Assistant Area Land Agent - Full Time Fixed Term Appointment
Forestry Commission
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 20th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About Forestry England
For over 100 years, we have been growing, shaping and caring for over 1,500 of our nation’s forests for the benefit and enjoyment of all, for this generation and the next. We care for more land and trees than any other organisation in England. Shaping landscapes for people, wildlife and timber. We supply England’s largest amount of sustainably-sourced timber, and conserve thousands of plant and animal species. We care for some of the country’s most important habitats, home to our rarest wildlife. We are recovering vital ecosystems and returning missing species to our landscapes. With careful planning and expert management, our forests will continue to thrive. Forests store carbon, reduce flooding and provide people of all ages and abilities with fresh air and spaces to breathe. We are always thinking beyond today, planning and planting forests that will help create a sustainable future.
This post is based in the East England Forest District. The District, with over 150 directly employed staff, covers an area of 35,000 ha from North Norfolk to Brighton; including Thetford Forest and the outlying beats of Sandlings, Kent, East Sussex, Chilterns and Thames Chase Community Forest. The District has a varied landholding including the large pine forest at Thetford, community woodland on the outskirts of London and a range of mixed woodland, many of which are on sites of Ancient Woodland. There are numerous sites of Conservation interest designated across the District, including SPA, SAC, SSSI, AONB, ASNW, CWS and Scheduled Monuments. The District offers outdoor recreation activities to hundreds of thousands of people each year at its recreation centres and the whole freehold estate is dedicated for public access on foot, with numerous small carparks and informal access points.
As an Assistant Area Land Agent, you will be an integral part of the Estates team working directly with our Area Land Agents and other Forestry England teams. You will hold an appropriate RICS qualification (MRICS or FRICS) and have relevant land and property management experience. You will be involved in a wide variety of estates work, which will keep your days varied and interesting whilst building your knowledge and experience.
Job description
The post will require regular travel throughout the East England District as well as to other offices nationally. Therefore, car use is an essential requirement due to remote locations of parts of the District. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
In your role as an Assistant Area Land Agent there will be opportunities for you to develop yourself further as you get involved. You will be involved in wide range of work, including:
- Managing landlord and tenant relationships, undertaking timely rent reviews, lease renewals, new lettings of commercial, residential, sporting and agricultural agreements and telecoms together with other opportunistic letting arrangements.
- Assisting in the planning and delivery of commercial projects and improving the financial and environmental sustainability of the estate.
- Assisting with potential development opportunities and enhancements to income from FC land or property.
- Providing professional advice to colleagues in other departments and working with a wide range of stakeholders and partner organisations.
- Supporting the District Building Surveyor in the delivery of asset maintenance programmes and projects.
- Assisting in the management of litigation claims and legal matters, including protecting Forestry England's assets in relation to access, encroachments, boundary disputes and claims.
- Assisting in the acquisition and disposal of land and property
Estate Management in East England Forest District is divided into two distinct areas, each headed byan Area Land Agent. East Anglia is managed from the District Office at Santon Downham and the South East is managed from the Bedgebury office. Both areas include extensive areas of forestry and other land, houses, offices, workshops, visitor centres and various other buildings, assets and facilities. The Estates team also provide extensive support to the forestry, environmental and recreation management departments.
Person specification
This role is aimed at someone who is either working towards or already RICS qualified and has relevant land and property experience.
Essential:
You will hold at least one of the following qualifications/memberships
- qualified (or in the process of qualifying) as a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS/FRICS), ideally in rural practice. However, we would consider other pathways, if you can demonstrate the pathway you have followed would be suitable for this role.
- Fellow of the CAAV (FAAV)
Desirable:
You will have experience of working as a Rural Surveyor in a professional estates service and able to demonstrate detailed knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
- A good understanding of planning, property and compensation legislation and of compulsory purchase procedures.
- Providing advice on land and property related matters to minimise project risk and compensation liabilities. Negotiating access to land, securing appropriate interests and settling compensation claims.
- The management of a diverse land and property portfolio including property management, valuation and landlord and tenant issues to provide sustainable land use and deliver best practice.
- Experience and competency in IT packages including Microsoft Office.
- A full and valid UK driving licence.
You should be able to balance work to ensure that tasks are achieved and have good interpersonal skills in order to build networks and influence both internal and external customers/stakeholders and the effective resolution of issues. You should be able to identify and implement areas of best practice.
Qualifications
qualified (or in the process of qualifying) as a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS/FRICS), ideally in rural practice. However, we would consider other pathways, if you can demonstrate the pathway you have followed would be suitable for this role.
Memberships
qualified (or in the process of qualifying) as a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS/FRICS), ideally in rural practice. However, we would consider other pathways, if you can demonstrate the pathway you have followed would be suitable for this role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
- 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
- Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
- 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
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 Forestry Commission workplaces, 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This is a Fixed Term Appointment until December 2025 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
Applicants will be asked to complete the following to be considered for the role:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps in your employment within the last two years.
- A Personal Statement (no longer 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
Failure to 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.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
A panel will look for applications that demonstrate the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the Job Description and Responsibilities.
Failure to address any or all of these criteria may affect your application.
Sift Dates - w/c 28th October 2024
Interview dates to be confirmed.
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.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Charles Ashley
- Email : charles..ashley@forestryengland.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
