Lyndhurst, South East England, SO43 7NH
Job Summary
What you’ll do…
Lead the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team to deliver Wildlife Management operations in line with industry best standards. Work collaboratively with Beats and other district functions to play your part in delivering the wider Forest District operations. Champion improvement in our health & safety culture and assist in maintaining our firearms, game meat hygiene and conservation accreditations.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Where you’ll work…
We are Forestry England. We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests.
Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 170 people with a diverse range of roles - from foresters and wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals. We all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares of public forest estate that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight. Nearly all of our forests are within either a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (for habitats), Special Protection Areas (for birds) and Ramsar sites (for wetlands). We also provide public access and recreation in our forests, with nearly 50 million visits every year to South England Forest District.
If the post you are applying for is PB5 or above, you will be asked to join the District duty roster, after a suitable period of time.
Job Description
Leadership Responsibility
* Responsible for the protection of crop and habitat from wildlife damage across the district, lead and inspire the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team to deliver effective deer management operations, and maintenance and operation of deer larders (and the presentation of carcasses for sale), in collaboration with Beat Foresters, District Foresters and specialist District leads.
* Take responsibility for the delivery of Wildlife Management projects and programmes of work as required.
* Promote a positive and inclusive culture in the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team and actively foster cross-functional collaboration and support. As a Line Manager in the Forest District demonstrate and embed our organisational values and behaviours.
* Ensure compliance with organisational guidance and procedures and communicate the importance of working safely, to manage risk across operations for staff, contractors, and customers. Embed a culture of continuous improvement, promoting learning and development opportunities amongst the team.
* Provide leadership across the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team, and deputise for the District Forester, as required, to ensure expertise and continuity in Wildlife Management across the District.
Operational Responsibility
* Deliver operational elements of the Districts Wildlife Management strategy, including the district deer cull and the management of other mammals to mitigate damage to crop and habitat.
* Design, manage and execute the programme of operations (Wildlife Management Plan) for the District.
* Ensure effective communication of the programme to colleagues in Land Management and across functions.
* Plan, procure, and manage contracts (including Deer Control Licences) to deliver effective Wildlife Management, and the preparation and sale of game meat, whilst meeting all relevant guidelines and legislation.
Management of Resources
* Budget responsibility. Efficiently manage resources to enable effective delivery of Wildlife Management projects, programmes, deer larders, and ‘business as usual’ operations.
* Prepare the annual Wildlife Management business plan, monitor, reforecast and report on budgets and Key Performance Indicators throughout the year.
* Leadership of a team of New Forest Keepers and/or Wider District Wildlife Rangers and any associated contractors and volunteers.
Stakeholder Engagement, Representation and Communications
* Maintain professional and productive relationships with stakeholders across all Wildlife Management and Project interests, and work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider district.
* Engage proactively and respond constructively to existing and prospective customers and present the highest standards of professionalism when representing Forestry England.
Leadership Responsibility
* Responsible for the protection of crop and habitat from wildlife damage across the district, lead and inspire the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team to deliver effective deer management operations, and maintenance and operation of deer larders (and the presentation of carcasses for sale), in collaboration with Beat Foresters, District Foresters and specialist District leads.
* Take responsibility for the delivery of Wildlife Management projects and programmes of work as required.
* Promote a positive and inclusive culture in the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team and actively foster cross-functional collaboration and support. As a Line Manager in the Forest District demonstrate and embed our organisational values and behaviours.
* Ensure compliance with organisational guidance and procedures and communicate the importance of working safely, to manage risk across operations for staff, contractors, and customers. Embed a culture of continuous improvement, promoting learning and development opportunities amongst the team.
* Provide leadership across the New Forest Keeper and Wider District Wildlife Ranger team, and deputise for the District Forester, as required, to ensure expertise and continuity in Wildlife Management across the District.
Operational Responsibility
* Deliver operational elements of the Districts Wildlife Management strategy, including the district deer cull and the management of other mammals to mitigate damage to crop and habitat.
* Design, manage and execute the programme of operations (Wildlife Management Plan) for the District.
* Ensure effective communication of the programme to colleagues in Land Management and across functions.
* Plan, procure, and manage contracts (including Deer Control Licences) to deliver effective Wildlife Management, and the preparation and sale of game meat, whilst meeting all relevant guidelines and legislation.
Management of Resources
* Budget responsibility. Efficiently manage resources to enable effective delivery of Wildlife Management projects, programmes, deer larders, and ‘business as usual’ operations.
* Prepare the annual Wildlife Management business plan, monitor, reforecast and report on budgets and Key Performance Indicators throughout the year.
* Leadership of a team of New Forest Keepers and/or Wider District Wildlife Rangers and any associated contractors and volunteers.
Stakeholder Engagement, Representation and Communications
* Maintain professional and productive relationships with stakeholders across all Wildlife Management and Project interests, and work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider district.
* Engage proactively and respond constructively to existing and prospective customers and present the highest standards of professionalism when representing Forestry England.
Person specification
Essential Professional And Technical Experience
* Use Experience of leading a team, as well as successfully demonstrating a collaborative approach to team working.
* Experience of planning and supervising Wildlife Management operations, and the ability to demonstrate a significant understanding of health and safety and compliance, in particular the use of firearms, across Wildlife Management operations.
* Experience of budget management, and a sound understanding of and experience in contract management.
* Competence in the use of MS Office applications.
Essential Qualifications
* Hold deer stalking certificates at DSC1 and DSC2.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Delivering at Pace
* Making Effective Decisions
* Managing a Quality Service
* Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* More information provided to those successful for interview.
Alongside your salary of £35,580, Forestry Commission contributes £10,307 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Benefits…
Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension. You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
* 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
* STaR is our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
* free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
* a commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.
Read more about the benefits on the Forestry England website.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
How To Apply…
You will be asked to write a 200 word statement on your relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words. You will be assessed on both during sifting. More details about how to apply are listed on the application form.
You will be assessed on your experience, technical skills and the below behaviours during your interview.
The Behaviours being assessed at interview are –
* Delivering at Pace
* Making Effective Decisions
* Managing a Quality Service
* Seeing the Bigger Picture
Successful candidates will undergo an enhanced criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.
Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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.
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
* Name : FC Recruitment Team
* Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk
Further information
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. #J-18808-Ljbffr