Tree Health Operations Manager About the team What you will do

Protecting the long term health of Scotland’s trees, woods and forests is of vital and increasing importance to delivery of the Scottish Government. Our Tree Health team sits within Scottish Forestry’s Policy & Practice function but works closely with internal and external stakeholders, including Forest Research and other parts of Scottish Government, as well as private forest owners. Recent years have seen a number of threats to Scotland’s trees and our work contributes to ongoing annual surveillance, detecting diseases and pests., This role will take the operational lead for SF on the response to current and potential threats to tree health from pests and diseases. Working closely with the Tree Health Planning and Contingency Manager, the Tree Health Policy team, the Tree Health Programme and Risk Manager and the Tree Health Data Manager to ensure delivery of priorities.
The role will involve managing Scottish Forestry's aerial and ground surveillance programme's along with the contracts that are aligned to these operations. You will also lead and develop Scottish Forestry's Tree Health Officers with line management responsibility for these roles. In addition, there will also be opportunities for close collaboration with colleagues in Scottish Government and its agencies, plus UK Government agencies (especially DEFRA, Forestry Commission, and Forest Research) and agencies in the other UK devolved administrations.

+ Working knowledge of the key tree pests and diseases impacting forestry in Scotland and the UK
+ Experience of managing a team
+ Experience of contract management
+ Problem solving ability, coupled with good analytical skills
Desirable:
+ Experience of UK plant health control processes and requirements
+ Practical understanding of UK forestry and silvicultural
+ Experience communicating with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, + Degree level qualification in a relevant scientific, environmental or land use subject, or equivalent experience relevant to the, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.