Forest Craftsperson

About the organisation

Forestry England is a team of forestry professionals dedicated to looking after forests and making a positive impact for people and the natural world. The organisation manages land with a long-term view, creating places to enjoy, protecting habitats, improving air quality and producing timber in a sustainable way.

Role overview

As a Forest Craftsperson, you will support a beat forester and works supervisor as part of a small team carrying out hands-on forestry work. The role focuses on practical management activities that help shape the forest for future generations, with the district centred on commercially driven operations such as thinning, felling and restocking.

Key duties

You will contribute to day-to-day forest management tasks and help deliver the operational programme for the district. The work is outdoor-based, carried out in all weather, and generally follows a 37-hour week. Normal working times are usually 7:00 to 15:00, with Fridays ending at 14:30, and overtime may be required when operations demand it.

Location

The role is based in East England Forest District, with the starting point from Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk.

Pay and contract

This is a permanent part-time position with a salary of £26,959 per annum. The standard working pattern is 37 hours per week.

Benefits

Alongside salary, the role includes a Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, with Forestry England contributing an average of 28.97% towards pension costs. Other benefits include 25 days of annual leave, increasing by one day for each year of service up to 30 days, pro-rated for part-time staff, plus additional leave such as bank holidays. You will also have access to the STaR employee discounts scheme, free parking at Forestry England sites, free entry to the National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury, and support for ongoing learning and career development through professional development, learning plans and sponsorship of professional memberships.

How to apply

Applicants must provide a 200-word statement covering relevant experience and career history, as well as a personal statement of up to 500 words. Both statements are used in the sift stage. The interview will assess experience, a technical skill and strength-based questions, along with behaviours linked to Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together and Making Effective Decisions.

Checks and requirements

Successful candidates will need to complete a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check. Reasonable adjustments can be requested by emailing fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk. Candidates should also be aware that applicants must have the ability to communicate accurately in spoken English, as required under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.

Equality and civil service schemes

This role sits within the Civil Service. Forestry England participates in the Disability Confident Scheme, the Redeployment Interview Scheme for eligible civil servants at risk of redundancy, and the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative. Recruitment decisions are made through fair and open competition based on merit.

Additional information

The vacancy closes on 13 July at 23:58. The role is open to candidates who meet the relevant civil service nationality requirements. If an application is believed not to have been handled in line with Civil Service Recruitment Principles, a complaint can be sent to englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. Guidance is also provided for applicants choosing to use AI in their application.