Outreach Adviser - Croft Woodlands (Uist and Barra)

The Woodland Trust is looking for an Outreach Adviser - Croft Woodlands (Uist & Barra) to join our Scotland Outreach Team. The Croft Woodland initiative is a partnership initiative between Woodland Trust Scotland (WTS), Point & Sandwick Trust (P&ST), Scottish Crofting Federation, Scottish Forestry, Coigach & Assynt Living Landscapes, the Woodland Croft Partnership, Shetland Amenity Trust and Orkney Woodlands Project. The aim of the project is to engage crofters in woodland creation and management on their holdings to deliver multiple benefits in terms of biodiversity, agricultural diversification, landscape and environment.

A company vehicle will be provided for this role. Please note that out Company Vehicle Policy is also under review as part of our Job Families and Contract Review project, so the eligibility criteria therein are subject to change in due course.

The Role

• Provide expert advice and ongoing support to crofters, grazing committees and land managers on woodland creation and management projects.
• Lead the development and delivery of Forestry Grant Scheme applications, coordinating consultants or preparing proposals in-house.
• Plan and implement Croft Woodlands MOREwoods schemes, ensuring successful project delivery.
• Create and maintain accurate GIS mapping and ensure robust due diligence, including regulatory compliance and “right tree, right place” principles.
• Organise and deliver training programmes, facilitating knowledge sharing across individuals, communities and stakeholders.
• Work closely with Point and Sandwick Trust through regular liaison and updates.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with land managers, partners, regulators and local organisations to promote woodland initiatives.
• Manage project delivery end-to-end, including budgets, timelines, contractors and consultants, ensuring targets are met.
• Complete all project administration and reporting, contribute to stakeholder engagement, and support innovative approaches to increase participation and impact.
• This is a homebased role, requiring regular travel to locations within the Uist and Barra landscape and wider Western Isles, sometimes to remote locations. You would be expected to live within the Western Isles or reasonable travelling distance of your area of responsibility. Occasional travel to regional offices and overnight stays will be required.

The Candidate

• Previous experience in developing and delivering woodland creation projects, particularly for small-scale projects.
• Experience of developing woodland management plans is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with and advise crofters, communities, schools and woodland owners.
• Experience managing and working effectively with contractors, consultants and external partners.
• Strong technical capability in digital mapping and GIS systems.
• Good working knowledge of woodland and croft grant schemes and funding mechanisms is desirable.
• Understanding of the crofting context in Scotland, particularly in the Western Isles, with Gaelic language/cultural awareness desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence to represent the organisation professionally and positively.
• Highly organised, self-motivated and flexible, with the ability to manage workload independently, collaborate across dispersed teams, and deliver projects on time and within budget.
• A full driving licence and ability to travel across a wide area to undertake site visits and meetings, sometimes to remote locations. Overnight stays will be required from time to time.

Benefits and Wellbeing

Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme

About Us

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.

People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.

Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.

Application Advice

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]

Apply Now

If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete. For queries relating to this new opportunity please email [email protected]

Interviews will be held on the 19th, 20th and 21th of August 2026.