Recreation Ranger (Chilterns)

This post is an exciting new opportunity to join the Forestry England team in East England. Working as part of a small team you will lead and co-ordinate recreation delivery and development in the Chilterns beat.
You will manage, promote and develop recreation facilities and opportunities and will work with a range of volunteers and partners to achieve this.
You will support the introduction of car parking charges and other income generating activities., • Demonstrate a strong safety culture within the site team and ensure your behaviour matches Forestry England’s values, attitudes and commitment to health and safety.
• Understand and comply with legislation, policy and promote best practice by following relevant PPG’s.
• Implement the inspection regime to ensure safety of recreation facilities and ensure all works are conducted in compliance with our health & safety polices and suitably supervised. You will be required to use your own initiative, engage with, and supervise the beat craftsperson team, volunteer groups and contractors. Coordinate with the Craftspersons and their works programme where appropriate.
• Support the introduction of carparking charges and infrastructure. Seek opportunities for other income generating activities, such as mobile food and beverage concessions and commercial filming. Lead and manage permissions for 3rd party events and activities in the beat.
• Proactively work with the Operations Manager and Beat Manager to identify new recreation opportunities and update existing facilities (for example, new trails) through relevant processes.
• Working to your delegated financial limits procure goods and services to ensure value for money and conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner. Act as Contract Manager taking responsibility for the day-to-day management of the performance and administration of contracts and for the relationship with the contractor (e.g. Pre-Commencement Meetings, risk assessments, site diaries, and site safety rules).
• Create opportunities for volunteers to contribute towards the development and maintenance of the recreation offer. Engage with new and existing volunteer groups and work with the wildlife ranger to identify conservation and public engagement opportunities.
• Provide input and feedback to upcoming Forest Management operations, identify and work with the team to resolve potential recreation issues and support opportunities that may arise from operations. Engage with the public and respond to public enquiries, act as a Forestry England presence at beat sites.
• Delivering at Pace: - Plan ahead and manage time effectively when carrying out your work across the Beat. Optimise site visits to ensure time on site is productive.
• Work to ensure annual Tree Safety inspections are completed and remedial work completed to the agreed frequency. Undertake tree safety inspections as part of the annual programme and assist the Works Supervisor in managing tree surgeon contractors.
• Use Forestry England incident reporting system to record incidents, accidents and near misses linked to facilities. When requested lead on the investigation, identify recommendations and lessons learnt.
• Proactively seek to gather insight through communications with visitors and neighbours to understand opportunities, address concerns and educate where necessary. Support the wider beat team to appropriately address issues of antisocial behaviour.
• Deputise for the Operations Manager / Beat Manager when requested., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Changing and Improving
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together, 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).
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Essential professional and technical experience
• Experience of working in a public facing role delivering high quality customer service requiring excellent verbal and written communication skills both in person and via a variety of digital platforms.
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in all weathers and to carry out manual tasks.
• Practical experience of planning and delivering public engagement activities.
• Excellent team working skills and the ability to work with dispersed team members.
• Practical understanding of Health & Safety best practices and a commitment to a positive health and safety culture in an outdoor environment.
• Competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications.
Desirable professional and technical experience
• Experience working with various social media platforms.
• Experience of project and contract management.
• Experience in working with volunteers.
Essential qualifications
• Full UK driving licence.
• A GCSE in Maths and English or functional skills equivalent/engineering subject, or prove equivalent to.
Desirable qualifications
• HND or equivalent in land or recreation management, tourism or leisure or similar
• 1st Aid
• Health and safety qualification

East England Forest District, covers an area of 35,000 hectares from North Norfolk to Brighton; including Thetford Forest and the outlying beats of Sandlings, Kent, East Sussex, Chilterns and Thames Chase Community Forest.
There are numerous sites of conservation interest designated across the District, including Special Protection Areas to conserve the breeding habitat for the Woodlark and Nightjar, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Specific Scientific Interest, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland, County Wildlife Sites and Scheduled Monuments.
The District offers outdoor recreation, leisure and wellbeing activities for hundreds of thousands of people each year at its recreation centres. Forestry England’s whole freehold estate is dedicated for public access on foot, with numerous small carparks and informal access points.
This post is based at the Chilterns office near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire with a requirement to travel to work in other beat woodlands and on occasion elsewhere in East Forest District. The Chilterns beat comprises 3000 hectares of woodland set over 63 woodlands, extending through Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Herefordshire and Bedfordshire. Meetings and training events may take place in other parts of the country.

Alongside your salary of £29,171, Forestry Commission contributes £8,450 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%