Recreation Craftsperson

About the Role

The Recreation Craftsperson will be based at Moors Valley Country Park & Forest, situated on the Hampshire/Dorset border within the South Forest district which manages extensive forest lands across several counties. Moors Valley attracts nearly one million visitors annually who enjoy a variety of amenities including play structures, cycling and walking trails, and events. This role is essential to maintaining high standards across the site while delivering excellent customer service, ensuring visitor safety, and preserving facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the site remains clean, safe, and welcoming to provide an enjoyable experience for all visitors.
• Regularly inspect and maintain recreational infrastructure such as play equipment and trails in alignment with District and National policies.
• Perform diverse maintenance duties including litter picking, managing vegetation, addressing fly-tipping issues, and supporting tree safety inspections.
• Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with external partners like Go Ape and Dorset Council.
• Assist with the operation and upkeep of the car parking ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system.
• Balance recreational facility upkeep with other forest activities to promote safe usage.
• Work on a rotating 7-day rota covering 37 hours per week, including regular weekends and public holidays to ensure continuous site operation.
• Deliver front-of-house support by providing accurate visitor information, managing first aid situations, and assisting with finding lost children.
• Support emergency protocols and collaborate with volunteers to create a safe and positive environment for all involved.
• Engage in event support and bespoke trail initiatives to encourage visitation and foster environmental engagement.
• Handle public-facing responsibilities such as addressing visitor queries, managing complaints, overseeing cash transactions through pay machines, and potentially contributing to social media and customer communications.
• Collaborate with wider South District teams including Marketing, Business Support, and Civil Engineering to promote cohesive site management.

Required Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Solid grasp of health and safety standards relevant to forest estates or public spaces.
• Experience providing professional, friendly customer service face-to-face.
• Understanding of effective communication and teamwork dynamics.
• Practical background in woodland management, site maintenance, or groundworks with competency in hand tool use.
• Experience inspecting tree safety and recreational areas.
• Basic proficiency in computer skills, especially MS Office applications.
• Possession of a full driving license.

Preferred but Not Essential

• Experience in public-facing roles involving volunteer coordination.
• Chainsaw operation and related equipment competence (clearing saw, brush cutter, strimmer).
• 4x4 vehicle training.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: £26,959 per annum.
• Contributory Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme with an employer contribution of £7,810 (28.97%).
• Personalized learning and development aligned to the role.
• Flexible work options within a diverse and inclusive culture.

Additional Information

This role requires passing criminal record and government baseline security checks, as well as a medical examination. It is open to UK nationals and specified groups eligible to work in the UK. The recruitment process involves submitting written statements detailing relevant experience and career history, followed by assessments including practical tasks and behavioral interviews focused on service quality, teamwork, and working at pace.

Weekend and public holiday working are mandatory with a 7-day rota ensuring full site coverage.

Applicants should be aware of artificial intelligence guidelines when preparing their applications; all information provided must be truthful and personally derived. Forestry Commission promotes equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion throughout its recruitment and employment practices.