About the job

Job summary

South England Forest District manages some 46,000 hectares of the public forest estate across West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset & South Wiltshire. The varied, mixed woodlands produce some 80,000 m3 of timber each year, of which 20,000 m3 is hardwood. 

Much of the land is of high importance for nature conservation, supporting some 29,000 hectares (ha) deemed to be of national importance for wildlife of which approximately 28,000 ha are also designated as being of international importance for biodiversity as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar sites. Most of the land managed by the District is also within areas designated for their landscape value, including 4,000 ha within AONBs and 31,500 ha across two National Parks.

The area receives some 20 million day visits by the public each year and includes two major Forest Centres at Moors Valley Country Park and Alice Holt Woodland Park.

The Public Forest Estate is managed around three pillars of sustainability: People, Nature and Climate. 

Forestry England are currently seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Civil Engineer to manage and drive forward the delivery of the district’s civil engineering programme, including all overall planning, budgeting, compliance, and commercial responsibilities. Lead the civil engineering team and be accountable for the safe delivery of all civil engineering works and asset management within the district. Support the delivery of Forestry England’s purpose and objectives, as well as the targets set out in the current five-year plan..

Job description

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Be responsible and accountable for the health and safety of all civil engineering activities undertaken in the district. Role model high standards of health and safety   and pro-actively seek out opportunities to improve working practices of Forestry England staff and contractors.

• Prepare an annual plan of civil engineering works to support the delivery of timber production, recreation income generation and the safety of our civil engineering   assets including bridges and dams.

• Support the delivery of our investment plan providing civil engineering technical expertise across projects.

• Undertake regular monitoring and management of contractor health and safety and environmental performance at a district wide level; pro-active management of   health and safety and environmental issues; thorough investigation of accidents and near misses, ensuring that lessons learned are shared and implemented.

• Lead the districts civil engineering team to deliver the civil engineering work programme within the district. Line manage, mentor and support the district civil   engineering team through promoting a positive and inclusive culture.

• Ensure an asset management plan is in place and lead the implementation of asset management standards, mobilising resources within the civil engineering team   to manage inspection and maintenance programme.

• Manage the civil engineering district budget through monthly monitoring and inputting into the 5 year business planning process by providing advice on targets, phasing, and expenditure.

• Build networks both internally and with external agencies and partners to support the management and delivery of Forestry England’s civil engineering activities.

• Plan and deliver civil engineering capital investment projects. These tend to be projects which are complex, high risk or cross function.

• Be accountable for all commercial aspects associated with the delivery of the districts civil engineering teams works, including compliance with all procurement requirements and contract management.

• Obtain consents for undertaking civil engineering works, including where necessary completion of planning applications among others.

• Actively manage the environmental impacts of our civil engineering activities, including ensuring the accurate measurement and management of carbon emissions.    Pro-actively seek out opportunities to reduce carbon emissions within own field of influence.

• Ensure all civil engineering activities comply with the requirements of UKWAS and other applicable legislation and best practice.

• And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

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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 Professional and Technical experience - 

• Significant experience 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 H&S legislation.
• Significant experience working in the Civil Engineering sector including works planning, design, and contract management.
• Significant experience in working within a team, communicating effectively, and building enduring relationships with other disciplines and stakeholders. Candidates must be able to engage with geographically disperse teams.
• The ability to produce civil engineering design details and specifications.
• A good understanding of the NEC contract suite and the associated contract management processes.
• Project management skills to be able to deliver the work programme on time and within budget.
• Stakeholder management skills, be able manage a variety of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the relevant CE standards and best practice and application to forestry civil engineering.

Desirable Professional and Technical 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 Qualifications

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,870, Forestry Commission contributes £9,721 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 (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. 

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

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using your 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 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. 

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

Candidates who progress past the sift stage will be offered an interview/assessment date which we plan to hold during week commencing ???????? but this may be subject to change.

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams and will based around Behaviours and Strength-based questions, where we will be asking for evidence from your previous roles. For more information on these style of questions please have a look at Civil Service Success Profiles 

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. 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.

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.

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving license 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.