About the job

Job summary

We are Forestry England. We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests.

Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people. Our team contains a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals, we all contribute towards the management of some 46,000 hectares of public forest estate and national parks that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight.

Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites, and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).

The Planning and Environment Team are responsible for creating forest management plans to support the District to design resilient woodlands taking into account key issues such as climate change, and the different ways that people will want to use our forests in future.

The post holder will manage the storage and accessibility of ecological GIS data for the District and work with colleagues to improve the efficiency of the current system.They will be the main source of GIS expertise and will support teams with the development and management of spatial data.   

Job description

Key work areas;

• Produce complex maps and spatial data analysis for District land management projects on request.
• Provide GIS support to other colleagues and raise their skill level where needed through informal training.
• Assist the planning team in keeping the forest sub compartment database and other spatial records up to date and accurate.
• Share local district spatial data by being the point of contact for data requests from external partners, stakeholders, students, etc. and issue data licences where required.
• Lead the GIS element of several projects by creating, maintaining, and analysing local ecological data datasets, specifically for species monitoring and tree health.

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 offices within the South District, 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.

Person specification

Essential

• A degree in Geographical Information Systems and background experience in ecology, or vice versa, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in the use of desktop GIS software, ideally ESRI ArcGIS Pro and online portals, plus working knowledge of UK GIS datasets.
• Experience of analysis and presentation of geospatial and statistical data, including related management of projects.
• Experience of data management, analysis and data quality assurance.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to consistently produce accurate and high-quality work.

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.

Desirable

• Interest in technological developments in GIS and mobile devices.
• Experience of successful management and/or analysis of satellite remote sensing data would be a bonus.

At interview we will assess you against the following behaviours:

Communicating and Influencing

• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Put forward your views in a clear, constructive and considerate manner.
• Use an appropriate method of communication for each person such as an email, telephone call or face-to-face, taking into consideration their individual needs.
• Use plain and simple language, being careful to check written work for errors.
• Consider the impact of language used on different groups of stakeholders.
• Remain honest and truthful when explaining opinions.
• Listen and ask questions to ensure your understanding.

Working Together

• Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team and remain open to taking on new and different roles.
• Get to know your colleagues and build supportive relationships.
• Listen to alternative perspectives and needs, responding sensitively and checking understanding where necessary.
• Ask for help when needed and support others when the opportunity arises.
• Be aware of the need to consider your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues.
• Understand that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.

Managing a Quality Service

• Gain a clear understanding of customers’ needs and expectations.
• Plan, organise and manage your own time to deliver a high quality service which gives taxpayers a good return for their money.
• Act to prevent problems by identifying issues, reporting them and providing solutions.
• Keep customers and all colleagues up to date with progress.
• Show customers where to access relevant information and support that will help them to use services more effectively.

Delivering at Pace

• Always work with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard.
• Follow the relevant policies, procedures and rules that apply to the job.
• Use own knowledge and expertise to organise work.
• Keep focused on delivery and take responsibility for the quality of work produced.
• Keep a consistent level of personal performance.
• Keep managers and stakeholders updated on how work is progressing.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,941, Forestry Commission contributes £7,544 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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

• 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.
• A Personal Statement (1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the essential experience specification.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential experience requirements within the application responses.  Failure to fully complete both sections (CV and Personal Statement) 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, Hampshire SO43 7NH week commencing 27th May 2024. During your interview you will be asked questions on the listed behaviours and will be assessed on the listed strengths.

Further Information

A reserve list will be held for a period of 6 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. 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.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, Forestry England 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.