Recreation Ranger (Sandlings Forests)

Forestry England (FE) is a world leader in sustainable forestry and is the largest provider of outdoor recreation opportunities in the country. The nations forests are managed via six Forest Districts with ‘The Sandlings’ being located within the East England Forest District, comprising of 3000 hectares of woodlands and is part of the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths AONB.
Working as part of a small team you will lead and co-ordinate recreation delivery and development in the Sandlings beat.
Your main responsibilities include making sure we have seamless day-to-day visitor operations, our visitors are having excellent experiences and maintaining a welcoming and safe environment for our customers.
You will also actively engage with local communities cultivating meaningful relationships and developing recreational opportunities, enhancing volunteer involvement, and answering visitor enquiries.
You will contribute to the overall enrichment of the visitor experience, drive efficiencies and income generation opportunities, while strengthening community connections.
You will be based at the Office at Rendlesham Forest Centre, Tangham near Woodbridge, Suffolk with a requirement to travel to work in other woodlands within the beat and on occasion elsewhere in East Forest District., In this role, you'll have the opportunity to create memorable visitor experiences, through maintaining our recreational facilities. You’ll provide a visible and welcoming presence for visitors, carry out regular inspections of car parks, cycle routes and facilities, including play areas and litter management.
You will represent FE, participating in stakeholder meetings, events, and volunteer programmes. Showcasing the great work of Forestry England inspiring others through, planning, leading and managing.
The post holder will report to the East District Recreation Manager (based in Thetford).
Responsibilities:
+ Demonstrate a strong safety culture within the site team and ensure your behaviour matches FE’s values, attitudes and commitment to health and safety (H&S).
+ Understand and comply with legislation, policy and promote best practice by following relevant Policy Procedures and Guidance's (PPG).
+ Implement the inspection regime to ensure safety of recreation facilities and ensure all works are conducted in compliance with our H&S polices. You will be required to use your own initiative, engage with, volunteer groups and contractors. Coordinate with the Craftsperson and their works programme where appropriate.
+ Seek opportunities for other income generating activities, such as mobile food and beverage concessions, filming and 3rd party events and activities.
+ 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).
+ Engage with existing volunteers to contribute towards the development and maintenance of the recreation offer.
+ 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 FE’s presence at beat sites.
+ Plan and manage time effectively when carrying out your work across the Beat. Optimise site visits to ensure time on site is productive.
+ Use FE 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.
+ There will be an expectation of regular weekend working during peak periods., As part of the applications process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:
1. 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.
2. A personal statement (no longer than 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift dates - 16th December 2024
Interviews will take place at our district office, Santon Downham and will be assessed against experience and the listed Behaviours.
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 here
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 circumstance 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. 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.

• 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 including social media.
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in all weathers and to carry out manual tasks.
• Excellent team working skills, workplace values and the ability to work with dispersed team members.
• Understanding of an operational environment and maintaining health and safety standards.
• Competent IT user.
• We require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK.
Desirable Skills
• Experience of project and contract management.
• Experience in working with volunteers.
• HND or equivalent in land or recreation management, tourism or leisure or similar

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Working Together
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Managing a Quality Service, Alongside your salary of £27,941, Forestry Commission contributes £8,094 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%
+ A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by one day each year to a maximum of 30 days plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days paid bank/public holidays.