Part - time HLS Administration Officer

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, containing a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers and ecologists to marketing professionals, we all contribute towards the management of 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, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The successful candidate will join the Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS) project team based in the New Forest. The team plans and delivers landscape-scale habitat restoration projects with external funding from the New Forest HLS scheme. The Verderer’s of the New Forest HLS scheme is focused on restoring and enhancing internationally-important habitats, renowned for their flora and fauna, and covering around 20,000 hectares. As the HLS Administration Officer, you will provide administrative support to the planning and environment team, and specifically to the HLS project., The successful candidate will join the HLS team, providing administrative support enabling the successful delivery of terrestrial and wetland habitat restoration programmes. They may also provide administrative support to the wider South District teams, where required.
Key Work Areas
The Administration Officer will need to be able to follow data monitoring protocols with a high level of accuracy.
Provide Administrative Support to the HLS Partnership:
+ Monitor progress against project budget forecasting, meeting regularly with the HLS Project Manager to assess this.
+ Provide HLS Project Manager with the information needed to initiate the quarterly summary progress report, and prepare an accurate financial update of project spend for the HLS board meetings.
+ Keep a clear trace log of contracts when completed and regular house-keeping & archiving of documents.
+ Submit payment requests to the Verderer’s Grazing Scheme manager and maintain a comprehensive record of these requests along with associated reports and copy invoices.
+ Review HLS webpages.
Keep accurate records of HLS expenditure and follow Forestry England financial procedures:
+ Populate a monthly expenditure report from the database and input costs into a monthly PR (Programme Register) spreadsheet.
+ Gather internal charges related to HLS and ensure these are included on the programme register and provide auditable records of these expenses with each payment request.
+ Provide the Verderers Grazing Scheme manager with an updated PR record of Forestry England expenditure for each HLS board meeting.
+ Provide the finance team with monthly accrued costs for the Business Monitoring and Reporting.
Monitor contracts:
+ Support team members to prepare new contract documentation.
+ Generate Purchase orders for all HLS contracts. Keep a log of all HLS outstanding POP orders, and run a monthly review using the FE’s internal financial system to update their status.
+ Maintain a record of all open HLS framework contracts.
+ Ensure team adhere to Forestry Commission procurement guidelines and offer guidance and support where needed.
Provide any key additional administrative duties:
+ Secretary for the Open Forest Advisory Committee, organise bi-annual venue, circulate agendas and meeting minutes.
+ Take meeting minutes for the Freshwater and Wetland Restoration Forum, and other internal and external meetings, where required.
+ Monitor the HLS enquiries email inbox.
+ General filing and house-keeping, including organising and sorting files and folders on SharePoint.
+ Monitor and update the HLS asset register.
+ Assist with funding applications.
+ Support team members with any additional admin tasks required., This role is part time and a total of 29.6 hours per week will need to be covered. Applicants who wish to work less than 29.6 hours per week or an alternative working pattern are welcome to apply, however your preferred working pattern may not be available if the remaining hours cannot be filled, and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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.
+ A Statement of Suitability (750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the essential experience specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
You will be given a 30-minute task prior to your interview to analyse a financial dataset in Microsoft Excel, which we will provide. During the interview, you will present your findings to the panel in a brief 10-minute discussion at the start. You will then be assessed on three behaviours during your interview.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential experience requirements within the application responses.
Failure to fully complete both sections (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. The panel will look for applications that demonstrate the best fit for the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the job description and responsibilities.
The interviews will be held in person at The King’s House, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NH. At interview candidates will be assessed on the listed behaviours, technical skills and their experience.
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.
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
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+ Experience working in an office environment, including experience communicating with members of the public and other stakeholders by MS Teams, telephone, e-mail, letter or in-person.
+ Competent in IT and using spreadsheets - Microsoft Office suite of applications, specifically Microsoft Excel.
+ Ability to use finance and bookkeeping software and applications.
+ Ability to scrutinise and analyse data.
+ Ability to work within a diverse operational team as well as an ability to deliver tasks autonomously.
+ A GCSE in Maths and English or functional skills equivalent.
Desirable:
+ A level or level 3 equivalent qualification.
+ Finance qualification., + Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Use of Microsoft Excel

Alongside your salary of £26,123, Forestry Commission contributes £7,567 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
• Flexible working to support a healthy work/life balance.
• 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 any 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.