Job Summary
This post is an exciting opportunity to join the Forestry England team in East England. As Beat Forester, you will oversee a small team responsible for managing the nations forests in the Chilterns beat.
About Us
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. The District has a varied landholding including the largest lowland pine forest in England at Thetford, community woodland on the outskirts of London at Thames Chase, and a range of mixed woodland, many of which are on sites of ancient woodland.
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. Meetings and training events may take place in other parts of the country.
The Chilterns beat comprises 3000 hectares of woodland set over 63 woodlands, extending through Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Herefordshire and Bedfordshire, with many located within the Chilterns National Landscape. There are numerous sites of conservation interest designated across the Beat, including seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest and several Scheduled Monuments. The majority of these woodlands are ancient in origin and undergoing appropriate management or restoration. A new 51-hectare woodland creation site has been established in the Beat.
This position and the associated work will be supported by the Operations Manager also based out of the Chilterns office.
Job Description
Key Work Areas
The Main Areas Of Responsibility Are To
1. Provide leadership to beat team, focusing on their development needs to support the delivery Forestry & Land Management work programmes and responsibilities.
2. Agree, plan, manage and monitor beat economic, social and environmental programmes and projects to achieve District Business plan and Forestry England’s objectives.
3. Manage contracts to deliver forest management and timber harvesting objectives, whilst meeting all relevant guidelines and legislation.
4. Undertake procurement, contract management, planning, implementation and monitoring of budgets following all relevant guidelines.
5. Communicate effectively with colleagues and all stakeholders including landowners, neighbours, contractors, customers and members of the public.
6. Work collaboratively with colleagues across the District and wider organisation.
7. Monitor and ensure that high standards of health, safety & wellbeing are implemented both within your team and by contractors, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidance.
Role
Over the next five years, the Beat Forester role will be involved in managing and/or supporting the following key operations:
1. Re-establishing and developing a strong Beat Team.
2. Creating a deliverable annual work programme for staff and contractors.
3. Delivering the annual harvesting and re-establishment programme.
4. Working closely with the Wildlife Ranger and Lead Ranger to improve woodland habitats and condition.
5. Working closely with the Recreation Manager and Ranger to maintain trails and facilities and explore and deliver opportunities including filming and events.
6. Look to establish further volunteering opportunities in the beat with the beat Recreation team.
7. Support the development of the Chilterns and the Greensand Ridge Forest Plans with the District Planning team.
8. Undertake appropriate restoration of Ancient Woodland Sites including woodland management to support Hazel Dormice habitat.
9. Support the introduction of grazing cattle into Bernwood Forest SSSI.
10. Progressing ride and open ground development programmes in several protected woodlands including Bernwood Forest SSSI.
11. Working with the District Heritage Advisor to protect Scheduled Monuments and sites of archaeological interest.
12. Securing the establishment of the new woodland creation site at Wing and engaging with stakeholders.
13. Improving the resilience of the woodlands from existing and potential pest and disease threats including Ash Dieback, Oak Processionary Moth, and European Spruce Bark Beetle.
This is an operational post, working 44 hours per week. The duties of the post require you to be on call at times, and to work a flexible working week.
Responsibilities
You will need personal resilience, and a deep commitment to achieving results with a small beat team. Your skills, interests and experience will reflect the responsibilities of the role in delivering forest operations and a wide range of land management programmes and projects. You will be interested in developing your existing technical skills and experience further and be willing to take on new and different tasks.
Person specification
Essential Professional And Technical Experience
1. A degree or HND in Forestry or significant equivalent experience in forestry or land management.
2. Experience of planning, managing and supervising forestry operations and a good understanding of health and safety in forestry.
3. Experience of leading a team and providing support to staff.
4. A sound understanding of and experience in contract management.
5. Competence in the use of MS Office applications.
Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application.
Desirable Professional & Technical Experience
1. Competence and experience in the use of Forester GIS.
2. Membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) or working towards membership.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
1. Leadership
2. Managing a Quality Service
3. Communicating and Influencing
4. Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £34,080, Forestry Commission contributes £9,872 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
1. Learning and development tailored to your role.
2. An environment with flexible working options.
3. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
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