Vacancies
RESIDENT HEAD FORESTER
Location
Baronscourt Estate, County Tyrone (on‑site residence required; suitable accommodation provided as part of the overall package)
Reporting To
Estate Manager
About Baronscourt Estate
Baronscourt Estate is a private 2,225 ha Estate located near Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. It is widely recognised for its progressive approach to land management and heritage conservation, particularly its long-standing commitment to sustainable forestry.
The Estate’s forest resource extends to approximately 1,400ha and is managed in accordance with the principles of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). As an early adopter of CCF (since 2001), Baronscourt is recognised as a leading practitioner of CCF in Ireland.
The Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Resident Head Forester, with on-site accommodation provided, to lead the sustainable management of the Estate’s woodland resource.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with responsibility for forestry operations, contractor management, compliance, and strategic woodland development. Key aspects of the role include:
- Continuing to restructure the Estate’s woodlands in accordance with CCF
- Maintaining and updating the established Whole Forest Inventory
- Playing a key role in the Estate’s progressive and nationally recognised approach to deer management
- Ensuring compliance with the Estate’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification
- Oversee the operation of the Estate’s woodfuel operations
Key Priorities
- Lead the continued transformation of the Estate’s woodlands under CCF principles
- Oversee timber production and commercial forestry operations
- Ensure compliance with UKFS and FSC certification
- Maintain and develop the Estate’s forest inventory and management plans
- Contribute to wider Estate objectives including conservation and deer management
Key Responsibilities
Woodland & Forestry Management
- Plan and deliver woodland management in line with CCF principles
- Oversee thinning, felling, regeneration, and establishment
- Monitor forest health, pests, disease, and storm impacts
- Develop and implement long-term woodland management plans
Commercial & Operational Management
- Plan and supervise harvesting operations
- Manage timber sales and relationships with buyers
- Oversee wood fuel operations and support other forestry-related enterprises
- Oversee all existing Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) Projects
- Instigate WCC (new planting) and IFM (stands in transformation) schemes
Compliance & Regulation
- Ensure compliance with UK Forestry Standard, FSC, and relevant legislation
- Manage felling licences, grant schemes, and audit processes
- Oversee health & safety and contractor compliance
Mapping & Technology
- Maintain accurate woodland mapping and inventory records (GIS-based systems)
- Maintain the database of compartment records
- Utilise appropriate technology (including remote sensing and/or drone surveys where appropriate) to support forest management
Estate Integration
- Work closely with other Estate departments (agriculture, conservation, property, sporting)
- Support biodiversity, carbon, and natural capital initiatives
- Maintain public access infrastructure and liaise with stakeholders
Contractor & Stakeholder Management
- Manage forestry contractors and ensure high standards of delivery
- Provide professional advice to the Estate Manager
- Represent the Estate with regulators, industry bodies, and partners
- Host and organise meetings to the Estate woodlands by forestry societies and professional bodies
Budget & Reporting
- Manage forestry budgets and procurement
- Report on performance, costs, and forward planning
Deer Management (Desirable)
- Support deer management activities to protect woodland regeneration
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
- Degree in Forestry, Forest Management, or a related discipline.
- Professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), or working towards
- Strong experience in woodland management (estate or commercial)
- Proven experience in Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) systems.
- Experience managing contractors and forestry operations
- Full UK driving licence
Technical
- Experience with GIS/mapping software (QGIS, ArcGIS, or similar).
- Ability to complete drone surveys and process imagery for forest management purposes.
- Strong understanding of:
- Continuous Cover Forestry
- UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)
- Environmental and forestry legislation
- FSC certification systems
- Woodland ecology and biodiversity enhancement
- Strong IT skills, including data management and report writing.
