Learning Ranger - Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

Forestry Commission; Kennford; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a Learning Ranger to engage with schools and communities, promoting sustainable forestry education. The role involves delivering learning activities, collaborating with various stakeholders, and enhancing public understanding of forestry. This part-time position offers a dynamic work environment within the beautiful landscapes of England's forests.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Employee benefits scheme

Free parking

Free entry to National Arboretums

Qualifications

• Experience in educational establishments or visitor attractions.
• Experience designing and delivering learning activities.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and deliver learning activities for schools and community groups.
• Support the Learning Manager with monitoring and evaluation of programs.

Skills

Customer Care

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Degree in Biology

Teaching Qualification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Dunchideock, South West England, EX6 7XR

Job Summary

Hours – 24 hours a week

What You’ll Do…

As Learning Ranger, you will work within the District learning team to facilitate and deliver a range of high quality learning provision and engagement activities across your geographical area to meet agreed objectives and to tell the story of Forestry England.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work…

The West England Forest District team are custodians of 38,500 ha of the Nations Forests in the west and south-west of England. Our woods can be found from Shrewsbury in the north to the majestic veteran trees of Savernake Forest near Marlborough, and the conifer forests on Bodmin Moor, and ancient woodlands of the Glynn Valley in Cornwall. The district is based in the historic Forest of Dean which lies between the rivers Wye and Severn in Gloucestershire.

Over two-thirds of our woodlands lie in protected landscapes, with two National Parks, and numerous National Landscapes and sites of special scientific interest. Our team sustainably produce over 220,000 tonnes of timber per annum, whilst providing safe homes for a wide range of wildlife from the common to the rare. We are proactively managing our woods to mitigate against our changing climate and the biodiversity crisis. We are passionate about welcoming visitors to the Nations Forests and encouraging everyone to enjoy our natural world in a responsible way, supporting healthy lifestyles and mental health.

Job Description

Raise awareness and understanding of sustainable forestry

• engage with schools in targeted areas, working collaboratively with the community rangers as appropriate, to facilitate and deliver school harvesting visits, introductory talks and other outreach work
• promote Forestry England learning activities and products for visitors, schools and other groups to carry out self-led learning opportunities
• assist with the development of materials and delivery mechanisms for training purposes to improve learning partner and provider knowledge of Forestry England and the work that we do
• support the National Learning Officers to design and deliver formal education activities and informal learning materials (e.g. activity packs to accompany national marketing trails) for learners of all ages
• collaborate with Forestry England colleagues to deliver forestry-related sessions to sixth form, further education students and adult special-interest groups
• interact with our visitors in a positive way (either face to face or through digital channels) to help them understand and connect to our forests and woodlands Increasing our natural capital
• facilitate learning activities for vulnerable or disadvantaged visitor groups including youth community and special needs groups
• attend local shows and events to support colleagues with site promotion and public engagement opportunities, including providing suitable resources and activities
• increase our capacity and effectiveness through partnership working
• manage the administration of learning agreements, including reviewing documentation such as risk assessments, consulting with
• Forestry England staff from other disciplines in approving new applications and identifying suitable working areas and carrying out robust monitoring through observation visits and annual meetings
• support the Learning Manager with our Learning Partner, BFS, at Cardinham Woods through regular site monitoring visits, liaising with the local team and delivering CPD sessions
• attend national and local education events and conferences, including delivering workshops to promote Forestry England sites, downloadable resources, educational products and projects
• administer the national Children’s University scheme, including providing the stamps for passports and accrediting Forestry England sites and activities
• support the Learning Manager in monitoring, evaluating and developing the District’s formal and informal learning programmes as required
  
  

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Raise awareness and understanding of sustainable forestry

• engage with schools in targeted areas, working collaboratively with the community rangers as appropriate, to facilitate and deliver school harvesting visits, introductory talks and other outreach work
• promote Forestry England learning activities and products for visitors, schools and other groups to carry out self-led learning opportunities
• assist with the development of materials and delivery mechanisms for training purposes to improve learning partner and provider knowledge of Forestry England and the work that we do
• support the National Learning Officers to design and deliver formal education activities and informal learning materials (e.g. activity packs to accompany national marketing trails) for learners of all ages
• collaborate with Forestry England colleagues to deliver forestry-related sessions to sixth form, further education students and adult special-interest groups
• interact with our visitors in a positive way (either face to face or through digital channels) to help them understand and connect to our forests and woodlands Increasing our natural capital
• facilitate learning activities for vulnerable or disadvantaged visitor groups including youth community and special needs groups
• attend local shows and events to support colleagues with site promotion and public engagement opportunities, including providing suitable resources and activities
• increase our capacity and effectiveness through partnership working
• manage the administration of learning agreements, including reviewing documentation such as risk assessments, consulting with
• Forestry England staff from other disciplines in approving new applications and identifying suitable working areas and carrying out robust monitoring through observation visits and annual meetings
• support the Learning Manager with our Learning Partner, BFS, at Cardinham Woods through regular site monitoring visits, liaising with the local team and delivering CPD sessions
• attend national and local education events and conferences, including delivering workshops to promote Forestry England sites, downloadable resources, educational products and projects
• administer the national Children’s University scheme, including providing the stamps for passports and accrediting Forestry England sites and activities
• support the Learning Manager in monitoring, evaluating and developing the District’s formal and informal learning programmes as required
  
  

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person specification

Essential Professional And Technical Experience

• competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications
• experience of working in an educational establishment, visitor attraction or in the outdoors
• experience of designing and delivering formal and informal learning activities
• excellent standards in customer care
  
  

Desirable Professional And Technical Experience

• full UK driving license
• experience of delivering learning outdoors and using the natural environment as a resource
• experience of working in high volume, high quality operation/visitor attraction
• interest in and knowledge of sustainable forestry
  
  

Qualifications

Essential

• educated to a degree or equivalent level in a relevant subject e.g. Biology, Environmental Science, or substantial relevant experience
• teaching qualification (or equivalent) or substantial relevant experience
  
  

The position is subject to enhanced DBS check

Desirable

• forest school training or experience
  
  

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £29,171, Forestry Commission contributes £8,450 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 and Experience.

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 strength based questions during your interview.

The Behaviours being assessed at interview are

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
  
  

Successful candidates will undergo an enhanced record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email [e-mail].

Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on 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. This includes grade on return.

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 and Experience.

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 : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

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: [e-mail]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.