Beat Forester

Government Recruitment Service; Capel St. Andrew; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental agency in the UK is looking for a team manager for forestry operations in East Suffolk. Responsibilities include managing a team, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships. Ideal candidates should have experience in forestry management and a knowledge of UK standards. The role requires occasional travel and overnight stays, emphasizing teamwork and a positive work culture. This full-time position involves significant budget management and compliance tasks.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing forestry operations.
• Knowledge of UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).
• Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team and deliver forestry operations.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety regulations.
• Plan and manage contracts for timber harvesting.
• Maintain and manage the beat's budget.

Skills

Team management

Health & safety compliance

Project planning

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Job description

What you’ll do…

You will manage a specific beat and team in one of our Forestry England districts. You will be responsible for forestry operations meeting industry best practices and health and safety regulations. Implement work programmes meeting the district’s strategic plan for the economy, society, and the environmental collaborating with other beat teams.

This is a full-time operational role, with line management responsibilities for a works supervisor and two craftsmen and will need to work as a team with the wildlife and recreation staff members based at the Tangham operations hub. The hub will be supported by an administration or business support officer.

The role is demanding and is required to fulfil a substantial harvesting, restocking and maintenance programme. Whilst the major woodlands in the Sandlings beat are in close reach of the Tangham operations hub, the travel time to the further woodlands in the Lavenham beat can take up to two hours. The operations hub is based one and a half hours drive from the District office at Santon Downham.

The Sandlings Beat (3026ha) is located in East Suffolk, and is dominated by Rendlesham, Tunstall and Dunwich Forests. These are productive woodlands, dominated by conifer stands, with almost the entirety of Rendlesham and Tunstall designated SSSI (SPA) for their support of Woodlark and Nightjar populations. The management of open space and connectivity are an important part of their structure. Dunwich forest is not designated, however much of the land surrounding is, and open ground created is managed through agreement with the RSPB for ground nesting species and heathland restoration.

Where you’ll work…

You will be based in the East of England, working out of the Tangham operations hub in Rendlesham Forest, The Sandlings Beat (3026ha) is located in East Suffolk, and the Lavenham Beat (790ha) is set across Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

You will be required to travel periodically for training and events across the District, and other areas of England. Periodic overnight stays will be required.

• manage a team and volunteers meeting Forestry England’s organisational values and behaviours.
• champion improvements in Forestry England’s health & safety culture.
• deliver a positive and inclusive culture, fostering cross-functional collaboration and support.
• promote learning and development opportunities amongst the team.
• maintain professional and productive relationships with stakeholders across several beats and work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider district.
• create, manage, and execute operations in the beat in line with the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS), UK Forestry Standard (UKFS).
• manage operations in a specific beat, including tree harvesting, regeneration and conservation programmes, outdoor recreation, and public engagement provision, collaborating with district foresters and specialist district leads.
• plan, procure, and manage contracts to effectively meet forest management and timber harvesting objectives, whilst meeting all relevant guidelines and legislation.
• engage proactively and respond constructively to existing and prospective customers and show the highest standards of professionalism when representing Forestry England in the marketplace.
• manage aspects of wildlife, woodland, and heritage conservation, and have awareness of legal and financial implications.
• make sure work you are responsible for complies with health and safety guidance, and communicate the importance of working safely, to manage risks across operations for staff, contractors, customers, and the environment.
• liaise with the local mechanical engineering services team on vehicles, machinery and equipment.
• help maintain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation.
• be responsible for the beat’s budget.
• efficiently manage resources so beat projects, programmes, and business as usual operations are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• prepare the annual beat business plan. M monitor, reforecast and report on budgets and key performance indicators throughout the year.
• This post will require occasional out-of-hours and weekend working including for emergency call outs, council meetings, etc.
  And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.