Details
Reference number
429810
Salary
£32,089 - £32,724
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Executive Officer
Pay Band 5
Contract type
Fixed term
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Fixed Term Appointment ending 31st March 2026
Business area
FC - Forest Services - The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and our role is to protect, improve, expand and connect England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector.
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Bristol office (weekly attendance) with some occasional travel required.
About the job
Job summary
Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. Our Prime Minister and our government are committed as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan to increasing the tree canopy cover across England from the current 14.5% to at least 16.5% by 2050 – this means 34,000 ha of new tree cover by 2028.
The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Forestry Commission (FC) have set up a joint tree planting programme for England to support the forestry sector, landowners, and communities in the delivery of these ambitions.
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in that, we want to hear from you.
By joining the FC, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to transform how we work together and reach new stakeholders. Forest Services (FS) as part of FC are the Government's forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England's valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy".
The Operations Admin Manager is responsible for managing and monitoring the performance of their team, working with peers to deliver a consistent approach to grant functions across the country, maintaining good working relationships with colleagues in other FC and Defra teams, and providing a high standard of service to customers.
As an Operations Admin Manager you will be jointly responsible with the other Operations Admin Managers for the day-to-day delivery of customer services and will work closely with them to ensure a good working relationship and consistent approach. You will be responsible for co-ordinating the work of up to 6 admin officers and for the monitoring of their performance.
The position focuses on the management of delivery of grants that support the planting of new woodland and trees outside woodland in through the NCF Programme.
The post holder will report to the Operations Team Manager.
Job description
As an Operations Admin Manager, you will be responsible for managing and monitoring the performance of your team in day-to-day delivery and for achieving a high standard of service to customers. You will encourage good working relationships within your team and with others. You will ensure that your team complies with the various rules, policies and procedures, set by both the FC and external bodies like the Rural Payments Agency.
Key work areas
* Ensure that the Operational Delivery Team's work is undertaken in accordance with national instructions, rules and financial controls. Take responsibility for the processing of applications, claims and payments
* Respond to customer enquiries and monitor the status and progress of claims, passing to subject matter experts where required
* Effectively line-manage up to a maximum of six Operations Admin Officers, ensuring they have the support, information and tools needed to fulfil their role
* Liaise with Operations Admin Manager peers, Area teams, and the National Grants & Regulations team to ensure consistent implementation of business processes and identify further opportunities for continuous improvement
* Contribute to the overall delivery of Forest Services objectives and business, including local and national projects and initiatives
* Support and manage change, establishing new ways of working within the team and across Forest Services
Person specification
Essential
* Good communication skills with some experience of working with wider teams and stakeholders
* Ability to quickly understand and reflect on new / modified processes
* Experience with the administration of live forestry grants
* Experience of delivering tasks across multiple processes / projects
* Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications to deliver tasks
Desirable
* People management experience, or proven aptitude for and willingness to progress into people management through this role
* Experience of managing and supporting change within a team
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
* Developing Self and Others
* Changing and Improving
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £32,089, Forestry Commission contributes £9,296 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
* A range of family friendly benefits.
* An environment with flexible working options.
* Learning and development tailored to your role.
* A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
* 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 31 March 2026, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
* A tailored 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 – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the essential criteria of the Person 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 the personal statement. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interview
Candidates will be further assessed on Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths at interview.
We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
Applications will be sifted week commencing 6 October 2025.
Interviews will be held week commencing 20 October 2025.
Please note that these dates are subject to change.
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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Some occasional travel will be required as part of the duties of this post. However, the FC is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any method of travel, subject to prior approval. Successful candidates wishing to use their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the FC Travel Policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km from April 2023).
Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply and will only be considered on a 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.
Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.
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.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Security
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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : FS Recruitment Team
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.