Woodland Operations Assistant

Guildford, England, United Kingdom

3/31/2025

This role has a starting salary of £32,512 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

Are you passionate about woodland management and looking for an opportunity to build on your career? Do you want to be part of a team which works towards making Surrey a greener place, protecting, and enhancing our valuable natural assets?

We are excited to be hiring a Woodland Operations Assistant to join our fantastic team based in Merrow, Guildford.

Rewards And Benefits

• 26 days’ holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
  
  
  

About The Role

As our Woodland Operations Assistant, you will work within a 2-man team on the practical woodland management of our countryside estate across Surrey. The team will deliver the objectives set out in our woodland management plans for around 20 different sites, undertaking a range of practical woodland tasks. This will include: tree felling, weeding, ride clearance, vegetation control/clearance, thinning and harvesting. You will also help support our objectives to produce a range of sustainable woodland products.

You will work to an agreed plan and keep accurate records of work completed, and liaise with contractors, work with volunteers and other team members and partners.

We are seeking an enthusiastic self-starter, often working independently on site, inspecting issues and reports. You should have good IT and communication skills and be able to form excellent relationships with partner organisations, such as: other councils, landowners, contractors, voluntary and community groups.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be shortlisted for interview for this position, your application will clearly evidence:

• An interest and understanding of woodland and countryside management issues and of practical maintenance techniques
• An ability to operate a variety of woodland machinery and equipment
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external teams/bodies
• Ability to drive (and tow a trailer). You must have a valid driving license. A vehicle is provided
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather and sometimes in difficult terrain
• Flexibility to work weekends and evenings
  
  
  

Surrey has both urban and rural areas therefore you will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Application Questions

To apply, alongside your CV, you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• What are the potential benefits to wildlife of good woodland management?
• Tell us about your experience of carrying out practical woodland/countryside management work and the tools you have used.
• What are some of the challenges we face managing sensitive woodlands?
  
  
  

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion prior to applying, please contact Jack Morgan (Woodland Operations Officer) on 07815 653748 or by email at [email protected] or Steve Mitchell (Countryside Estate Operations Manager) on 07968 832450 or by email at [email protected].

The closing date for this role is 23:59 on 06/04/2025 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our Values

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
  
  
  

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.