- Chainsaw Certification
Desirable
- Experience in deer management
- Deer Stalking Certification Level 1
- Experience working in a private Estate environment
- Knowledge of grant schemes and regulatory processes
Personal Attributes
- Practical, organised, and proactive
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- High professional standards and accountability
- Comfortable working and living in a rural estate environment
Terms & Conditions
- Contract: Full‑time, permanent
- Accommodation: Suitable Estate accommodation provided (on-site residence requited)
- Vehicle: Estate vehicle provided for work duties
- Pension: Employer pension scheme
- Health Insurance: Private health insurance
- Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience
- Other Benefits: Training support, professional membership fees, and access to Estate amenities (where applicable)
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this position please phone the Estate Office on (028) 8166 1683 or email dawn@abercorn-estates.com
Closing date for this position is 5pm on 22nd May. 2026
Laundry Operative/Housekeeping
Baronscourt Estate is seeking applicants with an immediate start available for the following position:
Laundry Operative/Housekeeping
| LOCATION: | 55 Baronscourt Road Newtownstewart, Omagh BT78 4EZ |
| JOB TYPE: | Permanent |
| SALARY: | £12.60 Per Hour |
| HOURS: | Approx. 20 Hours per Week |
| WORKING PATTERN: | 0900h to 1300h Monday to Friday (with very occasional weekend and evening work) |
ABOUT US
Situated in a sheltered valley in the foothills of the Sperrin mountains in County Tyrone, Baronscourt Estate is a vibrant and diverse rural business operating a wide range of activities such as forestry and agriculture, renewable energy generation and tourism and visitor facilities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Sorting, washing, drying & folding laundry
- Operating laundry machinery such as washers, dryers & presses
- Inspecting laundry for stains and damage
- Maintaining cleanliness & organisation of the laundry area
- Cleaning/housekeeping duties will also be required on occasion which will include cleaning bedroom/bathrooms, stripping and making beds etc
- Following health & safety guidelines
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
- Previous experience in a similar role
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong attention to detail
- Time management skills
BENEFITS
- Competitive Salary
- Health Insurance
- Pension contributions
- Friendly & supportive work environment
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this position please phone the Estate Office on (028) 8166 1683 or email dawn@abercorn-estates.com
Closing date for this position is 5pm on Friday 3rd October 2025
POSITION REQUIRED: RIVER WATCHER AND GHILLIE (SEASONAL)
Abercorn Estates is seeking to recruit a new River Watcher/Ghillie to assist with the management of the Estate’s fishery.
The fishery, enjoyed by a mixture of private, syndicated and day rods, offers some of the best angling experiences and opportunities in the region, with many of its beats renowned for the quality of fishing on offer. As a result of sustained investment by the Estate, the fishery today benefits from excellent river access and high-quality facilities in the form of vehicular access and parking, and two fishing huts with associated facilities.
The successful applicant will be responsible for maintaining the Estate’s fishery (such as strimming, cleaning, property maintenance and repairs), guiding guests and bailiffing its waters, as well as assisting the Estate Office with the administration and delivery of bookings.
An application form, Job Description and Person Specification can be downloaded using the button links below. Interested candidates will be asked to complete and submit the application form, along with a covering letter, by no later than 1700h Friday 24th February 2023.
POSITION REQUIRED: FULL-TIME DEERSTALKER
Baronscourt Estate is seeking to appoint a full-time deerstalker to manage the Estate’s wild deer herd.
Baronscourt Estate, situated in Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, extends to 5,500 acres and is a diverse, mixed rural business. The successful applicant will be responsible for delivering the Estate’s deer management objectives, principally ensuring deer numbers are in balance with the Estate’s wider land management objectives.
This is an exciting opportunity for the successful applicant. Baronscourt Estate is renowned for its long history of professional deer management. The Estate is equipped with a high-quality Approved Game Handling Establishment and an extensive network of high seats and deer lawns.
The Estate has a highly successful venison business, achieving sustained success through the internationally recognised Great Taste Awards. A popular BASC Exclusive Deerstalking Scheme has been in place since 2015 and the Estate regularly hosts DSC 1 and other deer management courses. The Estate adopts a comprehensive and modern approach to deer management – alongside annual deer counts, detailed record keeping and statistics and herbivore impact assessments, it has more recently adopted the use of thermal drone technology to better inform its deer management strategy.
Baronscourt has a significant and expanding commercial forestry business and is in the process of converting its entire forested estate to Continuous Cover Forestry, at the heart of which is a reliance on the natural regeneration of trees. The successful candidate will join the Estate at a crucial and exciting point in its history as they will work with the existing team to deliver the transformation in the management of not only its forestry but its wider land holding.
At times the successful candidate will also be required to assist the Game Department with the requirements of the Estate’s driven gamebird shoot.
Due to the nature of the position, the candidate must live on or in very close proximity to the Estate and accommodation can be provided by the Estate.
An application form, Job Description and Person Specification can be downloaded using the button links below. Interested candidates will be asked to complete and submit the application form, along with a covering letter, by no later than 1700h Friday 3rd March 2023.
POSITION REQUIRED: RESIDENT UNDERKEEPER (PERMANENT, FULL TIME)
Baronscourt Estate is seeking to appoint a full-time resident underkeeper to assist the Head Gamekeeper in all sporting and wider Estate activities.
The Baronscourt shoot consists of both family, syndicated and let driven gamebird shooting. The renowned shoot is professionally run to the highest standards and the Estate is seeking a motivated, competent individual to join its experienced and dedicated gamekeeping team. As well as having experience in game bird management, the successful applicant will be required to assist with the management of the Estate’s herd of wild Sika Deer, therefore applicants should ideally have deerstalking experience and possess the DSC Level 1 qualification.
An application form, Job Description and Person Specification can be downloaded using the button links below. Interested candidates will be asked to complete and submit the application form, along with a covering letter, by no later than 1700h Friday 24th February 2023.