Forestry Machine Operator

Advert close date: Wednesday 2nd April 2025

Purpose of role: To deliver a variety of forest management maintenance activities using specialist forestry machinery and equipment.

This is a multi-skilled role and will include small scale timber harvesting and windblow clear up, mulching, targeted conservation management, maintaining access points, site clearance, hedge cutting, mowing, timber movement.

Main accountabilities:

• Operate specialist forestry machinery to deliver high standards of forest management;

• Operate machinery in a professional and safe manner at all times with due reference to Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of work including the requirements of PUWER;

• Machinery includes: Timber trailer and crane, winch, telehandler and attachments, forestry mowers;

• Assist in the growing, harvesting, sales and delivery of Christmas trees;

• React to and support the team to deal with unforeseen events in the forest such as fallen trees, storms and wildfires;

• Ensure security and care of plant machinery;

• Undertake forest management activities including felling and processing timber, planting new trees and plantations and maintaining forest infrastructure;

• Support the team to deliver wider Estate objectives;

• Understand and follow relevant health and safety procedures to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

Knowledge, experience and skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of the Estate and its working land conditions;

• At least 3 years’ experience of operating heavy plant machinery in forestry conditions

• Demonstrable experience and understanding of land based health and safety practices

• Demonstrable experience, knowledge and understanding of engines, machinery and hydraulics

• A good communicator, confident, friendly, approachable with the ability to engage with a wide variety of people;

• Team orientated;

• Ability to work on their own initiative;

• Adaptable with a flexible approach;

• Highly organised with attention to detail;

• Ability to effectively problem solve;

• Physically fit and able to work in all weathers;

• First aid trained to Emergency First Aid plus F;

• Full clean driving license;

Essential Machinery Skills

• FMO Base Unit/Skidder/Trailer/Mulcher

• Telehandler

• Chainsaw operations including windblow and fell trees over 380mm

Desirable Machinery Skills

• Pesticide application PA1 and 6

• Use of pole saw

• Use of strimmer/clearing saw

• Side arm flail

• Excavator based operations.

We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.

If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us at [email protected].