSC certification in the context of climate mitigation and biodiversity, in line with FSC’s Climate and Biodiversity Strategic Framework.
• Identify opportunities and build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government policymakers, potential funders of forestry projects, broker organisations, and organisations representing forest owners and managers.
• Coordinate FSC UK responses to relevant consultations and assess relevance of campaigns or statements that FSC UK may be asked to support.
• Deliver presentations on FSC and Verified Impact (e.g. at forestry events and to interested associations, businesses and educational establishments, etc.).
• Engage with environmental and social NGOs, primarily through umbrella bodies such as Wildlife & Countryside Link.
• Attend and represent FSC at conferences, trade fairs, training courses, events and meetings.
• Represent FSC UK on relevant FSC International groups and taskforces to help improve the FSC system and standards.
• Support FSC UK’s delivery of FSC International funded projects.
• Identify examples of best practice and work with the Communications Manager and certificate holders to develop case studies on FSC forest management certification and impact verification.
• Deputise for the Forest Standards Manager at events and meetings as required.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• An understanding of forest management in the UK.
• An understanding of environment and nature markets.
• Relevant degree or equivalent.
• Good understanding of Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• An existing understanding of FSC/certification.
• Experience working on design/delivery of nature-based solutions or natural capital projects.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Experience of communicating effectively and accurately both in spoken and written form.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to maintain good working relationships.
• Ability to work on own initiative but happy to follow instruction and accept guidance.
• Effective time management and organisations skills with the ability to prioritise workload
• UK driving licence

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Able to work as part of a small and dynamic team
• Friendly and professional manger
• A positive, enthusiastic attitude with an ability to enthuse others
• Able to relate to the mission and values of FSC UK and work towards its strategic objectives

Desirable

• A good sense of humour

The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on 14th January 2025.

Interviews will be held online on 26th or 27th January 2025.

Please note that this is a UK-based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.