Regulations and Statutory Support Assistant Manager


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Details

Reference number

300265

Salary

£35,870 – £38,842
A
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer
Pay Band 4

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

FC – Commissioner’s Office – The Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We work across sectors to create, catalyse and connect evidence-based solutions. Our goals are for the nation to deliver more trees, that are better managed, having a bigger impact – on nature

Type of role

Governance
Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

Bristol

Job summary

The Forestry Commission provides the government’s forestry expertise and is responsible for protecting, improving and expanding England’s woodlands, connecting more people with forests, woods and trees and increasing their full value. We are a Non-Ministerial Government Department with a Royal Charter and part of Defra, the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities. 

There are three main parts of the Forestry Commission. All perform distinct but related functions and have their own governing boards and executive leadership teams, coming together as a group at Forestry Commission level. We are responsible for the management of publicly owned forests, and the regulation of both public and private forestry in England. With over 250,000 hectares, we are the largest single land manager in England.

This role will work within the secretariat function within the Commissioners Office. This function leads on Parliamentary business for the Commission, such as PQs and correspondence casework, and responding to external scrutiny from the NAO, the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, and the Information Commissioner.

Job description

Purpose

Support the independent secretary progress to resolve the current backlog of statutory appeals (Reference Committees) that have built up due to the increasing level of challenge to the regulatory activities of Forest Services and the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Support the Data Protection Officer to help ensure the statutory duties are adequately accomplished, ensuring that the Forestry Commission is not subject to financial penalties and reputation harm.

Support on the legal and regulatory compliance across the FC in areas of data protection, FOI/EIR and other applicable legislation.  Interacting at a senior level with Area Directors, Forest Management Directors and at an equivalent level elsewhere across the three parts of the Forestry Commission.

The post holder will report to the Regulations and Statutory Support Manager (PB3/SEO) within the Secretariat team.

Key Work Areas

Management of appeals. Support the processing of appeals in connection with the Commissioners Powers and Duties, including Grants and Regulations, with particular emphasis on the operation of Reference Committees, required to report direct to Ministers.

Data Protection/Information Rights. To ensure compliance with data protection laws and the organisation’s data protection polices, including supporting internal data protection activities, audits, and processes. Support any internal review process for Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), Subject Access cases across all parts of the FC, Forest Services, Forestry England, and Forest Research.

Parliamentary Business and Governance. To support the provision of accurate high-quality responses to Parliamentary Questions and Ministerial correspondence. Support the provision of expert advice across FC on secretariat related issues including the implementation of the Commission’s statutory and non-statutory responsibilities.

Person specification

Essential

  • Experience and knowledge of IT systems, including e-mail, MS Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point.
  • Excellent working knowledge of forestry regulation, with a particular focus on the control of tree felling (Part II of the Forestry Act 1967).
  • Good working knowledge of Data Protection Act/UK GDPR or the ability to rapidly acquire it.
  • The ability to reprioritise and keep track of multiple activities in a rapidly changing operating environment.
  • Proven ability to produce clear concise written communications.

Desirable

  • Understanding of Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Information Regulations.
  • A proven ability to manage conflict and reconcile competing interests and points of view.
  • Experience of dealing with tribunals and hearings including minute taking, meeting preparation, and technical support.
  • Experience of working in support of senior staff, non-executive board members and independent review panel members.
  • Understanding of good corporate governance.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Alongside your salary of £35,870, Forestry Commission contributes
£9,721 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%

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be expected to 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 1,250 words showing how you meet the criteria of the person specification evidence.

Applications will be sifted on the week commencing 7 August. This date is subject to change.

We will be conducting interviews in person at our National Office – 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ. These interviews will be based on Experience and Behaviours. 

Interviews will be held on 16 August. This date is subject to change.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.
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 : mark.kourie@forestrycommission.gov.uk
  • Email : mark.kourie@forestrycommission.gov.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.

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