About the job

Job summary

Forestry England is an organisation like no other. Our strong values and shared ambition to connect everyone with the nation’s forests, drives all that we do.

Our four values capture how we work:

• Think beyond a lifetime - We make plans today for a better tomorrow, so our business and our forests are sustainable and fit for the future.
• Be adventurous - We approach challenges with creativity and adventure, embracing research and innovation to stay relevant.
• Do it together - We get our best results when we work with others, and we encourage diverse perspectives, so we make better decisions.
• Look out and look after - We care about our colleagues, volunteers, partners, and customers, and we take a stand against unsafe behaviour.

Civil Engineering underpins the delivery of Forestry England’s operational activities. The infrastructure we build and maintain, supports all aspects of Forestry England. From the supply of sustainably sourced timber, through to being the largest outdoor recreation provider in the country, Civil Engineering is vital to our success.

This post is highly varied and an exciting opportunity to join the Forestry England Civil Engineering team in the South of England. You will support the delivery of the district’s civil engineering programme by planning, specifying, managing, and delivering (through external contractors) routine construction and maintenance work. Undertake inspections and maintenance of civil engineering assets including bridges, reservoirs dams and forest roads. Work collaboratively to engage, advise, and work with internal stakeholders to deliver civil engineering works, whilst meeting all legal, health and safety, environmental and policy obligations.

Being part of South Forest District is to be part of a progressive and inclusive organisation. Our benefits include a generous holiday entitlement, substantial training, development and volunteering opportunities, flexible and blended working arrangements, and membership of an excellent civil service pension scheme.

Job description

The South England Forest District Civil Engineering team is comprised of a District Civil Engineer, a Civil Engineer, a Works Supervisor and an Administrative Officer who plan, co-ordinate and monitor the delivery of the civil engineer programme through framework contract holders. The successful candidate would work across the whole South District, which extends from Dorset to Surrey. The reporting point for the role would be the main office at The King's House, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NH, but you will be able to work from one of the other offices in the South District as the role requires. The role involves daily travel within the district and a Forestry England vehicle will be provided for business use only.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities: 

• Champion a safe working environment by role modelling high standards of health and safety through the effective management of Forestry England staff and contractors undertaking work on Forestry England land.
• Plan and deliver a programme of Civil Engineering works across the district. Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to develop project scopes and associated costings.
• Procure routine civil engineering works through existing frameworks or other established procedures. Undertake the role of contract manager, including development and administration of the associated contract.
• Undertake pre-commencement meetings with external contractors, in line with established procedures.
• Review or prepare risk assessments, method statements and other health and safety documentation for projects, to ensure compliance with specification, environmental and health & safety standards.
• Regular monitoring and recording of contractor health and safety and environmental performance; pro-active management of H&S and environmental issues; prompt reporting of accidents and near misses and ensuring that lessons learned are shared and implemented.
• Support the Senior/Principal Engineer with the planning, design and delivery of higher risk and complexity projects.
• Line manage, mentor and support civil engineering Works Supervisors and Machine Operators.
• Undertake minor design work in line with standard details.
• Monitor, record and manage carbon emissions. To include sharing and implementation of best practice to achieve Forestry England’s net zero targets.
• Subject to an appropriate level of training and experience, undertake scheduled inspection of assets to assess and report on condition. Keep asset records up to date.
• Use Forester Web to produce contract maps and update civil engineering asset data.

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person specification

Essential Professional and Technical experience

• Experience working in a Civil Engineering role, including works planning, design, or contract supervision.
• Experience in working as part of an effective team and with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experienced in the safe design and delivery of civil engineering construction projects, including a good understanding of the construction design and management regulations and other applicable health and safety legislation.
• Strong experience and competence with the MS office suite of applications.
• Clear and confident verbal and written communications skills.

• 3 A Levels.
• HNC/HND in Civil Engineering.

Desirable Professional and Technical experience
• Civil Engineering experience of working in a forestry or rural environment and application of ecologically sensitive best practice.
• Experience using GIS software or other mapping systems.
• Experience of using computer aided design software, such as AutoCAD or Civils 3D.
• Experience in the quarrying/extractives industry, and the application of the Quarries Regulations.

• CITB Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme or IOSH Managing Safely qualification.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,779, Forestry Commission contributes £7,529 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 750 word 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 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with reference to the criteria in the Person Specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential experience requirements within the application responses.

Failure to fully complete both sections (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. The panel will look for applications that demonstrate the best fit for the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the job description and responsibilities.

Interviews will be held in person at the King's House, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NH. Sifting will take place in the beginning of February, with interviews scheduled to take place later in February. Please note these dates may be subject to change. 

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry 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 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.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

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.

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. 

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.