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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
What could be better than working outdoors in the nations vast and varied forests, taking on challenging tasks, and making a tangible difference?
Our Forest Work Supervisors use their broad range of skills and ongoing training to directly shape the land we manage, building the future for wildlife, for people and for the climate. The work is varied and would suit a person who is self-motivated, well organised and able to demonstrate initiative to undertake tasks in a safe and efficient manner.
Background
Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission. West England Forest District is responsible for the sustainable management of over 38,200ha of the public forest estate in the west and south-west of England. The North of the District extends from woodlands just to the north of Shrewsbury, southwards to the majestic oak and beech woods of Savernake Forest in Wiltshire and south-west as far as Idless Woods near Truro in Cornwall. The District is managed from the District Office at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, supported by 13 local delivery teams.
The successful candidate will be working as part of the East Devon beat team. Based from a small office near Taunton, the team looks after the public forest estate in East Devon, Somerset and West Dorset – including the stunning Blackdown Hills AONB.
Job description
Job description
The postholder will support the Beat Forester in planning and implementing all aspects of woodland management including:
- Tree safety
- Restocking and establishment
- Timber harvesting
- Directly supervising staff and contractors
- Recreation and ecological projects
You can expect to spend around 60% of your time outdoors and will be required to manage your own time and travel in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.
Key Work Areas
- Plan, deliver and supervise work programmes for contractors and staff that contribute to the delivery of District objectives and are compliant with the UK Forestry Standard and UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
- Ensure that all work meets appropriate standards of health and safety, efficiency and quality.
- Gather and present operational data:
- Keeping contract records like site diaries, chemical usage and timber despatches
- Measuring timber for sale
- Using GIS to gather data and create professional contract maps
- Maintaining safety records (e.g. FISA checks) for the team
- Undertaking plant health and restock site surveys
- Maintaining stock records
- Support the smooth running of the beat by being the main point of contact for the craftspeople – ordering supplies, managing PPE, organising vehicles and booking practical training.
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure our work delivers for people, nature and the rural economy.
Person specification
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
Experience and professional/technical expertise with a proven track record in successfully planning and supervising forest operations, and/or practical experience of delivering quality forest operations including for example, tree harvesting, planting, ground preparation, fencing and tree surgery works.
A good understanding of Health & Safety in the workplace
The ability to work effectively both alone and as part of a team
A proven track record of supervising staff or volunteers
Knowledge and understanding of industry standards and best practice
Competence with a range of IT applications including Microsoft Office applications
Excellent communication skills
A GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent qualification
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
Experience in timber measurement
Experience using GIS
Experience in fencing, planting and weeding
Experience using/supervising tractors operations
Experience using/supervising chemical spraying
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- On the day of the interview, candidates will be asked to carry out a practical task that is relevant to the role. Interview candidates will be given further details in the interview invite.
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.
Across Forestry England, we are focused on ensuring that our staff are respected, included, supported and engaged. We love difference and know that every single person is unique. We encourage an environment that values the uniqueness in everyone.
Our wide range of Staff Benefits helps us to achieve this:
A great environment with flexible working options and a range of family friendly benefits;
Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro rata based on part time hours). After 20 years service you will receive a one-off award of 5 extra days holiday. On top of this, you’ll receive all public holidays plus an additional 2.5 privilege days (pro-rata for part time);
A Civil Service pension, with the opportunity to choose from two pension schemes, one Career Average (Alpha) or a Defined Contribution Scheme (Partnership). If you join the Civil Service Career Average Scheme, we will contribute at least 26% of your salary towards your pension membership every month. Further details can be found at Civil Service Pensions;
A range of wellbeing benefits, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme plus many more;
A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment;
Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums; and
Three paid volunteering days per year (pro-rata for part time).
This is a fantastic learning opportunity, working with skilled and experienced colleagues across the organisation. Forestry England is committed to lifelong learning and we will support your career development in a variety of ways, including:
Learning and development tailored to your role;
Continual Professional Development: support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies (such as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management);
5 dedicated learning days a year (from e-learning to traditional training, team activities to coaching and shadowing), to target the skills you need to take your career forward;
Civil Service Learning (CSL) online platform provides access to a host of high quality training courses on a variety of useful and relevant subjects; and
Dedicated Technical Training in support of our operational functions, ensuring that keeping people safe is central to everything we do.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:
1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification.
Candidates who progress past the sift stage will be offered an interview/assessment date.
Interviews will be face-to-face and will involve you being assessed against Behaviours, Experiences, Strengths and Technical skills listed in the advert. The practical assessment will be hands-on so candidates will need to wear suitable clothing for practical outdoor tasks, but any necessary equipment & PPE will be provided by Forestry England.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Any move to Forestry 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.
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, Forestry England is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
All Forestry England staff are required to complete a medical questionnaire as part of the pre-employment checks and, if needed, you may be referred to our Occupational Health provider for a further assessment prior to formal appointment.
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
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.
Security
Nationality requirements
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 : Toby Bowen-Scott – Beat Forester, Mid Devon
- Email : toby.bowen-scott@forestryengland.uk
- Telephone : 07778666125
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
