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 (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).

The Recreation Works Supervisor will support the New Forest Recreation Manager in meeting the challenges of balancing our provision of quality outdoor recreation experiences with the protection of some of the most important landscapes in the country.  This will be achieved through the planning and delivery of recreation site provision and maintenance, supervision of the team, contract supervision an engaging stakeholders and the public in the delivery of programmes.

The post holder will also have the ability to make a real difference to people and the environment through recreational management in the New Forest and will be working with a wide range of colleagues and partners to plan, implement and support delivery programmes.

Job description

Key Work Areas

• Work with the Recreation Manager to co-ordinate recreational management, maintenance, activities, projects and resources across the New Forest, delivering the aspirations of our New Forest Plan.

• Supervise the recreational facility inspections system.

• Review recreational principles and processes and deliver best practice.

• Supervise the New Forest Recreation Team in planning and delivering visitor site maintenance and development.

• Support the wider teams in managing community engagement and the provision of engagement opportunities at recreation facilities.

• Support and work with the New Forest Recreation Manager on delivering best practice engagement at our key visitor sites and furthering our ambitions under the New Forest Business Plan and Recreation Management Strategy.

Person specification

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience of planning and delivering recreational management programmes.
• Experience of undertaking, implementing, and managing facility inspections and a facility inspection system.
• Experience in supervising a team and staff.
• Delivering work on time to tight timeframes.
• Health and Safety awareness.
• Working as a team to deliver tasks/project work.
• Competent IT user and proficiency in MS office programmes including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Working in an outdoor setting.

Desirable:

• Experience of contract supervision particularly in a protected landscape.
• Experience of budget resource planning and monitoring.

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following behaviours to take on the role.

Behaviours

Making Effective Decisions

• Take responsibility for making effective and fair decisions, in a timely manner.
• Talk to relevant people to get advice and information when unsure how to proceed.
• Explain how decisions have been reached in a clear and concise way, both verbally and in writing.

Leadership

• Show pride and passion for your work and positive, inclusive engagement with your team.
• Understand your areas of responsibility and display awareness of the wider impact of your actions.
• Proactively role model and promote an inclusive workplace, promptly dealing with inappropriate language and behaviors when they arise.

Managing a Quality Service

• Create clear plans and set priorities which meet the needs of both the customer and the business.
• Keep colleagues and stakeholders fully informed of plans, possibilities and progress.
• Deliver good customer service which balances quality and cost effectiveness.

Working together

• Develop a range of contacts outside your own team and identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning.
• Show genuine interest when listening to others.
• Contribute to an inclusive working environment where all options and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account.

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 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 Statement of Suitability (750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the essential experience 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.

We aim to sift week commencing 15th January 2024 with the interviews being held in person at Burley Yard week commencing 22nd January 2024, 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 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.

 A total of 37 hours per week will need to be covered.  Applicants who wish to work less than 37 hours per week or an alternative working pattern are welcome to apply, however your preferred working pattern may not be available if the remaining hours cannot be filled, 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.

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.