Overview
Reference number: 93869
Salary: £27,235 – £29,577
Grade: Executive Officer, Payband 5
Contract type: Fixed Term
Length of employment: 1 Year
Location: Preferably this role will be based from the District Office at Coleford, although other district offices may be considered.
Business area: FCE – Forestry England, Planning and Environment Team, West England Forest District
Type of role: Environment and Sustainability, Operational Delivery
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Compressed Hours
Number of posts: 1
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 7th February 2021
Job description
Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission. We manage 1,500 forests across the country covering 250,000 hectares. This makes us the largest single land manager in England, covering everything from great forests to small community woodlands. We are shaping landscapes for the nation.
West England Forest District covers 37,500ha of woods and forests ranging from majestic historic oak and beech woodlands such as Savernake, the Forest of Dean & Wyre Forests, through to the upland spruce plantations of Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin in the south-west. Our woodlands make a major contribution to nature conservation with many sites of national and local significance. Over 3,600 hectares of woodland is designated SSSI in recognition of its value for nature, virtually all of which is in favourable or recovering ecological condition. Over 14,000 hectares of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) are under active management to increase the proportion of site native species. Contributing to the landscape quality are woodlands totalling some 2,700 hectares in Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks. In addition, within the Forest District, 11,228ha of woodland are located across eleven AONBs that protect and preserve some of the cherished landscapes of west England.
The district is managed from the main district office in Coleford, with a sub-office at Exeter supporting 11 forest beats and 3 recreation hubs. The Planning & Environment Team consist of an Ecologist and 3 Assistant Ecologist with 2 Forest Planners, a GIS Data Technician and led by the Planning & Environment Manager.
We have a mission to increase the environmental contribution made by the Nations Forests to the range of ecosystem services delivered and to protect and enhance its overall biodiversity value at both the landscape and local level. In recent years, the Planning & Environment Team has worked with partners to deliver exciting conservation projects such as the re-introduction of beavers and pine martens, the restoration of mire and bog habitats in Cornwall and the Forest of Dean and the reinstatement of wood pasture systems using traditional grazing livestock at Croft Castle, Savernake and Neroche forest.
Job Description
The main purpose of this role is to lead on the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in West England Forest District.
This role will support core business activities including land management, estates and recreation developments by helping maintain UKFS/UKWAS and legislative compliance. The role will provide ecological advice to colleagues to ensure species, habitats and designated sites are managed in accordance with wildlife legislation, regulations, policy and best practice guidance. A key responsibility of the job is the maintenance and enhancement of SSSI condition through management plans and implementation and continued conservation important protected habitats and species. The role will have the opportunity to lead on projects to deliver a step change for biodiversity, such as species re-introductions and habitat restoration. The role manages three Assistant Ecologists who are based across the District and are primarily tasked with supporting teams in delivering operational plans in accordance with wildlife legislation, regulations, policy and best practice guidance.
This role reports to the Planning and Environment Manager, and will be based from the District Office at Coleford, although other locations may also be considered.
You will have the opportunity to work with experienced colleagues, passionate about their contribution to sustainable forestry and the organisation’s overarching strategy; to connect everyone with the nation’s forests, caring for them for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and business to grow.
About the job
Summary
Key Work Areas
Superb Forests
It is important that you can think innovatively and independently to vision what superb forests look like and link all our different operational and business plans together, so we are working towards the same goal.
- Conserve protected and/or important habitats and species.
- Support district teams with provision of ecological advice during planning and delivery of operations and projects.
- Identify opportunities for operations and projects to add ecological value.
- Work with environment team to ensure SSSI management plan coverage with active implementation and delivery.
Increasing Natural Capital
It will be key that you consider and use natural capital to make decisions about our work and look for other ways it can add value.
- Identify and deliver opportunities for biodiversity enhancement.
- Support the development and implementation of landscape restoration and woodland creation projects.
- Support the development and implementation of species projects.
Being an Outstanding Organisation
A willingness in needed to work and think independently, often in remote and challenging outdoor environments.
- Champion high standards of health and safety within the team resource, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidance.
- Manage and lead a team of Assistant Ecologists.
- Represent the organisation in partnership projects and with stakeholders and academia.
High quality investments and sustainable finance
Supporting district departments with ecological input during planning and delivery of projects will be a key part of your work.
- Co-ordinate forest and habitat surveys to improve data and informed decision making and maintain monitoring programme.
- Contribute to business plans and budgeting associated with ecology and conservation work.
Telling Our Story
You will contribute to the creation of content to help us bring our story to life and build understanding of the breadth of our work.
- Support the Recreation and Public Affairs team within the district with ecological input.
- Support Forest Centres with ecological input as part of the visitor experience
- Liaise with Marketing and Comms team providing ecological input.
