New Forest Recreation Craftsperson

Would you like to make a positive difference to your local environment and the forest?
Do you enjoy working in an outdoors environment?
Are you a practical, handy person who works well as part of a team?
If so then read on, as this could be the role for you!
Background Information
We are Forestry England. We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests.
Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people. Our team contains a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals, we all contribute towards the management of some 46,000 hectares (ha) of public forest estate and national parks that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight.
Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites, and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).
The New Forest Recreation Craftsperson team plays an important role in the Recreation and Public Affairs team, managing and maintaining the recreational infrastructure, primarily across the New Forest but also assisting across the wider district. Our team takes pride in finding new and sustainable ways for visitors to enjoy our forest and to further increase our appeal and offering., In this role, you’ll be working as an integral part of the New Forest team to maintain our recreation facilities to ensure that we deliver a high quality visitor experience.
Key Work Areas:
• Promote enjoyable visits to the New Forest by ensuring clean, safe and welcoming environments for visitors.
• Work as part of the New Forest Recreation team showing drive and motivation to improve sites and facilities, with a focus on delivering a quality visitor experience.
• Help to maintain and develop safe facilities whilst balancing recreational activity with other forest activities.
• Carry out a range of practical maintenance tasks throughout the forest estate, working effectively as a team and when requested responding quickly to unexpected work and issues raised by a Supervisor or Manager.
• Perform basic inspections and assist in repair and maintenance of recreation facilities to a high standard, including but not limited to all formal car parks, walking and cycle routes, litter picking, installation and maintenance of signs, picnic tables, benches etc. Keep records of inspections and repairs as directed.
• Perform regular Facility Inspections in line with National and District policies., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ A practical skills test to evaluate your experience., This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete 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.
You will also be asked to complete a 500 word personal statement showing how you meet the essential criteria of the person specification (See responsibilities section).
We expect the sift to take place the week commencing 12th October and the interviews to take place week commencing 21st October, subject to change.
At interview we will assess you against the behaviours listed in this advert, your experience and technical skills.
Your interview will be conducted face to face. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for an interview.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 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.
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.

• Relevant experience of practical maintenance in a parks and/or a countryside environment.
• A familiarity with a range of hand tools and ability to demonstrate competence in their use.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team to achieve shared goals.
• Basic IT skills.
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
+ NPTC or equivalent certification in chainsaw use (maintenance, cross cutting and felling up to 380mm) and/or clearing saws, issued within last 5 years.
+ Experience of machine operations.
+ CPCS trained operator card (red card) for 180/360 degree excavator and/or
+ CITB National Construction College certificate proving that they have completed a CITB approved training qualification and/or
+ Have completed the relevant Forest Machine Operator Certification Scheme (FMOCS) for Wheeled Ridged over 2.5 tonnes (208-005).

Alongside your salary of £24,323, Forestry Commission contributes £7,046 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Here at Forestry England we offer:
+ 25 days holiday pa with an extra day’s holiday entitlement each year over the first 5 years up to a maximum of 30 days per year, plus bank holidays and 2.5 extra days leave. (all pro-rata).
+ 3 days paid volunteering leave every year (once you have passed probation).
+ Access to technical and personal development training and qualifications that are tailored to your role.
+ 5 days dedicated to your self-driven development each year.
+ Extensive opportunities for further learning through Civil Service Learning.
+ Reimbursement of professional membership fees.
+ Employee benefits that include (but are not limited to) the Cycle to Work scheme, free high-street and online discounts and offers through ‘STaR’, and the opportunity to join the Civil Services Sports Council.
+ The brilliant Civil Service Pensions scheme.
+ Access to our dedicated Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that gives free, confidential and independent support - whether it is personal or work-related.
+ Free eyesight tests and £100 voucher for glasses for visual display usage.
+ Pay advances of up to £5,000 for computers, sports equipment, or training costs.
+ Free parking at all Forestry Commission sites (including Moors Valley Country Park and Alice Holt Forest) and free entry into our National Arboretum in Westonbirt.
+ Up to 15% discount at Forest Live Events, Forest Holidays cabins, and Go Ape outdoor activity centres.
+ Numerous retail discounts including 10% off at Forestry Commission shops and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
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%