Role Overview
We are looking for a forestry manager/junior forestry consultant to work alongside the existing team in the Savills South region. The successful candidate will be based out of our Taunton office but must be able to work flexibly. The areas covered by the role include Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Avon and Wiltshire. The role will include ensuring that work is implemented to a high standard and in a timely fashion, and assisting the current team in the delivery of financial targets for the region as well as a wide range of woodland and forestry projects. Day to day tasks will comprise forest management on a range of properties with tasks including applying for grants, drafting management plans, overseeing contractors and delivery of forestry work, contract organisation and supervision, liaison with agencies, clients and their staff.
With over 30 consultants working across nine offices, Savills can claim one of the largest in-house forestry management teams in the UK. Savills Forestry provide advice on any aspect of commercial forestry and woodland management, covering property assets of any scale, from large investment portfolios to small farm and estate woodlands. The team has a deep knowledge base and is able to provide a clearly defined long-term career structure and excellent training opportunities for the right person. We work closely with clients to provide a broad spectrum of sector-specific services, covering investment, sales and purchases, valuation, management and business consultancy. Our clients include rural estates, farmers, public bodies and commercial forestry investors.
The Taunton office is a long-established and friendly office near the city centre providing rural and residential services. There are over 180 staff in the Rural and Projects (R&P) teams across all offices in the South Region, of which currently 10 are in the forestry and arboriculture team.
The forestry team and the region is supported by the almost-limitless knowledge, resources and research within the national and international Savills network, and as a member of the team you will be able to liaise with your counterparts across the country and to contribute to business development throughout Savills both within and beyond the forestry and rural division.
This role offers considerable opportunities for the candidate to progress their career. Savills offer unique training across a range of subjects which includes a comprehensive business management programme. There are also opportunities to be part of national committees and focus groups.
Key Responsibilities
- Supporting the team and developing your own client relationships. Providing forestry and woodland management advice and overseeing all aspects of delivery including:
o Management planning
o Grant Scheme applications and management of grant related works
o Timber harvesting and marketing
o Restocking and maintenance
o Planning and implementation of new woodland creation
o Forestry and woodland mapping and data management via GIS
o Forest and woodland certification
o Tree condition surveys
o Implementation of tree remedial works
o Budgeting and financial management
o Carbon projects
- Working with the Taunton and South west rural team, with responsibility for delivering the forestry strategy within the locality and driving the business forward
- To contribute to and support business development initiatives and tenders, targeting and winning new business, and agreeing the scope of instructions and fees as appropriate.
- To ensure financial management by monitoring forecast and actual income and expenditure, debtors and recovery of disbursements at both departmental and client levels
- To help promote and deliver the firm's compliance procedures and standards & consistently delivering high performance
Key Skills
- Proven record of delivering across a wide ranging work programme, to time and budget
- Ability to quickly build rapport and long standing client and colleague relationships
- An interest in generating new business
- Commits to challenging goals and delivers consistently against these
- Financial and commercial acumen with excellent planning, budgeting and operational reporting skills
- Delivers efficiency in addition to effectiveness
- Self-starter, who relishes challenges and strives for the best
- Team player who builds relationships and consults with others, quickly establishing trust and credibility
- Diplomatic and confident with a positive outlook
- Ethical with strong integrity
- Creative and lateral thinker, with the ability to problem solve and focus on solutions
- Commercially aware, but with the ability to vary approach dependent on circumstances
- Presentable and approachable and ability to engage with a variety of audiences
- Self-motivated, goal driven individual able to prioritise, work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to work in a clear and logical fashion, with good organisational skills and attention to detail
Technical experience
- BSc. or MSc. Forestry, or related
- Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (or working towards)
- LANTRA Professional Tree Inspector (advantageous)
- Highly competent and skilled with Microsoft Office, including Outlook and Excel; training will be provided in respect of internal systems
- GIS proficient
- Clear written and verbal communication style
- Driving licence essential
Team Overview
The Savills Forestry team in the South region provides four main client services:
1. Tree surveying and assessment
2. Woodland management planning & timber harvesting
3. New woodland creation
4. Forest valuation / specialist reports
This role will focus on the general woodland management and new woodland creations, building on existing client work and developing new business. Working alongside two experienced consultants in Taunton/Exeter to deliver quality service to clients primarily in the South West. Oversight will be provided by the regional head of forestry. The role will involve working with members of the other regions on multi-site contracts. The wider team in the region include 2 Arboricultural and 5 Woodland consultants as well as a team co-ordinator.
Savills Forestry provide advice on any aspect of commercial forestry and woodland management, covering property assets of any scale, from large investment portfolios to small farm and estate woodlands. The team has a deep knowledge base and is expanding to service increasing market share and will provide a clearly defined long-term career structure with excellent training opportunities for th