Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week, flexible hours
Location: Primarily office based in central Bristol, with use of other partner locations for ad hoc use. This role will involve travel across the Western Forest region and occasionally within England, with a travel expenses budget. Hybrid arrangement by agreement.
Closing Date: 17th May 2025, submissions will be accepted up to 26th May on other job boards such as Indeed, Total Jobs, and Environment Job.
The Western Forest is a brand-new programme having been launched with national and Ministerial profile in March 2025. The Forest will support over 2.5 million people, cultivating a greener, more connected future by creating a landscape with trees and woodlands at its heart.
The Western Forest will deliver landscape scale change and real green investment, connecting people and nature across three regions – Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the West of England (including North Somerset).
The Western Forest Director will drive, direct and manage the delivery and strategic direction of this new national forest. The Director will inspire and work alongside partners and the core Western Forest team to achieve the goals and targets set for the forest, ensuring it develops sustainable income streams and models of delivery by 2030.
The Western Forest Director will head up the core team in supporting and directing resource and expertise throughout the region. Some key duties include:
- Lead on strategic development and impact.
- Support the shaping and organisational effectiveness of the Western Forest team and partnership, with a focus on collaboration, learning and knowledge sharing.
- Be responsible for the creation and management of relationships with partners and funding bodies working to build and develop existing partnerships and encouraging new ones.
- Develop open, trusting and respectful relationships throughout the governance structure and between the team and Boards.
- Manage and ensure delivery of the programme KPI’s and partnership delivery model.
This list is not exhaustive but highlights the key duties of this role. A full job application pack can be found attached to this advertisement.
To meet the needs of this role you will need:
- Demonstrable experience of impactful leadership, working across organisations and a wide range of sectors and stakeholders.
- Experience of advocacy, engaging with external stakeholders to influence social change or public policy.
- Proven track record of securing significant financial resource for an organisation through large funding bids or other sources of income generation, ideally with a good knowledge of the tree and woodland funding sector.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leaders, community groups, and the public.
- Excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Proven ability to plan resources appropriately and understand financial reports including budgets/cashflow management, risk management and forecasting models.
Forest of Avon are an equal opportunity employer and applications will be considered without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, veteran status or age. The Forest of Avon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. We seek to challenge the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. We encourage different perspectives and seek to support our team and partners to share and implement new ideas, to continue improving and to realise our full potential.
This is a rare, unique and exciting opportunity to take a lead role in developing the programme and setting the strategic path for the Western Forest – the first new national forest in over 30 years.
To apply for this role please submit your CV detailing your relevant experience and a covering letter of no more than 4 A4 pages to the recruitment team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
IPSEA is the leading charity in the field of special educational needs and disability (SEND) law in England, and we provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. We also provide training on the SEND legal framework, and we influence policy at both a local and national level.
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Trusts and Philanthropy Officer to join our small, ambitious fundraising team. IPSEA has a proven track record of successfully securing grants, and this is a new role designed to help strengthen and grow IPSEA’s income from charitable Trusts and Foundations. You will be responsible for researching new funding opportunities, preparing and submitting tailored applications and reports, and managing relationships with existing funders through thoughtful and timely stewardship. You will also support the early development of strategies in major gifts and wider philanthropy.
This role is an opportunity to play a key role in our future fundraising strategy and help secure long-term financial sustainability for our services.
You will work remotely, with occasional travel required for essential meetings approximately 4-5 times per year.
If you share our commitment to protecting, promoting and upholding the rights of children and young people with SEND and would like to use your fundraising skills at IPSEA, we would love to hear from you.
To apply
- Download our ‘Trusts and Philanthropy Officer Recruitment Pack’
- Visit our website to download an application form
- Submit your completed application form via our website
Please note that we do not accept CVs as applications.
Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 May 2025
First-round interviews: 21 or 22 May in central Birmingham
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.