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 underpin all that we do.

We are uniquely placed to confront the climate emergency, tackle the nature crisis, and support the nation’s health and wellbeing. Working for Forestry England is to be part of the solution to the challenges of our generation.

Mechanical Engineering manage the safe and economic life cycle of all Vehicles, Machinery, and Equipment (VME) used by Forestry England, Forest Research and Forest Services across the United Kingdom. 

As the Mechanical Engineering Administration Support Officer, you will provide day to day administrative support to the Central Management Team located across England. You will play a key role in supporting and helping to develop the high quality of service delivery required to support business units across Forestry England.

The role will be location based and you will be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing a wide range of specific administrative duties and work with colleagues who are based at different sites. To support this, some infrequent travel may be required.

By Joining Forestry England, you will work for the largest provider of outdoor recreation in England and a world leader in sustainable forestry and conservation.

This post will report to the Mechanical Engineering Operational VME Fleet Manager.

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the Central Management function within the Forestry England Mechanical Engineering team.

This post will ideally be based at our offices located at Bellingham, Northumberland.

The Mechanical Engineering Central Management team work alongside our Engineering workshops to support our regional business partners as well as the wider organisation to ensure the effective and efficient management of all Mechanical Engineering assets, ensuring adherence to all financial assurance and regulatory compliance.

As Fleet  Administration Support Officer you will play a key part in ensuring that all aspects of administration are completed and  act as point of contact for external stakeholders for a wide range of enquires related to the use of VME Fleet.

• Provide overall administrative support following the mandatory Daffodil protocol for the effective running of the Central Management function.
• Act as liaison between Central Management and business units, escalating queries where necessary across the department.
• Support the procurement of new assets through creation of purchase orders and administration of purchase forecasting.
• Ensure adherence to all financial policy and procedures within your area of responsibility.
• General office duties to include ensuring file retention and records management is kept up to date.
• Oversee accident management administration, escalating decision making where required.
• Ensure that all received invoices are processed in accordance with pay performance targets.
• Check supplier statements to ensure any outstanding invoices/credits are interrogated and processed.
• Ensure supplier account setup is completed where required.
• Ensure EOY instructions are complied with and alert the Finance Manager of any encountered problems.
• Assist with all financial & administrative audits.
• Provide overall support for Central Management team for ad hoc project works.
• Provide administrative housekeeping support for asset management services.
• In conjunction with other staff based at your location, ensure that workspaces and communal areas are kept in a tidy condition ensuring that equipment is left in such a way as to provide easy access for cleaning staff.
• Assist in the achievement of the FC’s Business Sustainability targets for energy use, travel emissions and waste reduction through direct personal action and by contributing to Cost Centre and corporate initiatives.
• Any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person specification

Essential

Demonstrable experience of working in a customer focused environment.

A sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages – in particular Word, Excel and Outlook.

Experience of handling numerical data to a high level of accuracy.

 

Desirable

Knowledge and use of fleet management software, including asset records and invoice payment.

Experience in working as part of a wider team across geographical areas.

 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,534, Forestry Commission contributes £7,191 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 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 personal statement (no longer than 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.

Interviews will take place at Bellingham and be assessed against experience and the listed Behaviours.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed

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 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.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.

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.

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.