About the job

Job summary

Background Information

North England Forest District is the largest in England, covering some 86,000ha, made up of 61,000 ha of forest and 25,000ha of open land in Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, and Northumberland. The district is managed by a multi-disciplinary team of more than 130 staff under the leadership of our Forest Management Director, Kevin May. Because we operate in some of England’s most remote areas, the economic activity we generate has a big impact locally and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.

The Civil Engineer 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.

Job description

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 Experience

• 3 A levels.
• HNC/HND in Civil Engineering.
• 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. 
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable Professional 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 £29,863, Forestry Commission contributes £8,063 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. Further details about what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your CV will need to include your employment history as well as your qualifications.

Your 750-word personal statement will be assessed against the person specification so please align this as closely as possible to the criteria listed.

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

Interview

Interview: 20th August 2024 (please note this date could be subject to change)

Interviews to be held at: North England District Office, Eals Burn, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2HP.

For candidates invited to interview you will be asked behaviour-based questions, where we will be asking for evidence from your previous roles, and questions to see whether your experience reflects the needs of the role.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.