Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS) is an agency of the Scottish Government (SG) responsible for managing Scotland's national forests and land.
This is an exciting time for FLS: we are on a journey of transforming our business to make it completely financially sustainable and ensure that FLS delivers its vision: forests and land that Scotland can be proud of.
We are currently seeking a visionary and strategically minded leader to join us as the Director of Commercial Development.
Location is flexible across Scotland; in-office attendance each week (usually 2 days) will be required, the exact pattern and location of which will be discussed with the successful candidate.
To succeed in this role, you will already be an outstanding commercially focussed leader, able to operate at strategic and operational levels.
You will have a track record of delivering highly attractive commercial outcomes and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, your primary objective will be to develop and execute a robust commercial strategy as we transition towards full financial sustainability.
The successful candidate will spearhead initiatives to maximize the commercial potential of Scotlands forests and lands while ensuring environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Job description Key objectives will include: Developing and executing a robust commercial strategy aligned with FLS objectives, aiming to move towards a long-term sustainable financial model.
Articulating a clear vision for the Directorate, ensuring alignment with customers, peers and stakeholder needs to deliver commercial activities which offer high margin returns Providing inspirational leadership to a team of c.60 people, instilling a clear delivery culture to provide excellent advice and services across the business and fostering a business-focused culture that seeks continuous improvement.
Sharing collective corporate leadership of FLS as a member of the Strategic Board and Executive Leadership Team, driving commercial strategy in particular and contributing to wider business delivery, governance, corporate decision-making, and promoting health, safety and wellbeing.
Driving a transformation in delivery of FLS's c£85m programme of procurement of goods and services, and embedding the contribution of Procurement as a business enabler and improver including developing contractor/supplier resilience.
Optimising the financial contribution of the estate through management of commercial contracts and agreements to deliver improved stable and longer-term net income lines.
Leading on the expansion of the renewable energy portfolio (24/25 income of c £21M pa).
This includes commercial negotiations on the £2.7Bn Coire Glas Pump Storage development to optimise returns for FLS.
Managing Acquisition and Disposals strategy along with development opportunities to support FLS/Regions in achieving best value asset management and business sustainability, in particular disposals which help deliver agreed investment plans.
Developing business capability to deliver short, medium and long-term income/benefits from commercial opportunities including carbon projects.
Managing financial and non-financial resources to support commercial development projects whilst delivering key wider environmental net zero ambitions, including budget responsibility of c £4.5 million; contributing to the long-term financial sustainability of FLS through application of strategic priorities and identifying new and improved income and cost saving opportunities.
Person specification Success Profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
It is essential that you can provide evidence of the following professional experience and skills: Extensive experience in delivering commercial ventures; Demonstrable capability to lead and secure commercial negotiations to optimise returns and deliver a robust acquisition and disposals strategy; Shrewd commercial skills, able to manage both financial and non-financial resources to effectively deliver ambitions whilst nurturing a culture of commercially astute expansion and growth.
You must also evidence the following behaviours: Leadership Influencing strategy, direction and culture to increase effectiveness; Inspiring colleagues and stakeholders to fully engage with long-term vision; Embedding a culture of inclusion where diversity of background and experience is valued and respected.
Seeing the big picture Anticipating the strategic impacts of economic, political, environmental, social and technological developments; Creating joined-up strategies that deliver a future vision; Developing in-depth insight into customers, services, communities and markets.
Developing self and others Delivering strategies to grow sustainable capability across all groups - including those with high potential - and tackling the imbalance in diversity; Creating opportunities for colleagues to share knowledge and skills to build organisational effectiveness; Sharing own expertise through coaching and mentoring, to support teams to succeed.
Managing a quality service Using customer insight to drive high-quality, efficient service delivery which is a good investment of taxpayers' money; Collaborating with customers and delivery partners to manage and deliver agreed outcomes; Identifying areas for improvement and responding appropriately to reach professional excellence.
Delivering at pace Translating strategic priorities into outcome-focused objectives for managers and teams; Delivering against own objectives, while ensuring others take responsibility for theirs; Role-modelling delivery through efficiency and focus, while being open to new ideas and honest about challenges.