Operations Manager - Timber Harvesting & Marketing
Forestry Commission
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 10th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join West Forest District's Operations Leadership Team and take responsibility for the safe, effective and efficient harvesting and marketing of over 200,000 tonnes of sustainably produced team per annum.
Background
Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission. West England Forest District is responsible for the sustainable management of over 38,000ha of the Nation's Forests in the west and south-west of England. The north of the District extends from woodlands near Shrewsbury, southwards to the majestic oak and beech woods of Savernake Forest in Wiltshire and in the south-west the District stretches as far as Idless Woods near Truro in Cornwall. The District is managed from the District Office at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, supported by 13 local Forest Beat or Forest Visitor Centre delivery teams dispersed across the Forest District. These local teams are responsible for the professional delivery of agreed work programmes assisted by a team of business support staff.
As part of the district's Operations Leadership Team, the postholder will contribute strongly to delivering the Forestry England strategic aim “Connecting everyone with the nation’s forests by creating and caring for our forests for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and business to grow” in accordance with the approved Business Plan as we work towards delivering Superb Forests through being an Outstanding Organisation. You will lead a harvesting programme of >200,000m3obs, and in the region of £9m income derived from a blend of standing sales and direct production.
Job description
Purpose of the Job
Lead the West Forest District timber harvesting & marketing business function to effectively and efficiently deliver our strategic objectives. As part of the District's Operations Leadership Team, the postholder will contribute strongly to delivering the Forestry England strategic aim “Connecting everyone with the nation’s forests by creating and caring for our forests for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and business to grow” in accordance with the approved Business Plan as we work towards delivering Superb Forests through being an Outstanding Organisation.
The district is committed to only delivering forestry that we are proud of, and to that end the Operations Managers have a critical role in supporting front-line delivery teams to meet industry guidance and best practice, co-ordinating effectively and efficiently across all areas of our work.
The Operations Manager - Timber Harvesting and Marketing specifically leads the safe, efficient and effective harvesting and marketing of over 200,000 tonnes of conifer and broadleaf timber each year. Ensuring beat foresters and the direct-production team plan, implement and communicate work plans and harvesting contracts efficiently and effectively, maintaining and improving standards of safety, environmental protection and silvicultural management.
In line with our West FD strategic plan, the postholder will look to improve how we tell the story of sustainable forestry, encouraging teams to positively communicate the importance of well planned and executed timber harvesting operations to stakeholders and visitors, networking effectively with our Communications & Marketing officers, and team of community rangers.
The postholder acts as a role model embedding the Leadership model behaviours into everyday working practices to demonstrate exemplary leadership.
This post lends itself to blended working, with an appropriate combination of work from an office environment, home and regular support visits to beat offices and work sites.
Key Work Areas
Leadership
- Provide a clear point of leadership and expertise or the H&M function across the district.
- Line manage the Direct Production Manager.
- Support staff and maintain a positive culture of collaboration and expertise.
- Ensure that all H&M activity is carried out to the highest safety and environmental standards.
- Represent Forestry England acting as prime contact with the timber trade in the west and south-west of England.
Planning, Management and Control
- Construct the annual H&M Sales and Marketing Plans in support of the District Business Plan and Long Term Financial Model.
- Liaise closely with the FE National Team ensuring activity is aligned to national objectives, policies and procedures
- Monitor outputs and provide regular, accurate forecasts.
- Contribute to the ongoing UKWAS certification of the Public Forest Estate.
- Ensure that safety is at the forefront of H&M activity and manage proactively for the wellbeing of the team.
Customers and Stakeholder Management
- Maintain effective communications with all sections of the timber trade within your area of influence.
- Foster good relationships with our stakeholders and those affected by H&M operations, including forest visitors and neighbours.
- Support a strong harvesting and haulage contractor base achieving good value for money and resilience in the sector.
- Ensure that your staff are supported and that everyone has a safe and healthy environment in which to work.
Person specification
The candidate is required to demonstrate the following:
Essential
- Significant directly relevant work experience in the timber harvesting, marketing and forestry sector.
- Excellent knowledge of forestry certification and experience of managing forests to UKWAS.
- Robust knowledge of timber harvesting health and safety procedures.
- Strong people management and leadership skills.
- Experience of planning and delivering projects.
- Proven ability to manage competing demands and prioritise workloads.
- The ability to build and maintain highly effective working relationships with a range of people (both internally and externally).
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Understanding of budgetary control and reporting.
- Competence in the use of MS Office applications.
Desirable
- A qualification in forestry at diploma or degree level.
- Be a Chartered Forester or working towards chartered status.
- Experience of collating data and generating reports.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
Benefits
Across Forestry England, we are focused on ensuring that our staff are respected, included, supported and engaged. We love difference and know that every single person is unique. We encourage an environment that values the uniqueness in everyone.
Our wide range of Staff Benefits helps us to achieve this:
- A great environment with flexible working options and a range of family friendly benefits.
- Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro rata based on part time hours). After 20 years’ service you will receive a one-off award of 5 extra days’ holiday. On top of this, you'll receive all public holidays plus an additional 2.5 ‘privilege’ days (pro-rata for part time).
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A range of wellbeing benefits, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme plus many more.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums.
- Three paid volunteering days per year (pro-rata for part time).
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- Continual Professional Development: support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of relevant professional bodies.
- Civil Service Learning (CSL) online platform provides access to a host of high quality training courses on a variety of useful and relevant subjects.
- Dedicated Technical Training in support of our operational functions, ensuring that keeping people safe is central to everything we do.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift many be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview
The anticipated shortlisting and interview timetable is noted below.
Application Sift: Week commencing 11th November
Interviews: Week commencing 18th November
Please note that these dates are subject to change.
Interview
Candidates who progress past the sift stage will be offered an interview/assessment date.
Interviews will be face-to-face and will involve you being assessed against Behaviours, and Experiences listed in the advert.
Should you wish to discuss the role in more detail please contact: ben.philipps@forestryengland.uk
Further Information
A reserve list will 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.
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.
All Forestry England staff are required to complete a medical questionnaire as part of the pre-employment checks and, if needed, you may be referred to our Occupational Health provider for a further assessment prior to formal appointment.
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.
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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 : Ben Philipps - Operations Manager
- Email : ben.philipps@forestryengland.uk
- Telephone : 07733002666
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
