About the job

Job summary

The Trainee Forester role is designed to prepare the successful candidate to take on a beat forester role or equivalent at the end of the two year training period.  The training period may involve working with different management units or beats within the district to gain a wide range of skills and knowledge or we may be able to provide this whilst working in a district role. The final decision of how the training will be provided will depend on the experience and knowledge of the successful applicant.

There are 2 trainee posts available:

1 - in Central England District to be based in Mansfield or a District office located in either North Nottinghamshire or Lincolnshire.

The role will fit within Central District functional support team and will be based on the East side of the district supporting the beat teams with harvesting and establishment and with a strong element of responsibility for woodland creation projects, in particular the site at Clipsham.

The successful applicant will work alongside the existing establishment support post based in the West of the district

This role will allow the successful applicant to develop their knowledge and experience of operational forestry and woodland creation whilst interaction with a range of beats will offer an insight into a variety of site types and management techniques.

1 - in Yorkshire District to be based in Pickering

Yorkshire FD is headed by Gareth Parry as Forest Management Director and covers an area of 21500 hectares, most of which is in protected landscapes with19000ha in the North York Moors National Park and 590ha in the Howardian Hills AONB. The Trainee will be based at Pickering and will work alongside experienced Foresters over several beats to deliver a range of planning and operational programmes.

Job description

Key Work Areas

• Undertake Operational Site Assessments and Risk Assessment to minimise risks of forestry operations on safety and the environment.
• Manage the implementation of a range of forestry programmes and monitor operations to ensure adherence to industry best practice and internal FEE guidance taking corrective action where required.
• Prepare and manage budgets, ensuring that any essential variances are swiftly reported to the relevant manager.
• Procure, prepare and manage contracts successfully using Forestry England systems through to completion in line with Forestry England internal guidance.
• Take the lead on specific forest district project/s that will be assigned where opportunity arises.

Person specification

Experience and Technical Expertise

Essential

• Education to degree or HND level and/or experience in the forestry or wider land management sector.
• Ability to work in a dynamic structured and collaborative way in a complex and rapidly changing environment.
• An ability to work efficiently within specified time frames, collaborating as required and with a clear view of the bigger picture.
• The ability to demonstrate sound judgement and flexibility within set parameters to ensure a balanced outcome in line with Forestry England objectives and principles
• Demonstrate an understanding of the main forestry operations and the controls needed to protect people and the environment.
• Be proficient in using Microsoft Office packages

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

• Have practical experience working in forestry or other land management activities.
• Be able to use technology such as Global Positioning Systems and Geographical Information Systems and understand its application in forestry.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,863, Forestry Commission contributes £8,063 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.

To apply for this role, your application should be submitted via Civil Service Jobs. As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows.  

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 (no longer than 750 words). Please explain why you are applying for the role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the job, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification and what you can bring to the role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

The behaviours listed within the advert will be assessed at interview.

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 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. 

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

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.

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.