UK Government - Forestry Commission
Operations Managers - Harvesting & Marketing
Skills
1 month ago
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Important information
Contract type:
Permanent, Freelance / Contract
Location:
Sunton, Marlborough SN8 3SD, UK
Work mode:
Onsite
Published on:
22 September 2026
What they need
Details
Reference number
481979
Salary
£40,388 - £43,482
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Pay Band 4
Contract type
Fixed term
Length of employment
Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2029, with the possibility of extension or permanency
Business area
FC - Forestry England
Type of role
Business Management and Improvement
Environment and Sustainability
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Location
Santon Downham, East of England, IP27 0TJ
About the job
Job summary
Lead the Harvesting and Marketing function to deliver safe, sustainable and commercially successful timber harvesting, marketing and supply operations across the East Forest District.
Provide strategic leadership for harvesting programmes, timber sales, contractor performance and stakeholder engagement while contributing to the wider Forestry and Land Management team, Strategy and Business Plan.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Job description
Key responsibilities & accountabilities
Leadership and Management
Lead, inspire and develop the Harvesting and Marketing team and associated contractors. Promote a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. Play a key role within the Forestry and Land Management Team and deputise for the Head of Land Management as required.
Operational Delivery
Plan and deliver annual harvesting programmes in line with business objectives, industry standards and UKWAS requirements. Ensure harvesting operations are delivered safely, efficiently and to agreed quality standards.
Timber Marketing and Commercial Management
Lead timber sales and marketing activities. Maintain strong relationships with timber buyers, processors and commercial partners. Maximise timber value and contribute to income targets. Through your team, work with Foresters to ensure continuity and quality of timber supply.
Financial Management
Manage significant harvesting income and expenditure budgets. Monitor performance, forecast income and costs, and report against key performance indicators.
Health, Safety and Environmental Management
Champion a strong health, safety and wellbeing culture. Ensure corporate and legal compliance and environmental standards are maintained throughout all operations.
Stakeholder Engagement
Represent Forestry England with customers, industry partners, contractors, communities and regulatory bodies. Build productive relationships across the organisation and wider sector.
Person specification
Skills, knowledge & experience
Essential professional and technical experience
Proven experience leading forestry, harvesting or land management operations
Experience managing budgets, programmes and contractors
Strong commercial and timber marketing awareness
Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence stakeholders;
Desirable professional and technical experience
Institute of Chartered Foresters membership or willingness to work towards membership
Knowledge of wildlife management, conservation, forest engineering and contract negotiation.
Qualifications
Essential
Good level of basic educational qualifications
High level of computer literacy
Full UK driving licence
Desirable
Degree or equivalent experience in forestry or related land-based discipline
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours.
How to apply
We cannot accept applications via email. Please follow the steps outlined below. Any CVs and/or personal statements sent outside the system will not be considered for shortlisting.
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.
The Behaviours being assessed at interview are
- Leadership
- Managing a quality service
- Changing and improving
- Making effective decisions
- Delivering at pace
You may also be assessed on Experience, Strength based questions, and/or the Technical Success Profile at the interview. The technical element could include a presentation, practical or written task.
Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email [email protected].
If you're planning to use AI to support your application, please ensure you've read our guidelines here first.
Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : [email protected]
- Email : [email protected]
Recruitment team
- Email : [email protected]
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: [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
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