Operations Manager

Forestry England; Brandon; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Civil Service pension contribution

Free parking at Forestry England sites

Free entry to National Arboreta

Career development & learning support

Job summary

Forestry England operates High Lodge in Thetford Forest and seeks an Operations Manager to lead recreation operations, ensure excellent visitor experiences and drive sustainable management of facilities and assets.

Based at High Lodge, you will manage budgets, safety leadership, and contract oversight while contributing to East District strategies and the organisation’s values. National travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in facilities management and operations leadership.
• Ability to manage health and safety and budgets.
• Strong customer service and visitor experience focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery, management and development of recreation operations across High Lodge and support recreation management across wider beat areas.
• Oversee day-to-day operational excellence, facility and asset management, health and safety leadership, contract oversight and budgeting.
• Contribute to wider district recreation strategy and Forestry England’s values of sustainability, safety, access and wellbeing.

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, Suffolk.

Job Reference forestryengland/TP/30173/837

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Working Hours:

37

Location:

High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, Suffolk.

Closing Date:

09/11/2026

Job Category:

Operations

Region:

East

Business Unit:

East

Job Introduction

We are Forestry England.

We live and breathe forests.

Job title – Operations Manager - High Lodge

Salary - £33,854 per annum

Contract type – Permanent

Vacancy closes - 9th November, 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. More details about how to apply are listed on the application form.

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.

If you're planning to use AI to support your application, please ensure you've read our guidelines here first.

Read more about nationality requirements here.

Working for the Civil Service…

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] .