Trees On Tees Project Officer

Trees on Tees is a new programme in Tees Valley with the aim of increasing woodland creation and tree planting. Trees on Tees is experiencing an exciting time, as since its launch in March 2023, it was recently announced that the area is to receive additional funding for woodland creation as part of its role as a new Community Forest.

We are looking for a Trees on Tees Project Officer on a contract until March 2025, with the possibility of an extension, to work on a programme to support both public and private sector land managers to deliver tree planting and woodland creation projects.

You will be working with a wide range of organisations including local councils, businesses, landowners, farmers, communities, educational establishments, environmental and other charities.

You will help these owners and organisations to develop woodland creation projects. This work will include outreach to owners, carrying out site suitability assessments, providing woodland creation advice, supporting funding applications and project delivery. Please note that this work is focused on supporting owners to deliver their own projects rather then carrying out the projects and carrying out tree planting directly. You may also be involved scoping out planting opportunities across large geographical areas or on large public or private land holdings. Your work is likely to be a mix of site visits and meeting owners and discussing woodland creation as well as carrying out office based site suitability checks and attending office meetings in the offices of the Combined Authority or Local Councils in the area so you should be happy with both types of environment.

The Project Officer may be required to work across all of Tees Valley depending on their knowledge and experience but will be expected to be on site or in the offices of the Tees Valley Combined Authority at Teesside International Airport in Darlington for at least 2 – 3 days a week.
Tees Valley includes the Borough Council areas of Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough.

The ideal candidates will have enthusiasm, commitment and an understanding of the importance of trees and woodlands to the environment, the economy and to people’s lives and have had experience of working successfully with a wide range of stakeholders, preferably in an outreach capacity to bring about environmental improvements.

You should also be organised and have a good attention to detail to carry out site constraint checking and have the ability to manage a portfolio of projects supporting the owners through funding applications and project delivery. 

A knowledge of QGIS is also beneficial.

Training will be given but you should have at least a basic knowledge and ideally experience of tree planting, woodland creation and management. You may have gained this through experience of working or volunteering in nature conservation, landscape architecture, horticulture, environmental science, forestry, farming or land management. If this knowledge and experience has been gained through volunteering or internships please give details of the hours of experience gained for each type of activity engaged in. 

You should also be willing to carry out outreach activities with relevant communities - this may involve attending events such as country shows and festivals. Occasionally this may involve working in the evenings or weekends giving presentations or attending meetings for which Time off in Lieu will be given. For information the site visits may involve walking distances over rough ground so you should be happy with this.

A current driving licence, and access to a vehicle is required, mileage expenses will be provided in conjunction with our internal policies and procedures.

Please note this post is funded through the Forestry Commission’s Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund with support from the Northeast and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.