Recreation and Public Affairs Manager

Forestry England; Kings Clipstone; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution (~28.97%)

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Employee benefits scheme (STaRis)

Free parking at Forestry England sites

Free entry to National Arboretums

Job summary

Forestry England is seeking a Recreation and Public Affairs Manager to join the Central England district. You will lead recreation and public affairs in the district, connecting people with the nation’s forests while sustaining finances and improving visitor experiences.

You will oversee at least two main forest centres, drive income growth, develop teams, and represent the district at local and national forums.

Responsibilities

• You will play a key role in the district’s Recreation and Public Affairs leadership team, helping connect more people with the nation’s forests while delivering sustainable finances.
• A major part of the role is overseeing the operation and development of at least two of our main forest centres, where millions of visitors experience nature each year.
• You will ensure exceptional customer experiences, high service standards and memorable outdoor adventures, while maximising income and contributing to the long-term sustainability of Forestry England’s wider work.
• You will also lead district-wide recreation programmes, provide technical expertise, drive compliance and best practice, identify opportunities for income growth, oversee key projects, support and develop managers, help teams manage visitor pressures, and represent the district at local, national and organisational forums.

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Sherwood NG21 9JL

Job Reference forestryengland/TP/618/853

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Working Hours:

37

Location:

Closing Date:

16/11/2026

Job Category:

Recreation

Region:

Central

Business Unit:

Central

Job Introduction

We are Forestry England.

We live and breathe forests.

Job title – Recreation and Public Affairs Manager

Contract type – Permanent

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…

You will play a key role in the district’s Recreation and Public Affairs leadership team, helping connect more people with the nation’s forests while delivering sustainable finances.

A major part of the role is overseeing the operation and development of at least two of our main forest centres, where millions of visitors experience nature each year. You will ensure exceptional customer experiences, high service standards and memorable outdoor adventures, while maximising income and contributing to the long-term sustainability of Forestry England’s wider work.

You will also lead district-wide recreation programmes, provide technical expertise, drive compliance and best practice, identify opportunities for income growth, oversee key projects, support and develop managers, help teams manage visitor pressures, and represent the district at local, national and organisational forums.

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

Where you’ll work…

As part of the Central England team, you will work within an area that stretches from Milton Keynes in the South, to Hull in the East and the Mersey Belt in the North West.

You can be based in either our Sherwood NG21 9JL (Notts), Delamere CW8 2HZ (Cheshire) or Cannock WS15 2UQ (West Midlands) office. This is a district wide role and so your work will take you across the full extent of our area.

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.

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] .