Hours
30-32 hours per week across four or five days between Monday and Friday
18-month contract for maternity cover to start December 2024 or early January 2025 depending on the successful applicant
SUMMARY
As part of our office team, you will be an important member of the wider Forestart team. Working alongside the Company management team, you will take a lead role to manage HR and health & safety across our seasonal business. You will also manage recruitment and accommodation, and arrange training and development alongside other ad-hoc tasks. You will monitor and implement policies and procedures, following up issues and making decisions, with support from the upper management team where appropriate. This is a very varied role and offers the opportunity to make a difference to the working environment and job satisfaction of others in a friendly family-run business. The contract length allows for cross-over with the current post-holder and there may be an opportunity for a similar permanent role at the end of the contract, dependent on your suitability and the requirements of the Company.
About us
As the leading UK supplier of tree and shrub seed, Forestart provides tested seed to forestry and amenity growers across the UK, Europe and the world. We supply the seed to grow the trees of tomorrow, specialising in collecting native and forestry species from sites throughout the UK and breaking inherent seed dormancy. We have 70 employees; half of whom join us only for the seed collection and processing season between July and December. Many staff, particularly temporary workers, have work visas and live in Company accommodation.
About the role
Responsibilities will include:
• Working closely with managers in the business to maintain a safe working environment on a daily basis.
• Monitoring and implementing safe working practices across the business. Overseeing workplace safety checks including document completion, such as those for fire safety and machinery pre-start checks.
• Conducting risk assessments and ensuring they are communicated to all relevant persons. Overseeing others completing risk assessments.
• Organising scheduled safety inspections and maintenance of vehicles/equipment such as LOLER inspections.
• Liaising with our HR and Health & Safety consultants, embracing 24/7 telephone support, to always act in the best way for employees and the Company.
• Managing recruitment across the Company, including producing adverts for vacancies, communicating with applicants, organising interviews, completing offer letters, communicating with agencies and recruitment organisations.
• Onboarding of new employees, including managing inductions, issuing contracts and completion of right to work checks.
• Creating personnel records and keeping them confidential and up to date.
• Monitoring and recording attendance.
• Being a point of contact for employees to communicate about workplace and personal issues when needed.
• Finding ways to communicate health & safety and HR to employees including those with limited/no English language skills. This includes supporting some employees with medical appointments, ordering prescriptions and assisting with understanding personal letters.
• Holding and arranging meetings, including team health & safety meetings and those associated with the disciplinary process.
• Ensuring accurate records are kept of all necessary HR and Health & Safety practices.
• Conducting internal audits and being the point of contact for external HR/Health & Safety audits
• Organising training and development for employees from induction through to renewal of qualifications.
• Planning accommodation allocations, arranging and overseeing set up of bedrooms and communal facilities
• Overseeing accommodation inspections, organising scheduled safety checks including those for HMO and to meet agency requirements.
• Arranging contractors to complete maintenance work in accommodation.
About you
• You are organised and able to work on your own initiative, managing your own time effectively to prioritise and follow-through on tasks proactively.
• You have excellent attention detail with a methodical, thorough approach and a drive to achieve quality throughout every process.
• You have excellent literacy skills and are confident using computer systems for document production and record-keeping.
• You have a flexible and positive attitude, in alignment with our work culture.
• You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• You are discreet, diplomatic and professional and can recognise when this is important.
• You are confident to give instructions to others and confront any issues when they arise.
• You can communicate effectively with your colleagues at every level in the workplace to be a team player.
• You react appropriately to hazards in the workplace and have some practical knowledge of working practices in a similar environment.
• You have a practical approach to problem-solving, working at and away from your desk to cover the range of duties of the role.
• You will embrace training and support from existing staff to ensure you gain all the skills and knowledge required to develop expertise and excel in the role.
• Some relevant experience in a similar role/aspects of the role is required.
*FOR FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE*
In line with the requirements of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. As part of the recruitment process, you will be asked to provide documented evidence of eligibility. Forestart Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.