Project Manager - New Forest Car Park Strategy

This is an excellent opportunity to join the Forestry England Team in South District, delivering our ambitious, but necessary goals in protecting our forests for the future, and ensuring we deliver their potential for wildlife, for people and for climate.
South Forest District and the New Forest
South Forest District includes some of our country’s busiest and most important protected landscapes. We look after 47,000ha of forests and woodlands - spanning from the Dorset Heathlands to the Surrey Hills. Our forests are as diverse as the communities that surround them, with large populations across the south coast and our proximity to London, we provide one of England’s largest and most popular outdoor recreational destinations with an estimated 45 million visits per year.
Forestry England manages 47% of the New Forest National Park, including much of the best-known ancient woodlands, wetlands and heathlands, which are home to many rare species of plants and wildlife. As well as providing a key recreational destination with an estimated 16 to 19 million visits per year.
Working closely with our partners, Forestry England is developing a strong vision and strategy for the future. The shared commitment in supporting the New Forests’ working landscape and its communities, protecting the fragile habitats, and providing superb experiences for people wanting to access, enjoy and understand the Forest.
At the core of our recreational offer in the New Forest sits an established trail network and over 130 Forestry England car parks. The environmental and social pressures and expectations associated in the management of these assets continue to grow and evolve. The easement of lockdown during the pandemic stress tested the Forest’s infrastructure’s ability to cope with increasing numbers, demanding Forestry England and our supporting partners consider all future scenarios and how we are to respond.
Forestry England’s New Forest Car Park Strategy’s purpose is to develop a management model that builds financial sustainability, investing in people’s ability to live, work and enjoy the forest whilst also protecting its valuable and sensitive habitats and wildlife., + As project manager your primary responsibility will be driving Forestry England’s development of the New Forest Car Park Strategy and management model.
+ You will be responsible for coordinating and reporting on project progress, supporting discussion and integration against wider objectives through regular and effective communication with senior leads, both within District and the National Team.
+ You will work alongside a wider team of internal specialists, identifying and securing additional expertise where required. In doing so, you will ensure the complex operational, stakeholder and economic concerns behind a sustainable car park management model are understood and accounted for.
+ You will be joining the District’s Leadership Team, working as part of a wider peer group to support and help set direction for the District Team. At times your skills, knowledge and experience being steered to secondary projects and work streams, where appropriate.
+ Above all, you will be motivated, enthusiastic and be confident and credible. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in one of England’s most valuable open landscapes, which delivers economic, health and well-being and environmental benefits to our nation.
If you have the blend of skills and experience, and the energy, drive, and commitment that we are looking for, we would love to hear from you., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together, This is a Fixed Term Appointment for 1 year with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete the below:
+ 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 (750 words maximum) explaining why you want this role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role. Please provide particular reference to the categories within the person specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Failure to fully complete both sections (CV and Personal Statement) 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.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
We expect the sift to take place the week commencing 23rd October and the interviews to take place week commencing 4th November, subject to change.
At interview we will assess you against your experience and the behaviours listed in this advert.
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.
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.

+ Be an individual who is able to able to coordinate multiple work streams, prioritising their own workload and be flexible to the changing needs of the projects.
+ Be a motivated self-starter who is used to working on their own but can bring internal staff and external partners and advisors together to deliver high quality projects.
+ Be a highly organised and experienced contract and project manager, who is not afraid to challenge processes or ways of working, either internally or with partners or contractors.
+ Have a good understanding of financial reporting and procurement processes.
+ Be able to take a strategic view on how projects fit with organisational objectives.
Experience
Essential:
+ Strong project and contract management skills.
+ Experience of managing and influencing staff and contractors.
+ Experience of completing procurement exercises.
+ Strong evidence of stakeholder (internal/external) management in project delivery, demonstrating negotiation and influencing skills at a high level.
Professional and technical expertise
Essential:
+ Competent user of PC and MS desktop software including Word, Excel and Outlook.
Desirable:
+ APM project management qualification.

Alongside your salary of £37,485, Forestry Commission contributes £10,859 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.