Operations Manager

Forest Camping Limited; Brandon; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

Holiday entitlement

Employee discounts

Job summary

Forestry England's High Lodge in Thetford Forest, Brandon, Suffolk, invites applications for an Operations Manager to lead recreation operations, facilities and asset management, and to deliver a safe, high‑quality visitor experience.

You will oversee day‑to‑day operations across High Lodge, manage contracts and budgets, and promote an inclusive, “one‑team” culture while supporting the East District recreation strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience in operations management within recreation/land management.
• Ability to manage budgets, contracts and teams.
• Commitment to safety, accessibility and visitor experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery, management and development of recreation operations.
• Oversee facilities, assets, budgets and health & safety leadership.
• Develop an inclusive one‑team culture across High Lodge.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Health & safety

Contract oversight

People management

Job description

Job title – Operations Manager - High Lodge

Salary - £33,854 per annum

Contract type – Permanent

Vacancy closes - 6th September 2026, 23:58

Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment.

Together, we’re using our scale and expertise to grow the nation’s forests for everyone. We’re already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.

What you’ll do…

High Lodge is one of Forestry England’s flagship outdoor recreation destinations, receiving over 500,000 visitors annually and offering high‑quality facilities, trails, heritage features, play areas, cycling, events, and commercial partnerships.

As the Recreation Operations Manager, you will lead the delivery, management and development of recreation operations across High Lodge and support recreation management across wider beat areas. The role is responsible for day‑to‑day operational excellence, facility and asset management, health and safety leadership, contract oversight, budget management, and developing a positive and inclusive “one‑team” culture.

You will play a central role in ensuring that High Lodge provides an outstanding visitor experience while contributing to the wider East District recreation strategy, commercial growth targets and Forestry England’s values of sustainability, safety, access and wellbeing.

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

Where you’ll work…

High Lodge Thetford Forest, Thetford Road, Brandon IP27 0AF

Occasional national travel with overnight stay may be required.

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.
• STaRis 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.

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.

You will be assessed on a technical skill during your interview. A 5‑minute presentation will need to be prepared in advance. The subject will be provided to applicants who are invited to interview.

Please prepare a 5-minute presentation in advance on: "How I Would Deliver a Toilet Refurbishment Project at High Lodge." Please explain how you would deliver the project and outline any key considerations you would need to take into account.

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). This means candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative.

Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English.

Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in in line with/according to these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: [e-mail] .

The following content displays a map of the job's location.

• Job Reference forestryengland/TP/23934/761
• Contract Type Permanent
• Closing Date 6 September, 2026
• Job Category Operations
• Business Unit East
• Location High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, Suffolk., United Kingdom