Policy Advocate – Forestry & Land Use

ABOUT US

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading 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.

THE ROLE

The Policy Advocate – Forestry and Land Use will work to increase the Trust’s influence through
policy and advocacy work focussed on forestry, farming and land use policy issues at the
Scottish Government and statutory agency level. They will develop and advocate the Trust’s
policy positions in Scotland to ensure policy support and resource allocation for woodland
protection, creation, and restoration. The role will have a focus on policy areas related to
future land use payments including forestry grant schemes, deer management and agriculture. 

The Policy Advocate will actively monitor, gather intelligence, understand and analyse relevant
areas of Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament politics and policies, contributing to the
writing of external policy reports, consultation responses, briefings and other materials which
further the Trust’s policy advocacy objectives in Scotland.

As part of the Scotland Team, they will be responsible for working together collaboratively
with other colleagues along with the Conservation and External Affairs Department to support
campaign development and delivery, policy development, inform and respond to public
consultations.

This is a Hybrid working role, where you’ll work part of your time at home and part of the time
from one of our Regional Offices based in Edinburgh and Perth, Scotland. Our Hybrid Working
Policy is flexible, and the frequency of time spent in your contracted office will vary across
teams and job roles.

THE CANDIDATE

You will have excellent knowledge of the Scottish forestry, farming and land use policy
landscape as well as good understanding of deer management, farming and Rhododendron ponticum
issues affecting Scotland’s native woodlands.

You will have the ability to collaborate with other teams and colleagues to develop and lead
the delivery of advocacy strategies to ensure woods and trees are valued and recognised in key
policies and decisions at a national level. You’ll have great research and analytical skills
being able to communicate and tailor complex information to different audiences, building
positive relationships internally and externally using your skills to influence stakeholders.

Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the
Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role
model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us
plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees.

WHAT TO EXPECT BY JOINING A TEAM AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE

There’s no other organisation like the Woodland Trust. Joining the team you will be making your
contribution to tackling the nature and climate crisis. In return, we recognise and value our
people. You’ll have our full support, training and opportunities for professional development,
along with a contributory pension, life assurance, good holiday allowance and the opportunity
to work flexibly from home. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION 

At the Woodland Trust, we want to reflect and represent the full richness of diversity in the
UK. Fewer of our employees are Black, Asian or minority ethnic; disabled; from lower
socio-economic backgrounds or under 25; so we are particularly keen to receive your application
if you are from one or more of these groups. We can also discuss anything you may need to
achieve your full potential at any stage of the process. We assess your application solely on
your demonstrated suitability for the job. Nothing else.

To ensure anonymised recruitment, if you have uploaded your CV, shortlisting panels do
not see your CV until shortlisting has been completed. Before submitting your
application, please ensure you have completed the supporting information section with details
of experiences that clearly evidence as many aspects of the job description as possible.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of
suitable applications. If you are interested, we’d encourage you to submit your application as
early as possible.