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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 are the countrys largest land manager, caring for the nations forests for people, nature, and the economy. Forests play increasingly important role in mitigating the effects of changing climate, safeguarding critical habitats and supporting societys health and well-being. They are however also subject to pressures of the climate change, increased threats of pests and diseases and increasing demands for their use. We are at the forefront of pro-active planning and actions to ensure that the forests thrive and continue to support society in the future and that our management reflects the changing environment.
We have an exciting opportunity in the East England Forest District for a Project Officer to join the Forest Resilience Programme, to drive completion of the Thetford Forest Strategic Plan and implementation of the resilience measures in future management. The Project Officer will work with the Programme Manager to develop guidance and tools to integrate resilience into our planning and operations to achieve Forestry Englands (FE) priority objective of Superb Forests. The Project Officer will be part of the District Land Management team, coordinating our resilience approach among beats and departments, working alongside a wider team of internal specialists and identifying and securing additional expertise where required.
Job description
Thetford forest, with over 19 000 ha, is the Englands second largest productive conifer forest, planted 100 years ago on the low productivity farm and heath land of the East Anglia Breckland. As a reflection of its importance for biodiversity, most of Thetford forest is overlaid by a 18,000 ha Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified for six interest features within a larger Breckland Special Protected Area (SPA). The area is rich in wildlife and heritage features, and a popular recreation destination. It is however also at the frontier of changing climate and large scale forest health problems highlighting the need for adaptive measures.
The FE Resilience Programme is developing a comprehensive long-term plan of optimal land management scenarios in Thetford Forest. It is driven by the need to adapt our management to changing environment, with a clear aim to increase the forest resilience in the light of multiple challenges. We are utilising this opportunity to review land and forest management systems, seek innovative solutions and monitor the changes across the estate.
The Project Officer role is integrated in the wider Land Management Team with expectations of wide cross-programme engagement.
The project officer will play a critical role in the successful delivery of the Forest Resilience Programme by fully managing key projects, including liaising with stakeholders, developing business rationale, as well as implementing the monitoring plan to inform the adaptive management.
The Project Officer will report to the Programme Manager.
Project Management
- PO will fully manage specific projects within the Programme.
- This will include working with key internal and external stakeholders to define project packages, setting SMART objectives, developing and maintain project schedule and budgets.
Programme management
- The Programme support may include scoping of the work packages and preparing a business justification for resource and budget requirements if necessary.
- The Officer will support the Programme by collating the progress reports on a rolling basis.
- Support PM by maintaining budget records and ensuring timely processing of relevant invoices
Engagement and Communication
- Responsible for managing internal communication, including development of the internal communication plan for the Programme implementation phase, managing staff communication channels and events.
- Provide support for external Programme engagement for specific events, by developing targeted communication materials or media.
Monitoring
Responsible for managing Monitoring programme delivery
- Commission and analyse surveys to gather critical data.
- Regularly update the trials and monitoring database and collaborate with the internal programmes and Forest Research to integrate the newest data.
- Quality control, data management and reporting
Contract Management
- set up and manage contracts relevant to specific projects
Leadership and staff management
- Provide line management and leadership for any temp staff related to the Programme.
- Lead on the volunteer engagement and management in relation to specific projects.
Person specification
- Highly organized
- Confident interpersonal and communication skills
- Proactive in dealing with complex issues relating to people and project delivery
- A higher-level degree in environment, sustainability, land management, data management or business, or equivalent professional/technical expertise attained through relevant work experience
- Demonstrated ability to manage a project to deliver results to an agreed standard
- Competent and effective IT user
- Experience of stakeholder engagement – building strong business relationships and collaborative working to deliver mutually beneficial results
- You will need to demonstrate adequate experience and skills in at least one of the areas: monitoring data management and analysis OR multistakeholder project management OR budget management and business case development
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£7,529 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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%
- 25 days annual leave on entry increasing 1 day each year to a maximum of 30
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This is a Temporary Appointment for 18 months with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
1. A CV setting our your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last 2 years.
2. A Personal Statement (no longer than two pages and 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the person specification
Failure to complete both sections (CV and Personal Statement) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification
A panel will look for applications that demonstrate the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set our in the Job Description and Responsibilities. Failure to address any or all of these criteria may affect your application.
Sift – w/c 24th August 2023
Interview dates to be confirmed.
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 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.
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.
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 : Jocelyn Mosby
- Email : jocelyn.mosby@forestryengland.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
