About the job

Job summary

South England Forest District manages some 46,000 hectares of the nations forests across West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire Hampshire, Isle of White, Dorset and South Wiltshire. The varied, mixed woodlands produce some 100,000 m3 of timber each year, of which 25,000 m3 is hardwood. The land management team have responsibility for an extensive programme of habitat restoration, principally ancient woodland and lowland heath. 

Much of the land is of high importance for nature conservation, supporting some 29,000 hectares of SSSI’s of which approximately 27,000 are also designated at a European level as Special Areas of Conservation. The majority of the land managed by the District is also within area designated for their landscape value, including 7,500 hectares with AONBs and 31,500 hectares across two National Parks. 

The Public Forest Estate is managed around three pillars of sustainability: People, nature and the economy.  

The Ringwood Beat is comprised of 3,500 hectares of mixed woodland across East Dorset and Cranborne Chase that varies from ancient broadleaf woodland to pine forests and areas of heath and mire including areas designated as sites of special scientific interest. Also, a number of Forestry England sites are within walking distance of large urban areas within Dorset where community engagement is a regular occurrence. 

The Micheldever Beat covers 3,300 hectares and has several priority sites within it including the Thames Basin Heath SPA which is critically important for ground nesting birds. We work in partnership in this area with stakeholders including Natural England. We have a legal requirement to ensure our activities in this area do not impact the SPA designation which is a key role undertaken by the Wildlife Ranger. To the south of the beat a mixture broad leaf and conifer cover many ancient woodland sites.   

The roles have regular access to office facilities across the District including each of the sub-offices in each beat respectively: 

Ringwood Beat Office  – Ashley Heath, Ringwood BH24 2EJ

Micheldever Beat Office – Kings Worthy nr Winchester SO21 3BP

And full access to our our main District office at The Kings House, Lyndhurst SO43 7NH. 

It is our expectation for any successful candidate that they will live within their ‘Beat’. Maps of the Beats can be found attached to this advert in a separate pdf.

Within the personal statement submitted each candidate should state their preferred beat option if successful at interview: Ringwood or Micheldever.

Job description

Purpose of the Job 

To work as part of the South England forest district Team on either the Ringwood or Micheldever beat to deliver forest protection, habitat conservation and recreation and public affairs objectives. 

Key Work Areas

Undertake deer management and produce carcasses to the British Quality wild Venison standard, to control other mammals to protect tree regeneration, forest habitats and biodiversity in line with district policy. 

• Develop local conservation work programmes to maintain and where possible increase the quality of designated
• To work actively and cooperatively with the Beat Team, Recreation Ranger and other colleagues to undertake proactive outreach work and engage with visitors to the Ringwood or Micheldever Beat in order to influence and promote behaviour that leads to the protection of forest habitats and infrastructure
• To build and maintain positive relationships with members of the local community, and sporting right tenants.
• To be proactive in undertaking regular liaison with Forest District staff and assist with planning, monitoring and operational delivery
• To build and maintain positive relationships with external contacts, where this benefits collaborative community and wildlife

 

Person specification

Working Together 

• Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team and remain open to taking on new and different roles. 
• Build supportive relationships with your colleagues. 
• Listen to alternative perspectives and needs, respond sensitively and checking understanding where necessary
• Ask for help when needed and support others when the opportunity arises. Managing a Quality Service
• Act to prevent problems by identifying issues, reporting them and providing solutions. Delivering at Pace
• Always work with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard.
• Following the relevant policy, procedures and rules that apply to the job.
• Keep focused on delivery and take responsibility for the quality of work produced.
• Keep managers and stakeholders updated on how work is progressing. Seeing the bigger picture
• Understand how your work and the work of your team will support the wider objectives and meets the diverse needs of stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with issues that affect your work area.
• Take a keen interest in expanding knowledge in areas related to your work.

Essential

• Extensive experience of firearms use, deer management including delivering large culls and carcass preparation.
• DMQ Deer Stalkers Certificates Levels 1 and 2
• A current Police Firearms Certificate
• Experience of using effective communication skills to convey messages to a variety of audiences.
• An understanding of woodland management and the ecology of woodlands and heath. 
• Competent user of IT including Microsoft Office applications.
• The ability to train a suitable dog breed as an aid for deer management.
• A full UK driving Licence

Desirable

• A qualification in wildlife or conservation land management, such as a BTEC National Diploma, a BTEC HND or a BSc degree.
• Experience in a wildlife or conservation land management role demonstrating a keen interest in nature conservation. 
• An EPS handling license or equivalent.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,175, Forestry Commission contributes £8,417 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, Experience and Technical skills.

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.

Interview

Candidates who progress past the sift stage will be offered an interview/assessment date week commencing 15th July 2024 but this may be subject to change.

The interview will based around your Experience, 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.

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.

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, 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.

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.