At the end of 2023, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” launched a pilot Personnel Reserve system. The project’s primary goal is to select motivated employees and support their career advancement.

Participants in the personnel reserve receive an individual development plan, mentoring support from experienced coaches, access to the enterprise’s learning platforms, and participation in a modular program covering specialised topics.

In 2024, nearly 400 employees successfully completed the training programme—throughout the year they acquired both professional competencies and attended the online Leadership School.

Twenty percent of personnel‑reserve participants were promoted into vacant leadership positions.

Since early 2025, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” has operated under a new organizational structure, entailing an updated staffing schedule and revised position requirements.

Accordingly, the selection and assessment programme for the Personnel Reserve has been refreshed.

Following recent testing of candidates for the renewed reserve, over 350 employees have been selected. They are now being offered five positions: Forester, Chief Forester, Chief Engineer, Director of Production Division, and Head of Forestry Management Unit.

The selection of reserve candidates was based on a comprehensive assessment combining a questionnaire, professional testing on regulatory frameworks and forestry processes, a motivational interview, and an evaluation of managerial competencies.

The first member of the new reserve has already been promoted—Roman Lekaya has been appointed Head of Baltske Forestry Management Unit.

All other members of the Personnel Reserve are invited to undertake further training to support their career growth.

To date, reserve participants have access to over 20 training programmes, including:

Management and Leadership

Time Management

Communication and Collaboration

Occupational Health and Safety

Software Proficiency

Role‑Specific Professional Competencies