NickJ
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Deer Officer
Forestry CommissionApply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th August 2025
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Details
Reference number
419644Salary
£39,135 - £42,133A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Job grade
Higher Executive OfficerPay Band 4
Contract type
Fixed termLoan
Secondment
Length of employment
Fixed Term Appointment until 31 March 2026.Business area
FC - Forest Services - The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and facilitate the protection, improvement and expansion of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector.Type of role
Environment and SustainabilityWorking pattern
Flexible working, Full-timeNumber of jobs available
1Contents
Location
The role will be based in the FC National Office, Bristol, with flexibility for some optional blended working (see details below). Use of other FC offices may be considered, depending on where the successful candidate lives. While the postholder will primarily cover the Wessex area, they will work closely with the South West’s other Deer Officer, who covers Devon and Cornwall. Travel across the wider South West region will be required as needed to support delivery. Please note this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.About the job
Job summary
There has never been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide vital sanctuaries for people and wildlife. The Government has ambitious tree planting targets, and the Forestry Commission plays a central role in supporting the forestry sector, delivery partners, landowners, and communities to achieve these goals. Equally important is the sustainable management of our existing woodlands. The Forestry Commission delivers this support through a combination of grant funding and expert technical advice. The role of Deer Officer is central to delivering on both fronts.The Forestry Commission is committed to ensuring that wild deer remain a valued part of sustainable forestry in England. However, when deer populations become too high, they can negatively affect woodland health—hindering the regeneration of young trees, damaging mature trees, and altering the structure of woodland habitats. Overgrazing by deer can significantly reduce ground flora and biodiversity, impacting the overall resilience of our forests. This role plays a vital part in managing those impacts and supporting the long-term sustainability of England’s woodlands.
You will be part of the South West Area team and line managed by one of their Partnerships & Expertise Managers, with the Deer Advisor (from the national Policy Advice team) as your countersigning officer. This means your work will be delivered and directed locally, while benefiting from national oversight and strategic guidance.
If you are passionate about the role of trees, woods, and forestry in creating a better future for England—and understand the importance of managing wild deer as part of that vision—then we want to hear from you.
By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will have the opportunity to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to revolutionise how we work together and reach new stakeholders.
Job description
The Deer Officer plays a critical role as the interface between Forest Services and landowners, land managers, and forestry agents, providing advice and facilitation for the management of wild deer to reduce their impacts on woodland condition and establishment.The role involves engaging with woodland owners, agents, and stakeholders to provide guidance and advice on deer impacts and how they can be managed—with the aim of encouraging and enabling collaborative, landscape-scale deer management activities. The role will also involve sharing best practice within the deer community to ensure the sustainable management of deer populations in a safe and humane manner.
You will be expected to have strong experience and understanding of deer management issues, and to demonstrate either an existing or rapidly developed understanding of how these issues impact the objectives and activities of the Forestry Commission (both Forest Services and Forestry England, which manages the nation’s forests), Natural England, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), and wider government. You will be expected to show initiative, work autonomously, and establish excellent working relationships with colleagues.
You will work with the South West Area Team, Policy Advice Team colleagues (specifically natural environment specialists), woodland owners and managers, stalkers, and deer interest groups—using your knowledge, experience, and sound judgement to reduce the long-term impact of deer on woodland condition. You will work alongside Woodland Officers and specialist delivery colleagues (such as Woodland Creation Officers) to ensure the delivery of Government forestry policy through the interpretation and effective use of advice, incentives, and regulations when advising woodland owners and their agents in reviewing or developing deer management plans.
Coordinating your work with other Deer Officers and the Deer Advisor, you will feedback lessons learned to Area and National Teams to help refine and promote best practice.
This role will require some evening and possibly limited weekend work for which overtime or time off in lieu may be payable.
If your home lies out-with your work area you will be expected to travel to your work area or designated parent office in your own time and cost.
Note: This is not a field-based deer stalking or culling role. The Deer Officer provides strategic advice, facilitation, and coordination to support sustainable deer management across landscapes.
