Back

Forester

The role includes managing forests and harvesting timber as well marketing the products, arranging haulage, and conservation

Training, qualifications and skills A background in forestry, an HND qualification and/or a forestry degree. The FISA Forestry Works Manager (FWM) course is beneficial
Career progression opportunities There is potential to expand the work programme and take on more complex forestry projects.
Useful links Confor
Countryside Jobs Service
Royal Forestry Society
The Forestry Commission

Focus on: Harvesting and marketing manager

Matt Kelly
RTS Forestry
Full time, salary up to £35k
Crieff, Scotland

A harvesting and marketing manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the company’s harvesting sites, tendering for work, managing haulage, marketing timber, invoicing and administration. I am responsible for up to six harvesting teams across Scotland’s central belt. I tender for new work, and create budgets for the company’s managed estates and private clients. I handle the marketing and associated haulage to deliver the cut product to mills. 
 

A harvesting manager has to be constantly ‘active’ and know how to prioritise problems. Learn to juggle, hustle and how to firefight at the same time. Embrace the chaos.

My first steps into forestry were labouring for my elder brother’s tree surgery company. From there I trained to became a qualified tree surgeon and a full partner in the business. From tree surgery we moved into small scale forestry before selling the company.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.