Job Summary
South England Forest District manages some 46,000 hectares of the public forest estate across West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset & South Wiltshire. The varied, mixed woodlands produce some 104,000 m3 of timber each year, of which 22,000 m3 is hardwood. The land management team have responsibility for an extensive programme of habitat restoration, principally ancient woodland and lowland heath.
Much of the land is of high importance for nature conservation, supporting some 29,000 hectares (ha) deemed to be of national importance for wildlife of which approximately 28,000 ha are also designated as being of international importance for biodiversity as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar sites. The majority of the land managed by the District is also within areas designated for their landscape value, including 4,000 ha within AONBs and 31,500 ha across two National Parks.
The area receives some 20 million day visits by the public each year and includes two major Forest Centres at Moors Valley Country Park and Alice Holt Woodland Park.
The Public Forest Estate is managed around the three pillars of sustainability; people, nature and economy. The Land Management Team play an important role in applying these objectives to ensure that we meet the highest standards of sustainable land management delivery.
The District Harvesting programme is divided between Direct Production and Standing Sales of timber.
The Direct Production programme of 49,500 m3 provides conifer saw log and similar material presented at roadside. The DP team of 3 work closely with the Land Management and Planning teams to deliver Forest Design Plan and conservation objectives, while fulfilling supply contracts to our sawmill customers.
The majority of the Direct Production volume is short wood produced by a mechanised harvesting contractor, but it also includes an element of mature hardwood felled using traditional motor manual techniques.
The District Standing Sales Programme of 54,500 m3 is currently delivered by the Beat Foresters who work closely with the Land Management and Planning teams, to deliver Forest Design Plan and conservation objectives while offering Timber Merchants and Harvesting Contractors opportunities to buy, harvest, and sell- on standing timber from the FE Estate.
The standing sales programme has recently increased from 30,000m3 and this is a new post to manage and support our delivery of the increased programme.
Job Description
Your role will be to provide support to the Harvesting and Marketing Operations Manager and District Foresters, through the timely preparation of standing sales parcels for national and local sales events. This will involve front line supervision and site management of Tariffing operations by contractors and liaison with Beat Foresters, our Civil Engineering Team, Archaeology surveyors and others. You will assist in setting and maintaining standards in all aspects of this process ahead of the harvesting operations.
You will:
- Work with the Harvesting & Marketing Operations Manager to prepare and deliver standing sales in line with the District Harvesting Programme.
- Support Foresters to prepare the standing sales across the District.
- Procure and prepare tariffing and marking contracts in line with the Operational Plan’s silvicultural prescriptions.
- Manage and mentor the Harvesting Works Supervisor ( Standing Sales).
- Support in leading and managing staff and contractors to prepare sales in line with the operational plan.
- Ensure that contracts are delivered within the agreed timescales.
- Monitor works supervisor to ensure that the stand is marked in line the silvicultural prescriptions.
- Work with service providers to ensure conservation areas, archaeological features are clearly identified during the marking process.
- Use the tariffing information to update the standing sales plan within Forestry England’s bespoke software packages. Training will be given on these systems.
- Support in setting and maintaining operational / Health and Safety standards.
- Be available to support in the contract management of harvesting and tree safety works programmes across the District.
- The successful candidate may be expected to join the South England Forest District Duty Officer roster. This would require you to Act as Duty Officer providing 24 hr emergency contact cover for a period of one week in approximately every 14 weeks i.e. approximately 4 times per year.
Person specification
Essential Experience
- Relevant experience in forestry or land management.
- A sound understanding of silviculture practice and its application.
- Competence with a wide range of IT applications including Microsoft Office Suite.
- Competence with GIS applications.
Desirable Experience
- Hold a recognised Forestry qualification to at least National Diploma level or equivalent.
- Good understanding of and experience in the application of Health & Safety in forest operations.
- A sound understanding of and experience in the application of contract management.
- A sound understanding of measuring timber in accordance with “Forest Mensuration: A handbook for Practitioners” commonly known as the blue book.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Contract Management
- Health and Safety
Alongside your salary of £34,080, Forestry Commission contributes £9,872 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Flexible working to support a healthy work/life balance.
- 25 days holiday pa with an extra day’s holiday entitlement each year over the first 5 years up to a maximum of 30 days per year, plus bank holidays and 2.5 extra days leave (all pro-rata).
- 3 days paid volunteering leave every year (once you have passed probation).
- Access to technical and personal development training and qualifications that are tailored to your role.
- 5 days dedicated to your self-driven development each year.
- Extensive opportunities for further learning through Civil Service Learning.
- Reimbursement of professional membership fees.
- Employee benefits that include (but are not limited to) the Cycle to Work scheme, free high-street and online discounts and offers through ‘STaR’, and the opportunity to join the Civil Services Sports Council.
- Access to our dedicated Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that gives free, confidential and independent support - whether it is personal or work-related.
- Free eyesight tests and £100 voucher for glasses for visual display usage.
- Pay advances of up to £5,000 for computers, sports equipment, or training costs.
- Free parking at all Forestry Commission sites (including Moors Valley Country Park and Alice Holt Forest) and free entry into our National Arboretum in Westonbirt.
- Up to 15% discount at Forest Live Events, Forest Holidays cabins, and Go Ape outdoor activity centres.
- Numerous retail discounts including 10% off at Forestry Commission shops and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment for 3 years, with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
- A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A personal statement- in no more than 500 words please provide details of how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
We aim to complete the sift on 11/11/2024 and interview week commencing 18/11/2024 , subject to change.
Interviews will be conducted face to face. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
At interview, c andidates will be further assessed on their Experience and Behaviours, in addition to the below Technical Skills:
- Contract management
- Health & Safety
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window) .
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jonathan Stocks
- Email : jonathan.stocks@forestryengland.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
