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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
Forestry England is an executive agency of English Government. We manage the National Forest Estate on behalf of English Ministers and serve as part of the Environment and Forestry directorate of English Government.
The Position is based from Lyndhurst Workshop in the New Forest which is one of three in England. Mechanical Engineering provide a safe and economic repair service for all the vehicles, machinery and equipment (VME) used by Forestry England, Forest Research and Forest Services in the delivery of their national objectives.
The post is deployed from Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, the successful candidate will be required to travel to other Forest District site’s which may include the possibility of an overnight stay. The post holder will report to the Lyndhurst Service Manager and will support the Westonbirt National Arboretum Team, and work with other Forestry Staff throughout the West & South Forest Districts. In addition, there will a requirement to support the team of 2 Mechanics at Lyndhurst workshop, New Forest.
At times the role will require the post holder to carry out their duties without the support of other staff and will therefore require the use of the Loan Working system.
Job description
To provide efficient value for money service to help the Forestry England to achieve its aims by maintaining and repairing vehicles and specialist forestry equipment, while ensuring that the fleet is professionally and cost effectively maintained to maximise availability. This will include inspecting, repairing, servicing , welding fabrication and recovery work both in the workshop, worksites and other areas. You will typically be maintaining and repairing items such as trailers, quads, cars, vans, 4X4s, and agricultural machinery such as tractors.
The post holder will be expected to:
- Undertake servicing and repairs on vehicles and equipment such as chainsaws, trailers, quad bikes through to larger agricultural machinery.
- Assess and carry out all assigned tasks, identifying the most appropriate method of effecting a repair/maintenance whilst considering cost, downtime and ensuring the safety of all.
- Understand and apply all Health and Safety controls and effectively communicate these between colleagues and co-workers.
- Work effectively with the Service Manager on spares requirements to ensure a cost effective and efficient repair is carried out.
- Complete and comply with all administrative systems required by the workshop and meet the return deadlines requested.
Person specification
Essential:
- Experience of carrying out maintenance and repair on a wide range of different types of Vehicles, Machines and Equipment.
- Significant amount of experience of work in a similar role.
- Experience and knowledge of applying Health and Safety considerations.
- Good communication skills.
- Experience of working in a small team but, also have the ability to work on own initiative.
- Ability to effectively use Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Word, MS Teams, but also Fleet Management software for raising Job Cards, Purchase Orders and Stores.
Desirable:
- A high level of technical expertise on the repair, maintenance, and diagnostics of mechanical, electronic and hydraulic systems found on heavy plant machinery and agricultural equipment.
- Experience in vehicle diagnostics and air conditioning. Diagnostic knowledge for Mechanical Engineering Assets (VME) using Husqvarna, Snap-on, and other diagnostic tools.
- Knowledge of electric vehicles.
- Welding (arc and MiG) and fabrication skills.
- Knowledge of risk assessments and COSHH
Licences
Essential:
- Full current Category B driving licence that enables you to drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg in UK.
Desirable:
- Driving licence that enables you to tow a trailer category BE.
Qualifications
Essential:
- Mechanical Engineering based qualifications, for example:
City and Guilds Motor Vehicle Engineering (3905), Plant/Agricultural NVQ Maintenance Level 2, or equivalent.
Licences
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
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.
If successful you will be entitled to a large range of benefits.
This includes:
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension
- 25 days holiday (If you work full time)
- Bank holidays
- 2.5 extra days leave (in addition to Bank Holidays)
- Ability to buy or sell 2 days holiday
- Ability to carry forward up to 20 days holiday
- 5 days extra holidays after 5 years service
- A one-off extra 5 days holiday after 20 years service
- 3 days volunteering a year
- 5 days a year to develop yourself
- Access to extensive on-line learning (Civil service learning)
- Reimbursement of professional membership fees
- Right to request flexible working and part time hours
- Costs towards eye care
- Cycle to work scheme (if full time)
- Civil service healthcare
- Civil service sports and social club (CSSC)
- Civil service motoring association club
- Civil service insurance
- Free parking at FC sites and free entry to forestry arboretum
- Up to 15% discount at Forest Live Events and the chance to volunteer
- 15% discount on Forest Holidays and 15% at Go Ape
- Retail discounts e.g. 20% at cycle surgery and Snow and Rock and 10%
discount at
- Enterprise car hire
- 10% discount at FC shops
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this role, your application should be submitted via Civil Service Jobs and be completed no later than 23.55 on Sunday 17th December 2023.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a personal statement of up to 1000 words. Further details around what this will entail are:
Your CV should be completed in the box provided on the application form.
Please demonstrate within your personal statement how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the Person Specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to a face to face interview.
Sift and interview dates will be in December 2023 & January 2024 respectively.
Interview and assessment day will be at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Glos. There is support with travel & expenses provided.
Candidates will be further assessed on their application and experience at interview.
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 athttps://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.
This role is full-time, 37 hours per week. 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.
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.
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.
Woodland Officer roles include regular travel within their area, meeting landowners and stakeholders as well as some travel within the Area and to training around the country. The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50g CO2/km.
Travel options include:
Use of private car: some Officers chose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. To register your car from 1 April 2022 it must emit less than 115gCO2/km if you wish to use it for official travel and claim mileage. These emission level requirements will reduce to 100gCO2 by 26/27, 80gCO2 by 27/87, 60gCO2by 28/29, 50gCO2by 29/30. At the point where a car already registered reaches the CO2 limit, it can be driven for 2 more years for business mileage.
- Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation they can opt for a CAPES car. All CAPES cars must emit less than 50gCO2/km.
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 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.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Phill Bridle
- Email : ME-Lyndhurst@forestryengland.uk
- Telephone : 02380 282442
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
