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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. We aim to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, reflecting Englands contribution to meeting the UKs overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this Parliament. This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to governments wider environmental targets. This is supported by the £640m Nature for Climate Fund announced in the March 2020 budget.
The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Forestry Commission have set up a joint Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) tree programme for England to support the forestry sector, landowners and communities in the delivery of these ambitions.
Forestry Commission leads the delivery of the following parts of the tree planting programme:
– sector capacity
– planting on public land
– planting on private land
– promotion and engagement
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in that, we want to hear from you.
By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to support the Forestry Commission to meet these ambitious targets as part of the Apprenticeships Team developing future forestry talent.
The Apprenticeships Team are responsible for developing and managing exciting new career pathways into the forestry sector through either the Professional Forester (Level 6 Degree) apprenticeship or the Forest Craftsperson (Level 3) apprenticeship. The team work alongside colleges, universities, and employers, to provide opportunities to those who wish to work within the forestry sector.
Job description
The Apprenticeship Support and Outreach Officer (Internal), as part of Forest Services, is responsible for the effective planning and ongoing support of the Apprenticeship Team and the programmes that they offer. Providing support to the Apprenticeship training team, Support and Outreach Lead and Programme Lead, to effectively meet all objectives.
This role will work alongside the Apprenticeship Support and Outreach Officer (External) ensuring that you are able to work across all areas of responsibility deputizing for each other during times of absence and peak workloads.
This role will focus on the internal support of training delivery, directly supporting the delivery team with training logistics and materials, managing, and reporting on IT systems, and ensuring apprentices are booked and invited to training using our HR system and helping with other supportive functions of the team (finance reports, IT housekeeping etc). This role will line manage one of two Apprenticeship Support and Outreach Administrators.
KEY WORK AREAS
- Provide effective communication with internal trainers and training providers to ensure the smooth running of events.
- Support the administration of the staff induction programme and other training programmes.
- Work collaboratively with subject matter experts and leads to continually develop, implement and review the external training programme.
- Use copywriting, editing and project management skills to support the production of training materials and modules, for use both internally and externally, as required.
- Create and maintain both an internal and external training prospectus.
- Create and maintain a document library, training prospectus entries, intranet site and the SharePoint site for training related information.
- Use training systems and trackers to maintain and provide management information. Respond to ad-hoc requests for information, with support from the line manager.
- Provide support at stakeholder meetings, as required.
- Act as the initial point of contact for staff and stakeholders – promoting events and training opportunities.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with both the University of Cumbria and the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
- Assist with promotion and engagement events, promoting the objectives of the programme.
- Line manager to one member of staff.
Person specification
ESSENTIAL
- Experience of producing written copy for training and instructional information in a clear and concise way, while ensuring the copy is error free.
- Experience of delivering tasks across multiple work areas or projects, to tight deadlines.
- Experience of managing training events.
- Experience in co-ordinating large-scale recruitment, induction events.
DESIRABLE
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in any subject area.
- Experienced user of MS Office 365 applications, SharePoint, and Learning Management systems.
- Experienced user of MS Excel, with experience of generating reports and collating management information.
- A general knowledge of forestry and land management and the skills required for staff across the Forestry Commission.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
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.
A Civil Service pension.
A range of family friendly benefits.
An environment with flexible working options.
Learning and development tailored to your role.
A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This is a Temporary Appointment until March 2025 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
1. A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A personal statement in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the person specification evidence and your preferred office location.
3. You will also be asked to provide 250-word statements relating to the Behaviours being assessed.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using a lead behaviour. This will be the behaviour which is listed first in the job advert.
Applications will be sifted week commencing 27th November. This date is subject to change.
Interviews will be held week commencing 18th December. This date is subject to change.
We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
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.
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.
Successful candidates if using their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the Forestry Commission travel policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km from April 2022).
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
This role is advertised as a minimum of 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.
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.
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 50gCO2/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 : FS Recruitment
- Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
