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 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.

Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people, containing a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers and ecologists to marketing professionals, we all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares (ha) 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, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Additionally, Forestry England is at the forefront of connecting people with nature through public access and recreation, with over 360 million visits on Forestry England land every year.

We are looking for a Recreation Ranger to be based at Farnham covering the Chiddingfold Beat and the north of Micheldever Beat.

Job description

In this role, you will be helping to ensure the safety of Forestry England sites and their visitors, by carrying out regular inspections and monitoring of recreation facilities, both formal and informal.

You will help to promote safe and sustainable recreational practices through public engagement, information and education and assist the wider team to deliver on health and safety objectives.

You will be working with communities to develop positive stakeholder and community relationships, including developing volunteering opportunities and fielding public enquires.

Lone working, as part of a 7 day rostered week, which will include regular weekend and public holidays, will be required. There will be regular travel required as part of the role.

 Key Work areas

• Inspect and maintain recreation facilities and ensure that all health and safety requirements are completed in compliance with Forestry England guidance, policies and procedures
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local community groups and recreational users and provide information and guidance about key issues and Forestry England messages.
• Use your own initiative to deliver solutions to facility management problems and react swiftly to issues, engaging contractors where appropriate.
• Work with colleagues both inside and outside of your immediate team to deliver on key site objectives and to ensure effective engagement with communities and stakeholders.
• Identify, grow and deliver volunteering opportunities across the Beat, in line with our district volunteer strategy.

Person specification

Essential:

• Experience in a relevant discipline such as a visitor centre / countryside management, public access or outdoor recreation management.
• Evidence of strong communication (both written and verbal) and relationship building skills, including dealing with conflict and sensitive issues.
• Experience of applying relevant health and safety legislation to a recreation facility.
• Proven ability to manage competing demands and prioritise workloads.
• Competent IT user and proficiency in MS office programmes e.g. word, PowerPoint & Excel.

Desirable:

• Experience of planning for and working with volunteers and groups.
• Experience of managing contractors in the outdoors.
• Knowledge of basic maintenance skills and experience in using hand tools.

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 and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and up to a 750 word Personal Statement as follows:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements with reference to the criteria in the Person Specification. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Personal Statement (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.

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.

Candidates successful at sift will be invited to an Interview. At interview candidates will be assessed on the listed behaviours and their experience.

Interview

Sifting will take place in the week commencing 29th July 2024, with interviews scheduled to take place in the week commencing 5th August 2024. Please note these dates are subject to change.

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 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.

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.

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.