Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location East Midlands (England), East of England About the job Job summary We are seeking a motivated individual who is passionate about expanding, protecting, improving and connecting Englands trees, woods and forests. You will join the National Grants and Regulations team which supports the design and delivery of grants and incentives and regulation related to woodland creation, forest management and tree health. Specifically, you will become part of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) team, which focuses on the design and delivery of the woodland elements of three new schemes, being launched by DEFRA, that provide an incentive for land managers to manage their land in a way that boosts nature. These schemes are Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Landscape Recovery (LR). Job description There are 5 ELM Officers across England, one for each of the Forest Services area teams. The advertised post is for an ELM Officer for East and East Midlands. Although part of the National ELM Team, ELM Officers are imbedded into the regional teams and work hard to build relationships with Forest Service Area Team staff who are delivering the Forestry Commissions incentives and regulations. You will regularly attend meetings and events based within your regional area, virtually and in person throughout the year. If area teams have questions / require support on ELM grants, ELM Officers act as a conduit to the national team ensuring area teams have access to the resources they need. Your role may require you to support area teams in internal or external meetings with stakeholders either virtually or in person in your area. You may also be asked to attend shows and events in your area. Working with area teams and their network of local stakeholders to understand regional challenges and opportunities, gives ELM Officers insight that can be used to support the ELM team in the design and delivery of the forestry elements of DEFRAs ELM schemes. You will support National team colleagues in their work to design and deliver ELM schemes by feeding back the information you have gathered from operational staff in the area teams. You will analyse the feedback you gather to produce regular reports and presentations for the national team. You may also be asked to undertake specific project work that requires you to speak to scheme applicants about their experience with ELM grants. You may be asked to support ELM team managers (PB4), in developing and delivering training on ELM grants to Forest Services Area Teams, and other Forestry Commission staff. You should take an active interest in developing a broad knowledge base on what is going on in the ELM grant space as well as in the wider farming and forestry sectors. Person specification Knowledge of the land management sector, including farming and forestry, and existing grant schemes, including Countryside Stewardship. Experience of developing effective relationships with a range of public and private sector organisations. Experience of proactively and flexibly delivering tasks across multiple processes or projects Excellent written and oral communication skills. Experience delivering training and/or presentations. Degree-level qualification, or substantial equivalent experience, in environmental or land management sector, preferably with a forestry or agricultural focus. Highly competent IT user with experience of using MS Office and online communication tools such as Microsoft Teams. Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving Working Together Seeing the Big Picture Delivering at Pace We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Changing and Improving Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: You will be asked to give a short presentation (details of which will be provided to those applicants successful at the shortlisting stage). Benefits Alongside your salary of £29,863, Forestry Commission contributes £8,651 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Civil Service pension. A range of family friendly benefits. An environment with flexible working options. Learning and development tailored to your role. A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment. A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more. 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata). Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave. 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata). We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. The post is a Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2026 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee. As part of the application process, you will complete the following: A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 3 parts and requests: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, and Full Qualification Details. A personal statement in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification. A 250-word statement on the behaviour listed on the application form, Changing and Improving. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 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. Indicative timeline: Shortlisting to take place w/c 6th Jan Interviews to be carried out on w/c 20th Jan Dates may be subject to change. At interview, you will be assessed against Behaviours and Strengths, and will be asked to give a short presentation (details of which will be provided to those applicants successful at the shortlisting stage). Interviews will take place in person at our FC Santon Downham office (Near Thetford - Santon Downham, Forestry England ). 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 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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. 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. Successful candidates if using their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the Forestry Commission travel policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km from April. 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.grscabinetoffice.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 youre 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. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : FS Recruitment Team Email : fs.recruitmentforestrycommission.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : fcerecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.servicesforestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail