Head of Plant and Seed Supply

Head of Plant and Seed Supply, Forestry England

Based at our tree nursery hub near Delamere in Cheshire

Salary: £53,550 (pay award pending) plus £14,458 annual employer pension contribution

Forestry England manages 1,500 forests across the country which spans over 252,000 hectares, making us the largest land managing organisation in England, covering everything from great forests to small community woodlands. We are shaping landscapes for the nation and there is a real appetite for growth and innovation as we seek to realise more of our potential through progressive plans.

The Plant and Seed Supply business unit is responsible for one of the cornerstones of our sustainable forest management, ensuring healthy, well adapted, tree seedlings are ready whenever, and wherever, we need them. These tiny trees will become the forests of England’s 21st and 22nd centuries.

We now have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as our next Head of Plant and Seed Supply.

A member of a relevant professional association (CMI, ICF, etc) along with an impressive track record of continuing professional development, you will also be able to secure a portfolio of capital investment projects which will future-proof our production, implementing change successfully as required. The ability to lead and develop a high performing team is essential, as is a strong commercial acumen.

This is a role for a talented team leader with the knowledge, skills and tenacity for change who can balance leading the business unit whilst also appreciating how they, and their team, fit into the ‘big picture’ for Forestry England.

In return we offer a competitive salary, membership of the coveted Civil Service Pension Scheme and 25 days holiday which increases to 30 per year over 5 years, plus bank holidays. Additionally you would be joining a friendly and positive organisation which genuinely puts its people first, exemplified by a comprehensive and generous staff wellbeing programme.

Purpose of the role:

You will lead our Plant and Seed Supply business unit, empowering your team, ensuring high standards are maintained in seed processing, that plant quality quantity and biosecurity assurance targets are met, cost effectively supplying the tree seedling needs of Forestry England.

Key work areas:

Leading the Plant and Seed Supply team and making sure they are connected with wider Forestry England priorities:

Taking time to get to know the team as individuals, especially your immediate deputies. Developing a coaching style with your direct reports which empowers them in identifying goals which are well aligned with organisational priorities, and in collaborating as a high performing team. Identifying, and constructing a plan for the medium term development needs within the Plant and Seed Supply team.

Ensuring that you are an advocate for Forestry England’s approach to health, safety and well-being and that your everyday actions and words show how that needs to be applied to the work of Plant and Seed Supply. Make sure that your team understand health and safety is a top priority and that everyone in the team displays excellent H&S behaviours.

Developing a network of contacts across Forestry England, Forest Services, Forest Research, DEFRA and the private nursery and tree breeding sector; making sure that you promote the work of Plant and Seed Supply and that your team know where the important connections are in the wider Forestry Commission and beyond. In particular being proactive in communications with internal Forestry England customers; ensuring their requests for trees are aligned with our forest resilience approach and part of an agreed 5 year production plan.

Achieving commercial and technical excellence in operations:

Ensuring that Plant and Seed Supply’s technical capabilities are continuously tested and improved so that our commercial performance is risk-managed and resilient.

Making sure that Plant and Seed Supply production costs are well researched, communicated and understood in detail, with opportunities for improvement planned and executed wherever it is cost effective to do so; either through incremental small adjustments or step-change projects.

Compiling and being accountable for delivering an annual budget and five year plan for the business unit.

Making sure that Plant and Seed supply maintains its’ position as a leader in UK tree nursery biosecurity assurance with the implementation and conformance with of the ‘Plant Healthy’ certification standard.

Representing Forestry England and communicating effectively

Ensuring that the wider forestry sector understands Plant and Seed Supply’s mission within Forestry England and how that relates Government priorities such as the England Tree Planting Programme and the England Tree Strategy

Represent Forestry England in discussions with HTA and Confor nursery producer’s group.

Take up directorship of the Conifer Breeding Coop Ltd as Forestry England’s nominee.

Applicant requirements

Essential:

Education and experience – you must have at least an honours degree in a relevant subject (horticulture, forestry, agriculture, business, project management). Substantial relevant career experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

You must be able to demonstrate at least 5 years’ experience in a team leadership role with a focus on physical production to meet customer needs. This experience should include a substantial amount of time spend working with direct reports to develop their capabilities, as well as setting and monitoring performance objectives.

You must be able to show that you have at least 5 years’ experience in compiling budgets and business plans as well as monitoring and reporting on financial performance.

Desirable:

Membership of a relevant professional association (CMI, ICF, etc) along with a track record of continuing professional development.

Experience of managing a large-scale plant nursery and a familiarity with the annual production cycle, Plant Healthy certification, and quality assurance.

An affinity with Forestry England’s long-term mission to grow the value of the Nation’s forests using a natural capital approach.

Competencies:

Seeing the big picture:

• Understanding and communicating Forestry England’s role in delivering the government’s agenda;
• Being sensitive to the political landscape and the possible impacts on Forestry England’s activities;
• Evaluating strategic policy and procedure and initiating appropriate changes to meet objectives;
• Anticipating economic, social, political, environmental and technological developments to keep Forestry England activity relevant and targeted;
• Bringing together views and perspectives of stakeholders to gain a wider picture of the landscape surrounding activities and policies.

Changing and improving

• Encouraging a culture of innovation focused on adding value – give people space to think creatively
• Seeing warning signs of things going wrong and providing a decisive response to significant delivery challenges

Leading and communicating

• Clarifying strategies and plans, giving a clear sense of direction and purpose for you and your team(s)
• Confidently engaging with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals

Delivering value for money

• Understanding the impacts of the financial position in your area and that of the organisation, and use insight to curtail or support business and investment activities
• Weighing up priority and benefits of different actions and activities to consider how to achieve cost effective outcomes

• 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%

Job contact :

Name :
James Simpson
Email :
james.simpson@forestryengland.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk