Address
SalaryDetails
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
North England Forest District
North England Forest District is the largest in England, covering some 86,000ha, made up of 61,000 ha of forest and 25,000ha of open land in Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire and Northumberland. The District is managed by a multi-disciplinary team of more than 130 staff under the leadership of our Forest Management Director, Kevin May. Because we operate in some of England’s most remote areas, the economic activity we generate has a big impact locally and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.
The forest area is 90% conifer and 10% broadleaf. Annual timber production is in the region of 550,000m3. The District has 45 SSSIs covering over 10,000ha and is a major contributor to nationally significant biodiversity projects which help red squirrels, water voles, ospreys, red kites, forest re-wilding, limestone woodland and blanket bog restoration. Our built and agricultural non-woodland estate is extensive and we are engaged in a programme of business development which will create opportunities for additional revenue.
Our visitor offer and experience is focussed on our five Forest Centres: Grizedale, Gisburn, Hamsterley, Kielder and Whinlatter. The nations forests in North England District attracts over one million visits per annum with a high proportion of these being overnight visitors in the region.
Whinlatter and North & West Cumbria
Whinlatter Forest, situated to the northwest of Keswick in the Lake District National Park, is one of the most visited outdoor attractions in the Lake District, with approximately 225,000 visitors per year. Whinlatter is England’s only mountain forest, with strengths in wildlife and adventure. Our offer focuses on cycling, walking, running and orienteering trails to enjoy landscape, wildlife and adventure.
Whinlatter has a Go Ape high ropes course & Segway Safaris, Cyclewise bike hire and retail facility and shop are also on site. Our on site alpaca’s provide a unique experience for many of our visitors.
The Red and Blue mountain bike trails and numerous waymarked walking trails giving access to the higher fells make up most of the managed infrastructure on site. There is a developing running offer at Whinlatter with waymarked trails varying in distance from 2km to 10km and half marathon.
Whinlatter is also a family destination with the Wildplay Trail, Gruffalo Orienteering and other seasonal family activities take place as well as Christmas Tree sales.
Whinlatter is one of our Active Forest sites with an Active Forests Coordinator developing events and activities programme within the forest to increase physical activity levels in nearby communities.
Whinlatter is also a destination for eating and shopping with Siskins Café and the Forest Shop and Information Point within the Visitor Centre.
In 2023 opened our new WOW Trail; a new accessible trail and viewpoint providing a spectacular vista of the Lake District World Heritage Site. Trail interpretation will tell the story of Forestry England and the work that we do as well as providing opportunities to observe woodland wildlife and experience forest bathing.
Recreation operations also include supporting the land management team with the management of outlying woodlands across North & West Cumbria which hosts formal recreation provision at Dodd wood and Ennerdale, as well as informal recreation activity in the other Western Valleys. We work closely with partners in these areas, including the Lake District National Park Authority and the National Trust.
Job description
Purpose of the Job
Work as part of North District recreation and communications team to support recreation delivery and development at Whinlatter Forest and outlying woodlands within North & West Cumbria
Assist with the inspection and maintenance of facilities at Whinlatter and across the wider beat by working closely with colleagues both in and outside your immediate team. You will be required to use your own initiative and assist/support the work of the volunteers and contractors where appropriate.
You will play an active role in maintaining, promoting and developing recreation facilities and opportunities on site, while supporting the site team and maintaining excellent relations with our on-site partners and concessions to meet the needs of our visitors.
You will be part of the bank holiday and weekend rota at Whinlatter working a pattern of Friday to Monday every week, although some flexibility may be built into this working pattern.
We agree the weekend rota for the year each January so the weekends you will work will be clearly defined at the start of each year.
You will work a four day week that will include Saturday and Sunday. It is likely but not guaranteed that you will work different days each week, e.g. one week you will work from Thursday to Sunday and the following week you will work Tuesday to Friday the exception to this would be when the weekend being worked falls on a bank holiday weekend when the expectation would be that you will work the bank holiday Monday too.
Key work areas
- Work with the Whinlatter team to co-ordinate and deliver recreation services on a day-to-day basis to ensure the smooth running of the visitor facilities.
- Assist in the delivery and inspection regime which ensures the safety of recreation and other facilities and make sure all works are conducted in compliance with health and safety policies.
- Support the Recreation Rangers with the maintenance and development of Mountain Bike trails, walking trails and other Recreation infrastructure around the North & West Cumbria area.
- Work alongside the Whinlatter Caretaker to deliver quality grounds maintenance and infrastructure maintenance around the visitor centre.
- Assist with onsite communication between recreation, land management, other Forestry England teams and franchise operations to engender a close working relationship and improve customer experience.
- Maintain and develop contact with visiting public, providing relevant information, and responding to accidents and incidents on site both at Whinlatter and within the wider beat.
- To assist in the supervision of volunteers working with the recreation team, ensuring they are effectively supervised and have a safe, positive experience in line with our volunteer management processes.
- Support the team in managing unauthorised trails within all the forests in the Whinlatter team’s area.
- This post involves working every weekend when the forest is at its busiest. Whilst the expectation is that the person in this role will work most weekends (Saturday and Sunday), local arrangements are in place that may allow some flexibility.
Person specification
Experience and professional expertise
Essential:
- Experience of practical work in the countryside and a general understanding of forestry, conservation, and countryside related issues.
- Familiarity with a variety of mechanical and hand tools and an ability to demonstrate competence in their use (e.g. City and Guilds National Proficiency Test Council or LANTRA certificates of competence)
- A Full Driving Licence
Desirable: - Experience in recreation facility management
- Experience in a public facing role.
- Experience in the use of IT applications.
- Experience of working with volunteers and groups.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
- Delivering at Pace
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 average employer contribution of 27%
- 25 days holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years service plus 10.5 Public, Privilege and Additional holidays.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name-blind CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed below and on the application form.
We will use your CV and Personal Statement to assess whether you have the Experience we are looking for, so include examples to show us how your past work is similar to the advertised role.
Your CV needs to list your full job history and include a short description of what each job involved. Please provide reasons for any gaps in employment over the last two years.
Your Personal Statement (no longer than 500 words) is an opportunity for you to outline your personal skills, qualities and experience and explain how these make you suited to the advertised role.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interviews will be held at Whinlatter at a date to be confirmed.
For candidates invited to interview, there will be a formal interview for 40 minutes when candidates will be asked a series of questions on the essential criteria and behaviours followed by a practical test during which we will assess you against:
- Ability to follow written instructions.
- Ability to select appropriate tools/aids.
- Hand-eye coordination.
- Awareness of safety
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 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.
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.
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.
This role is part time(0.8) 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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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
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
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
