Beat Forester - Kielder South

Job content

Location

Based at Eals Burn, Bellingham, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 2HP

About The Job

Job summary

Forestry England is the nation’s largest land manager. We have around 1,000 staff and 20,000 volunteers looking after more land and more trees than any other organisation. We also work in partnership with others across government and the charitable and private sectors.

North England Forest District is the largest in England, with 130 staff helping care for some 86,000ha, made up of 61,000ha of forest and 25,000ha of open land in Cumbria, County Durham, Gateshead, Lancashire and Northumberland. Annual timber production is 550,000m3 and the current planting programme is in excess of three million trees per annum. We operate in some of England’s most remote areas, generating significant economic input, and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.

The district is home to 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) covering over 10,000ha and is a major contributor to nationally significant biodiversity projects supporting red squirrels, water voles, ospreys, red kites, forest rewilding, limestone woodland and blanket bog restoration.

Our built and agricultural non-woodland estate is extensive, and we are engaged in a programme of business development which will create opportunities for additional revenue.

Job Description

North England Forest District is recruiting for a Forester to take over the Kielder South (Wark) beat located within Kielder Forest Park, Northumberland.

Kielder South Beat Forester

The Kielder South Beat is made up of a woodland block totalling 10,470ha. The beat is managed for multi-purpose objectives, determined by individual character and location with a strong focus on maintaining the productive potential of the forest.

The beat has a restocking programme of around 145ha per year and an annual timber harvesting programme of around 100,000m3, predominantly from clear felling. As one of the most productive beats in the country, the role is critical to the income of Forestry England. This role is also responsible for the line management of a Beat Works Supervisor and a range of contractors.

Initially there will be a focus on the continuation of recovery operations related to significant storm damage from winter 2021, primarily Storm Arwen. This will include continuation of harvesting operations within windblown areas and follow up ground preparation and restock operations.

The successful candidates will be required to:

• Manage their beat area, team and resources effectively, efficiently, and safely and also work well with neighbouring beat foresters to deliver common goals and share resources where necessary.
• Deliver the economic, social and environmental work programmes to achieve the District Business Plan and Forestry England Strategic Framework targets.
  

The post receives operational pay, with an expectation of averaging 44 hours a week. There will be a requirement within this to work flexibly to meet the needs of the team and occasionally be on call as part the out of hours emergency roster.

Responsibilities:

Key Work Areas

People

• Line manage one Works Supervisor.
• Provide a clear sense of direction for the beat. Lead and inspire colleagues to work in synergy and deliver excellent results aligned to the Forestry England Leadership Model and Strategic Framework.
• Encourage and assist the team to innovate and deliver significant programmes, collaborating to embed shared delivery of goals and targets in demanding and busy environments.
• Maintain a positive culture within the Beat team and actively foster cross-functional collaboration and support as part of the wider District team.
  

Beat Planning & Operational Management

• Prepare and implement plans to deliver high quality forest operations across the Beat, through harvesting, forest and environmental management operations, including:
• Forest Design, Scheduled Ancient Monument and SSSI plans.
• Completion of Operational Site Assessments for all works.
• Completion/coordination of all necessary survey works.
• Completion/supervision of Forest Management Programmes.
• Completion/supervision of clear fell programmes.
• Management of the Beat budget.
• Ensure effective contract management for all works carried out across the Beat, ensuring compliance with industry best practice and internal FE procedures.
  
  

Health & Safety

• Oversee all aspects of Health and Safety across the Beat, promoting and improving our safety culture.
  

Communication & External Liaison

• As part of the planning process build and maintain excellent working relationships with statutory consultees, local communities and landowners as well as internal FE functions.
• Liaise with customers to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.
  

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of leading a team and providing support to staff.
• Experience of planning and delivering of forest operations together with a good understanding of Health and Safety in forestry work.
• Higher level qualification in Forestry/Land management or sufficient relevant industry experience to satisfy the requirements of the post.
• Full UK Driving Licence
  

Desirable

• Good working knowledge of IT packages to enable appropriate work planning/monitoring (e.g. MS Office & GIS)
• Associate or full membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters
  

Qualifications

Higher level qualification in Forestry/Land management or sufficient relevant industry experience to satisfy the requirements of the post.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,612, Forestry Commission contributes £8,805 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 30 days after 5 years service plus 10.5 Public, Privilege and Additional Holidays
  

Things you need to know

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 asked to complete a name-blind CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed below and on the application form.

We will use your CV and Personal Statement to assess whether you have the Experience we are looking for.

Your Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) is an opportunity for you to outline your personal skills, qualities and experience. Please refer to the Person Specification and explain how you are suited to the advertised role.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

An initial sift of candidates will be conducted using your CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

Interviews will take place at the North District Office, Eals Burn, Bellingham, NE48 2HP on 8th December - please note that this date is subject to change. As well as questions on your experience, you will be asked questions based on the behaviours listed on the application form.

There will be a short practical assessment during the interview.

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 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.

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 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 the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  

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.

Apply and further information

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 : Jason Grimwood
• Email : jason.grimwood@forestryengland.uk
• Telephone : 07976941536
  

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.