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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
The Forestry Commission is a Non-Ministerial Department sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and overseen by the Forestry Commissioners. We are the governments forestry and woodland experts, and our vison and purpose is to tackle some of societys biggest challenges with thriving trees, woodlands and forests.
We are looking for a dynamic and inspiring professional to lead our East & East Midlands Team to help us achieve our vision through innovative regional plans and actions. You will already be delivering success in your current operational leadership role with significant experience of planning and delivering forestry and woodland priorities within a strategic framework. You will also have a proven track record of developing strategic partnership to support the forestry sector to expand.
With strong stakeholder management skills, you will understand the nuances of working with both public and private sector partners with the ability to bring the best out of your teams, delivering consistently high performance within budget and to exacting standards.
We offer a blended way of working, although your presence will be required at our main operational offices and there will be travel to Forestry sites throughout the area.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a high performing, collaborative organisation and to build on current success. If you feel that your ambition and abilities match our requirements, then we would like to hear from you.
Job description
- The Area Directors overall purpose is to lead and inspire the East and East Midlands Area team to be part of an outstanding organisation, working as one Forest Services with a dynamic, high-performing and inclusive workforce. As an operational delivery leader, you will be passionate about enabling and supporting the forestry sector to expand, protect and improve the woodland resource and its resilience. You will also be leading the team in connecting people with trees and woodlands as well as supporting the green economy. You will focus on providing a clear sense of purpose and direction for the team, managing change implementation and consolidating the expanded capacity and range of expertise in the Area team.
- Area Director led teams are successfully delivering many of the benefits of the England Trees Action Plan 2021-24, including helping create a successful timber and ecosystem services market. In leading a large team that is tasked to deliver expanding programmes you will ensure that our main delivery tools are our expertise and professional advice, partnerships, incentives and regulations, all underpinned by the UK Forestry Standard, the Tree Health Resilience Strategy and provision of training and development for our staff.
Our values set out how we deliver: through teamwork, professionalism, respect, communication, learning and creativity. We have a strong network of partners and stakeholders helping us to develop innovative and practical solutions including working with our Defra group local delivery partners.
- The key work areas of the job are:
- Leadership and direction of the Area Team (currently around 60 people), promoting the teams purpose, actions, and decisions. Communicate and provide direction on the management of changes and uncertainty. Manage and develop individual and team performance and business capabilities; support learning and development; manage corporate responsibilities including health and safety and local incident control.
- Plan, direct and report on East and East Midlands Area business programmes for protect, improve, connect and expand woodland outcomes. Promote key programmes: the England Woodland Creation Offer to drive more woodland establishment, woodland management and new funding offers, and tree health incentives.
- Direct and influence Area partnerships, strategic relationships and local engagement. Handle media activity in close association with Defra group communications leads.
- Manage and develop the activity of the East of England and East Midlands Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committees to support Area delivery. Maintain a strong collaborative relationship with Forestry England and Forest Research managers working across the regions business opportunities and issues facing the sector.
- Contribute to the wider work of the Forestry Commission, its key national projects and business plan delivery. Work as part of the Area Directors and senior leaders groups in providing and demonstrating a strong and corporate senior leadership contribution.
Person specification
ESSENTIAL
- A professional qualification, or extensive relevant experience, in forestry, a discipline concerning land-based enterprise or environmental management.
- Team management experience with a proven track-record of delivering successful business plan and leadership outcomes.
- Relevant experience and knowledge for the effective planning, communication and delivery of forestry and woodland priorities at a regional level.
- Experience in leading and encouraging opportunities for business improvement change whilst maintaining delivery performance for customers.
- Excellent and inspiring leadership and strong inter-personal and presentational skills to build and manage teams, embedding a culture of inclusion and equal opportunities for all.
- Experience and proven track record in building credible external stakeholder relationships in line with corporate values.
- Business management experience including budgetary, forecasting and analytical skills combined with strong judgement and decision-making capability.
DESIRABLE
- Forestry qualification coupled with membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
- Ability to demonstrate a leaders commitment towards continuing professional development.
- Incident management and control experience.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£14,458 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 increasing to a maximum of 30 days
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This guidance contains important information to help with your application:
- Please apply by submitting a CV and Covering Letter (no more than two sides of A4 in length per document aligned to the person specification). Please also include your contact details.
- Please ensure your full employment history is outlined in your CV; and that where there are essential criteria, competencies and/or qualifications you make clear how you meet these. We may wish to verify this information during the recruitment process.
- Please provide the details of two referees. Note that we will only approach referees for candidates proceeding to final selection and only with your permission. Please clearly indicate whether we can approach each referee before the selection date.
- Please share with us in your supporting statement, the values and behaviours that you bring to your leadership, and how you will transfer your skills and experience into this role.
- Please return your application by the closing date no applications will be accepted once the long listing process has begun.
- Following long listing, you will be contacted directly by a Penna consultant to update you on the status of your application.
- At any point throughout the process our retained consultants at Penna will be happy to help you with information, insight and guidance about the process.
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 roger.russell@penna.com as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Roger Russell
- Email : roger.russell@penna.com
- Telephone : 07710701570
Recruitment team
- Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk