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Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
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Type of role
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
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Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
South England Forest District manages some 46,000 (ha) of public forest estate and national parks that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight.
The varied, mixed woodlands produce some 80,000 m3 of timber each year, of which 20,000 m3 is hardwood. The land management team have responsibility for an extensive programme of habitat restoration, principally ancient woodland and lowland heath.
Much of this land is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. We are responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The district is actively managed for people, nature and climate.
We are looking for a Works Supervisor for the South Downs Beat. It consists of mixed woodland that varies from pure beech to ancient broadleaf woodland, they are spread across East Hampshire and West Sussex and includes well used recreation sites, conservation areas and SSSI.
We are also looking for a Works Supervisor for the Chiddingfold beat which covers 2,800 ha of mixed woodland that varies from designated ancient broadleaf woodlands in the west, to areas of production conifer in the Surrey Hills to the east. Much of the beat area is contained within the Surrey Hills AONBs and contains designated SSSIs and Sites of Nature Conservation Interests (SNCIs).
The Beat team is based at the Forestry England Operations yard just south of Farnham in Surrey, close to the Alice Holt Visitor Centre.
The woodlands are spread across Surrey and East Hampshire with a small area in West Sussex. Forest management includes ancient woodland and heathland restoration, diversifying tree species and age structure using low impact silvicultural systems.
All woods are actively managed for people, nature and the economy, including timber production
Job description
You will:
Assist in leading and managing staff and contractors to deliver outputs and results.
Assist in setting and maintaining operational / Health and Safety standards.
Assist in the planning of work programmes by attending to site and operational needs.
Gather and present operational data as required.
Procure labour and resources needed to deliver operational objectives.
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
Relevant experience in forestry or land management or hold a recognised Forestry qualification or similar qualification to National Diploma level. Please clearly demonstrate which applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out
Competence with a wide range of IT applications including Microsoft Office Suite.
Competence with GIS applications.
Desirable Experience
Good understanding of the application of Health & Safety in forest operations.
A sound understanding in the application of contract management.
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Gain a clear understanding of customers needs and expectations.
Plan, organise and manage your own time to deliver a high quality service which gives taxpayers a good return for their money.
Act to prevent problems by identifying issues, reporting them and providing solutions.
Keep customers and all colleagues up to date with progress.
Show customers where to access relevant information and support that will help them to use services more effectively.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Understand what your responsibilities are and how these contribute to the priorities of your team.
Consider the varied impact your work could have on individuals with different needs and from other backgrounds.
Gather information from both inside and outside of the organisation to inform your area of work.
Making Effective Decisions
Use guidance, analyse relevant information and ask colleagues for input to support decision making.
Identify and deal with any errors or gaps in information before making a decision.
Consider the diverse needs of those affected by decisions and how it will impact them.
Provide advice and feedback to support others in making accurate decisions.
Ask others to clarify decisions when confused and query any issues that arise constructively.
Delivering at Pace
Always work with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard.
Follow the relevant policies, procedures and rules that apply to the job.
Use own knowledge and expertise to organise work.
Keep focused on delivery and take responsibility for the quality of work produced.
Keep a consistent level of personal performance.
Keep managers and stakeholders updated on how work is progressing.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Silviculture
- Contract Management
- Health & Safety
Benefits
£7,164 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Here at Forestry England we offer:
Benefits
- Flexible working to support a healthy work/life balance.
- 25 days holiday pa with an extra days 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.
The brilliant Civil Service Pensions scheme.
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 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement of up to 500 words. 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.
Sifting will take place in the week commencing 24/01/2024 , with interviews scheduled to take place in the week commencing 29.01.2024. Please note these dates are subject to change.
Candidates will be further assessed on their Experience and Behaviours at interview, in addition to the below Technical Skills:
Contract management
Silvicultural skills
Health & Safety
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry 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 maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring 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.
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.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band
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 an interview, or if youre 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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Robin Mair
- Email : robin.mair@forestryengland.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
