SSEN Transmission is recruiting a Forestry Manager (Compensatory Planting) on a permanent, full-time basis. Successful applicants must be based at one of its Scottish locations: Inverness, Aberdeen or Perth. Applications close on 22 September 2026.
SSEN Transmission is carrying out a large investment programme to upgrade the north of Scotland's electricity transmission network, including new overhead lines, substations and subsea links. The Forestry Manager will support the planning, design and delivery of compensatory planting and other forestry work across a portfolio of these projects, from early development through to delivery. The role covers the transmission network area across the Local Authority areas of North Scotland.
Responsibilities include leading compensatory planting and forestry activity, and developing and coordinating planting proposals, agreements and woodland management plans for major capital projects and customer connections. The postholder will identify suitable planting sites and manage risks around land availability, approvals, programme, establishment and long-term woodland management. They will also provide forestry input across the project lifecycle, from assessing woodland impacts and early site identification through to design, consent, delivery and aftercare, and work with landowners, tenants, agents, forestry contractors, Scottish Forestry and other bodies.
Applicants need strong experience in forestry management, woodland creation, and planting scheme design and delivery, including forestry measurement protocols and managing forestry operations. They should understand the UK Forestry Standard, felling permission requirements, woodland management planning and compensatory planting requirements. Experience supporting environmental and consenting processes is also expected, such as Environmental Impact Assessment inputs, forest landscape design assessment and developing planting proposals, as is experience taking planting schemes from design through to establishment and ongoing management with landowners, contractors and authorities. A relevant HND, degree or equivalent experience in forestry, land management or a related field is required, along with an understanding of energy networks or the ability to develop one quickly.