Additional Information
This is a fixed term appointment position, for 1 year, with the possibility of extension and/or being made permanent.
Preferably this role will be based from the District Office at Coleford, although other district offices may be considered.
Person specification.
Essential:
- Degree or equivalent in ecology, conservation, or environmental management.
- Knowledge and experience of working with protected species and designated habitats, and application of environmental legislation.
- Experience in practical application of ecological and conservation work and projects.
- Experience in or knowledge of forestry or land management.
- Good team worker and able to work alone using own initiative.
- Experience of working with local stakeholder groups, including landowners, non-governmental organisations, charities, and public bodies.
- Experience in communicating ecological advice/information clearly and concisely to a wide audience.
- Experience and competency in IT packages including MS Office and GIS mapping software.
Desirable:
- Demonstrable experience of managing complex issues and options.
- Experience of managing a team.
- A good knowledge of the ecology of woodlands in the southwest.
- Licensed to work with protected species.
- Experience of setting up and managing contracts.
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
- Experience of interpreting strategies and developing them into practical plans for delivery.
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
- Focus on the overall goal and intent of what you are trying to achieve, not just the task.
- Ability to communicate the wider context of your work to others.
- Keep up to date with issues that affect your work area.
- Take a keen interest in expanding knowledge in areas related to your work.
Making Effective Decisions
- Demonstrate accountability and make unbiased decisions.
- Speak with the relevant people in order to obtain the most accurate information and get advice when unsure of how to proceed.
Communicating and influencing
- Display enthusiasm around goals and activities – adopting a positive approach when interacting with others.
- Identify key players and seek to gain their co-operation in advance of formal communications.
- Actively listens, allowing others to fully express their opinion.
- Be an effective representative of the team
- Listen to, understand, respect and accept the value of different views, ideas and ways of working.
Working Together
- Build, maintain and improve relationships with different stakeholders at the relevant level to understand differing views and issues.
- Be approachable, open, polite and helpful to others.
- Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team and remain open to taking on new and different roles.
- Build supportive relationships with your colleagues.
- Listen to alternative perspectives and needs, respond sensitively and check understanding where necessary
- Ask for help when needed and support others when the opportunity arises.
Delivering at Pace
- Create regular reviews of what and who is required to make a project/activity successful and make ongoing improvements.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Our wide range of Staff Benefits helps us to achieve this:
- A great environment with flexible working options and a range of family friendly benefits
- Generous annual leave allowance starting at 25 days per year (pro-rata for part time). After 5 years’ service, you’ll receive an additional 5 days’ holiday. After 20 years’ service you will receive a one-off award of 5 extra days’ holiday. On top of this, you’ll receive all public holidays plus an additional 2.5 ‘privilege’ days (pro-rata for part time)
- A Civil Service pension, with the opportunity to choose from two pension schemes, one Career Average (Alpha) or a Defined Contribution Scheme (Partnership). If you join the Civil Service Career Average Scheme, we will contribute at least 26% of your salary towards your pension membership every month. Further details can be found at Civil Service Pensions
- A range of wellbeing benefits, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme plus many more
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
- Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums
- Three paid volunteering days per year (pro-rata for part time)
This is a fantastic learning opportunity, working with skilled and experienced colleagues across the organisation. Forestry England is committed to lifelong learning and we will support your career development in a variety of ways, including:
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- Continual Professional Development: support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies (such as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management)
- 5 dedicated learning days a year (from e-learning to traditional training, team activities to coaching and shadowing), to target the skills you need to take your career forward
- Civil Service Learning (CSL) online platform provides access to a host of high quality training courses on a variety of useful and relevant subjects
- Dedicated Technical Training in support of our operational functions, ensuring that keeping people safe is central to everything we do
Things you need to know
Security
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
To apply for this role, your application should be submitted via Civil Service Jobs and be completed no later than 23.55 on 7th February 2021
The anticipated shortlisting and interview timetable is noted below. Please note that these dates are subject to change.
Application Sift: w/c 8th February 2021
Interview: w/c 22nd February 2021
As part of the application 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 Statement of Suitability (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 criteria in the Person Specification.
Should you wish to discuss the role in more detail please contact: Steve Eyres (Head of Forestry and Land Management): Stephen.eyres@forestryengland.uk.
This is a full time role. 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.
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.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using a lead behaviour. This will be the behaviour which is listed first in the job advert (Seeing the Big Picture). Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
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.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
Any move to Forestry from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
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.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
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.
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
| Job contact : | ||
| Name : | Steve Eyres | |
| Email : | stephen.eyres@forestryengland.uk | |
| Recruitment team : | ||
| Email : | fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk | |
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