Beat Forester, Somerset

FORESTRY COMMISSION, Cotford St Luke, Somerset

Beat Forester, Somerset

Salary not available. View on company website.

FORESTRY COMMISSION, Cotford St Luke, Somerset

  • Full time
  • Permanent
  • Onsite working

Posted today, 25 Dec | Get your application in now to be one of the first to apply.

Closing date: Closing date not specified

job Ref: b30caa31c9d645daad1f03bae4bf0f21

Full Job Description

This is a unique opportunity to join our fabulous, dedicated Somerset beat team that operates within the West England Forest District. It is led by the Beat Forester and assisted by the Works Supervisor, Community Ranger, Shared Partnership Ranger and a Wildlife Ranger. The team manage nearly 2700ha of woodland centred around the Quantock Hills National Landscape and Exmoor National Park, including the significant forests of Croydon and St Audries.
The beat includes the deeply incised valleys of high-quality Douglas Fir crops and is renowned for the production of superb quality softwood timber. Much of your work will focus on delivery of the beat’s ambitious timber marketing programme and establishment of restocking sites and woodland creation sites. You will also assist with leading Recreation and Community aspects within the beat., + Manage operations including tree harvesting, regeneration and conservation programmes, outdoor recreation, and public engagement provision, collaborating with district foresters and specialist district leads
+ Plan, procure, and manage contracts to effectively meet forest management and timber harvesting objectives, whilst meeting all relevant guidelines and legislation.
+ Engage proactively and respond constructively to existing and prospective customers and show the highest standards of professionalism when representing Forestry England in the marketplace
+ Manage a team and volunteers meeting Forestry England’s organisational values and behaviours
+ Champion improvements in Forestry England’s health & safety culture
+ Deliver a positive and inclusive culture, fostering cross-functional collaboration and support
+ Promote learning and development opportunities amongst the team
+ Maintain professional and productive relationships with stakeholders across several beats and work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider district
+ Create, manage, and execute operations in the beat in line with the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS), UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)
+ Manage aspects of wildlife, woodland, and heritage conservation, and have awareness of legal and financial implications
+ Make sure work you are responsible for complies with health and safety guidance, and communicate the importance of working safely, to manage risks across operations for staff, contractors, customers, and the environment
+ Liaise with the local mechanical engineering services team on vehicles, machinery and equipment
+ Help maintain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation
+ Be responsible for the beat’s budget
+ Efficiently manage resources so beat projects, programmes, and business as usual operations are delivered effectively and efficiently
+ Prepare the annual beat business plan.
+ Monitor, reforecast and report on budgets and key performance indicators throughout the year.
+ Any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
This post will require occasional out-of-hours and weekend working including for emergency call outs, council meetings, etc., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service, As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:
+ 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.
+ A Personal Statement (no longer than 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The anticipated shortlisting and interview timetable is noted below. Please note that these dates are subject to change.
Application Sift: 10th January
Provisional Interview dates: W/C 20th January
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
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 listed in the advert as well as Experience and Strengths. There will be a short field based exercise so candidates will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.
Should you wish to discuss the role in more detail please contact: john.ebsary@forestryengland.uk
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.
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 post is an Operational contract working 44hrs per week. We will consider applications requesting a 37hr, non-Operational contract.
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 license 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 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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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.

Essential professional and technical experience
+ Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Forestry or significant equivalent experience in forestry or land management.
+ Experience of managing a team, as well as demonstrating successful team working.
+ Substantial experience of planning and supervising forestry operations, and ability to demonstrate a significant understanding of health and safety in forestry.
+ Experience of managing a budget, and a sound understanding of and experience of managing contracts.
+ Competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications.
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.
Desirable professional and technical experience
+ Full membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
+ experience of using (forestry) Geographic Information System.

Licences
Full UK Driving License

Alongside your salary of £35,580, Forestry Commission contributes £10,307 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 employer contribution of 28.97%.