Key Work Areas
1. Facilitate effective woodland management planning that incorporates active deer management measures:
Using influencing skills and your knowledge and experience of forestry and deer management, engage with woodland owners and their agents to encourage them to undertake deer management in their woodlands and at the landscape scale.
- Raise awareness among landowners, managers and agents as to the importance of deer management, individually or via group events – tailoring messages to the audience and their interests.
- Encourage collaboration between neighbouring landowners, recognising that landscape-scale approaches provide the more effective outcomes.
- Provide advice and guidance on suitable deer management and control measures, and facilitate their implementation.
- Empower Woodland Officers to make better decisions in their advice to woodland owners and their agents when reviewing/developing plans to manage deer in their woods.
- Encourage owners to produce or update existing UKFS-compliant management plans. This could include encouraging applications for Countryside Stewardship woodland management planning grant.
- Take the lead on reviewing species management plans that involve deer for any new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CS HT) applications.
- Review and respond to deer management plans received as part of existing CS HT agreements.
- Provide expert specialist advice to area team colleagues to facilitate their work in managing deer impacts on woodlands.
Working as part of the Area team, you will share knowledge and experience through working with operational staff, policy makers, owners, agents and stalkers to:
- Work closely with national and Area colleagues to build networks and run events to effectively build and disseminate best practice among the landowner/manager and the deer management community.
- Engage with woodland owners, managers and contractors, and specialist deer and wildlife management groups such as the Deer Initiative Partnership to represent the FC position and share your expertise.
- Use your experience on the ground to contribute to national FS discussions on the management of deer including recommending updates to policy, guidance and regulation where these are proving a barrier to engagement or uptake.
- Make active personal use of social media to raise awareness and share best practice and advice.
Working with the Area team and local stakeholders, you will identify priority areas where deer are having an acute impact on the health and vitality of woodlands (particularly SSSI and other high value woodlands) and where there are opportunities to influence the decisions of woodland owners.
Person specification
ESSENTIAL- Extensive and proven deer management experience.
- A proven track record of engagement with stakeholders, developing constructive partnerships and delivering results on the ground.
- Understanding and experience of practical wildlife management and forestry issues in England.
- Demonstratable skills in influencing and negotiation.
- Competent IT user, experienced in using MS office, remote working and associated communications management.
- Ideally, candidates will hold a Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) Level 2, or be working towards it. Applicants with DSC1 and sufficient relevant experience will also be considered.
DESIRABLE
- Established networks and contacts with relevant stakeholders in the area.
- An understanding of current Forestry and land management grants.
Licences
This post will involve regular travel including to more remote areas, therefore applicants need to hold and continue to hold, a full current driving license that enables them to drive in the UK and should be willing to stay away from home overnight. The Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants which would allow them to do the job by any other means.Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:- To be confirmed at interview stage.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £39,135, Forestry Commission contributes £11,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A range of family friendly benefits.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
- 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
- Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
- 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 31 March 2026, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following online:
- A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 3 parts and request: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
- A personal statement – in no more than 500 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
- A statement, of no more than 250 words, providing an example of how you have demonstrated the key behaviour of Communicating and Influencing.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using a lead behaviour: Communicating and Influencing.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift
Application sift is planned for week commencing 18th August 2025.
Interview
Interviews will be held on 27th August - this date is subject to change. The interviews are likely to take place in person.
Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours and Strengths in addition to Technical Skills and Experience. You may be asked to complete a simple exercise or presentation as part of this.
We may be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.
Travel options include:
- Use of private car: some Officers chose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. If your private car emits more than 120 gCO2/km it can only be used for two years from the date a new Officer starts working for the Forestry Commission. After that date, we expect private vehicles used for official travel to emit significantly less.
- Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation, they can opt for a CAPES car (the user pays a monthly rate for private use). All CAPES cars must emit less than 50gCO2/km
- Use of a Forestry Commission fleet vehicle.
This role is full-time. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.
Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.
Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :FS Recruitment
- Email :fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Further information
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.Share this page
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