About Forests With Impact:

Are you a passionate horticulturist with a drive to make a difference? Do you want to be part of something bigger than just a job – a purpose-driven movement that’s transforming lives and helping to create forests? If you’re looking for an opportunity where you can lead, innovate, and leave a lasting impact, then look no further!

This is a unique tree nursery role where you can shape our development and manage polytunnels in and on prison land. The role is focused on the existing polytunnel and prison growing team, coaching and supporting them, initially and will extend as the programme grows to other prisons. It has huge career growth potential, in an exciting and impactful environment.

We are an award-winning social enterprise that’s rewriting the rulebook on sustainability and social change. We’re pioneering a groundbreaking approach that combines tree planting with prisoner rehabilitation. Launched from HMP Haverigg in Cumbria, we’re creating commercial tree nurseries in prisons, helping to combat climate change while providing prisoners with valuable skills, training, and hope for the future. Now, we need a passionate Tree Nursery Development Manager to lead our team and help us grow this innovative programme.

Your Mission:

As the Tree Nursery Development Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our operations. You’ll help the prisoner growing teams to oversee the daily running of the tree nursery. You will train and mentor prisoners, and ensure that we grow Plant Healthy, commercial competitive saplings. You’ll play a key role in expanding the programme to other prisons across the country, creating an even bigger impact. This is a new role, in a growing social enterprise and you will help shape the future of the programme.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the Nursery Operations: You’ll manage all aspects of the nursery, which has a prisoner growing team running the daily operations. From propagation to planting, and the ongoing care and sale of saplings, you will ensure we meet high environmental standards and are Plant Healthy.
Empower Through Training: Inspire and mentor prisoners, providing hands-on horticultural training.
Be Part of National Growth: Help drive the expansion of our tree nursery programme, setting up new sites at additional prisons across the UK.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Build meaningful partnerships with our prisons, partners, other industries and more.
Ensure Excellence in Operations: From monitoring plant health to ensuring compliance with environmental and safety standards, you’ll keep things running smoothly, with your eye on both sustainability and quality.
Inspire Change: Help generate revenue through the sale of trees while ensuring that the programme is both financially and environmentally sustainable.

This is a unique role that combines nursery management with social value, which means you must:

Collaborate with prison staff and prisoners to create a positive, productive environment that promotes learning and growth.
Ensure that security protocols are followed to maintain a safe and secure working environment for everyone involved.
Manage and develop educational and rehabilitative horticulture programmes that give prisoners the tools they need to thrive both inside and outside of prison.

Skills and Experience:

You have experience in nursery management or horticulture, preferably in a commercial setting, and an enthusiasm for growing trees and creating positive change.
You will need to be a natural leader and mentor, able to inspire a diverse team and motivate prisoners to take ownership of their work.
You need excellent organisational and problem-solving skills, able to thrive in a dynamic, evolving environment.
Your communication skills will need to be top-notch, with the ability to engage a wide range of people – from prison staff to external partners, and those in the programme.
A passion for social value and sustainability drives you to make a real difference in the world.
Relevant horticultural qualifications are desirable, but practical experience is just as important to us.

Why Join Forests With Impact?

This isn’t just a job – it’s a chance to be part of a movement that’s changing lives, communities, and the environment. By joining us, you’ll have the chance to work in a purpose-driven environment where your work directly contributes to both tackling the climate crisis and supporting prisoner rehabilitation. You’ll also have the opportunity to shape the future of the programme, growing it from its roots at HMP Haverigg to other prisons across the country, leaving a lasting, positive legacy for future generations.

Contract Duration: 6 months, with a view to becoming permanent based on programme needs and funding.

Working Hours: Full-time (flexibility considered for the right candidate).

Location: Mixture of remote working and on-site at HMP Haverigg (initially), with national travel as the programme expands.

How to Apply:

Send your CV to Emma at emma.johnson@forestswithimpact.org.uk by 7th February 5pm.

We can’t wait to hear from you.