New Forest Recreation Craftsperson

Job summary

Would you like to make a positive difference to your local environment and the forest?

Do you enjoy working in an outdoors environment?

Are you a practical, handy person who works well as part of a team?

If so then read on, as this could be the role for you!

Background Information

We are Forestry England. We are the country�s largest land manager, caring for the nation�s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation�s forests.

Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people. Our team contains a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals, we all contribute towards the management of some 46,000 hectares (ha) of public forest estate and national parks that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight.

Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites, and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).

The New Forest Recreation Craftsperson team plays an important role in the Recreation and Public Affairs team, managing and maintaining the recreational infrastructure, primarily across the New Forest but also assisting across the wider district. Our team takes pride in finding new and sustainable ways for visitors to enjoy our forest and to further increase our appeal and offering.

Job description

In this role, you�ll be working as an integral part of the New Forest team to maintain our recreation facilities to ensure that we deliver a high quality visitor experience.

Key Work Areas :

Promote enjoyable visits to the New Forest by ensuring clean, safe and welcoming environments for visitors.

Work as part of the New Forest Recreation team showing drive and motivation to improve sites and facilities, with a focus on delivering a quality visitor experience.

Help to maintain and develop safe facilities whilst balancing recreational activity with other forest activities.

Carry out a range of practical maintenance tasks throughout the forest estate, working effectively as a team and when requested responding quickly to unexpected work and issues raised by a Supervisor or Manager.

Perform basic inspections and assist in repair and maintenance of recreation facilities to a high standard, including but not limited to all formal car parks, walking and cycle routes, litter picking, installation and maintenance of signs, picnic tables, benches etc. Keep records of inspections and repairs as directed.

Perform regular Facility Inspections in line with National and District policies.

Person specification

Essential�

Relevant experience of practical maintenance in a parks and / or a countryside environment.

A familiarity with a range of hand tools and ability to demonstrate competence in their use.

Ability to work flexibly as part of a team to achieve shared goals.

Basic IT skills.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

Desirable

• NPTC or equivalent certification in chainsaw use (maintenance, cross cutting and felling up to 380mm) and / or clearing saws, issued within last 5 years.
• Experience of machine operations.
• CPCS trained operator card (red card) for 180 / 360 degree excavator and / or
• CITB National Construction College certificate proving that they have completed a CITB approved training qualification and / or
• Have completed the relevant Forest Machine Operator Certification Scheme (FMOCS) for Wheeled Ridged over tonnes (208-005).

Behaviours

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

Technical skills

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �24,323, Forestry Commission contributes �7,046 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Here at Forestry England we offer :

Learning and development tailored to your role