Community Forest Beat Manager

This post offers an exciting opportunity to join Forestry England’s Community Woodland team in Southeast England where, as the ‘Beat Manager’, you will oversee a small team responsible for creating and maintaining community woodlands and managing the visitor experience across Forestry England’s Thames Beat. Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests, to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. You will play a part by delivering new woodland creation projects on greenfield and brownfield sites, whilst maintaining and enhancing the existing community woodland estate., As Beat Manager you will be responsible for operational delivery and visitor safety and experience across the community woodland estate in Thames Beat, working to the Community Woodland Lead. You will be based out of the Thames Chase Forest Centre, near Upminster, Essex. Purpose of the role: Through the management of the Thames Beat team and working with partners, manage and sustainably expand the Thames Beat woodlands for people, wildlife and the climate. Take responsibility for operational delivery and visitor safety and experience across the Thames Beat woodlands. Key Work Areas: People Management - line manage, mentor and support assigned personnel in the Thames Beat team in the delivery of Beat programmes and in their professional and personal development. Operational Programmes - plan and deliver operational programmes (including woodland creation & maintenance, vegetation management, tree safety and harvesting) working with staff, volunteers, contractors and partners. Ensure that programmes are delivered efficiently, safely and to schedule, and in line with district and national guidance. Create and maintain management plans and programmes of work for each woodland. Recreational Programmes - take responsibility for the development, inspection and maintenance of recreational facilities (eg trails, play, car parks) and the promotion and safe management of events and activities to connect people with the nation’s forests. Hold regular reviews with tenants, as set out in the tenancy agreement. Health, Safety and Wellbeing - promote a safe working environment by role modelling high standards of health, safety and wellbeing, through regular monitoring and recording of H&S compliance and the prompt reporting and investigation of accidents and near misses, ensuring that lessons learned are shared and implemented. Review or prepare risk assessments, method statements and other health and safety documentation for operations and facilities and undertake pre-commencement meetings with staff and contractors, in line with established procedures. Financial Management - Seek out and deliver opportunities to improve the financial sustainability of Thames Beat through cost control, income generation, partnership working and funding. Prepare, monitor and review the Beat budget and resources needed to deliver programmes. Representing Forestry England - develop and maintain good working relationships with partner organisations, such as the Thames Chase Trust, and support the Community Woodland Lead with representational work, including site visits and partnership meetings., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: + Delivering at Pace + Making Effective Decisions + Working Together + Communicating and Influencing, 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 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with reference to the criteria in the Person Specification. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV submission only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. The selection panel will be looking for applications that demonstrate the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the person specification. Failure to address any or all of these criteria may affect your application. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. The anticipated shortlisting and interview timetable in noted below. Please note that these dates are subject to change: Application Sift: Monday 14th October 2024. Interviews: Week commencing 21st October 2024 Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for 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 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 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, 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. 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.

+ Proven experience in managing and leading teams in a countryside management setting (e.g. forestry, community woodland, country park) including contract, volunteer and health & safety management. + Sound understanding of health and safety management in forest operations. + Proven experience in leading a team in project delivery. + Experience of developing and managing successful relationships with stakeholders. + Competent IT user with experience of MS Office, + Proven experience working in the forestry sector. + Chartered membership of Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF). + Project Management Qualification. + Proficient in use of GIS., A degree or HND in forestry, countryside management or other relevant discipline (or be able to demonstrate significant current management experience in a forestry or community woodland setting). GCSE or O Level in Maths, English and a Science (Min GCSE 4-9 or A

• to C; O Level A-C) or an NVQ level 2 as base educational requirements.
  
  Thames Beat covers ~ 500 hectares of community woodland within the Thames Chase Community Forest to the east of London. The estate consists of several woodlands, created close to communities over the last decade on greenfield and brownfield land. They support a range of habitats from established woodland, traditional orchards, wildflower meadows and offer a diverse range of community involvement and recreational opportunities. The Thames Beat team is made up of seven staff who specialise in woodland creation and community engagement.
The Thames Chase beat team is part of Forestry England’s East England Forest District. The district employs over 150 staff and covers an area of 35,000 ha from North Norfolk to Brighton. The district’s woodlands are varied and range from the conifer plantations of Thetford Forest to the Ancient woodlands of the Southeast and the community woodlands of Thames Chase on the outskirts of London. The woodlands are important for timber production and conservation, with a large proportion of the landholding designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and offer opportunities for a wide range of recreation from the informal use of open access woodland to the adventurous play and trails at three Forest Centres at Bedgebury, Wendover and High Lodge.

Alongside your salary of £34,080, Forestry Commission contributes £9,872 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%.