Apprenticeship Lecturer

Job summary

Sustainable forestry in England is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change, responding to the biodiversity crisis, ensuring long-term timber supplies thus reducing our reliance on imports, improving our mental and physical wellbeing, and in providing a resilient and beautiful landscape in which we can live, work and play.

If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in realising that, we want to hear from you.

By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a professional and committed team and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward.

The internal Development Woodland Officer (DWO) programme is an exciting new Forestry Commission career pathway into the forestry sector through the degree Level 6 Professional Forester Apprenticeship Programme. It is designed for people seeking a forestry career, including those without prior experience. This 3-year programme has been developed to lead and coach through a wide range of learning activities, supported by on the job training to build on forestry experience and knowledge, not just from within the Forestry Commission but across the entire forestry sector.

Job description

We are looking for an additional Apprenticeship Lecturer. As part of Forest Services, you will be responsible for leading the delivery of the ongoing learning and development of internal Development Woodland Officer and externally appointed apprentices to the degree Level 6 Professional Forestry Apprentices across England, as well as providing training for internal Forestry Commission staff.

The Lecturer plays a vital role in the success of the Apprenticeship Programme, guiding the upskilling and development of future forestry talent, underpinning the Forestry Commission ability to support the step change on our woodland creation levels and supporting woodland management activities within England. The Lecturer will lead on the delivery of the on-the-job and the Forestry Commission led off-the-job training associated with the apprenticeship framework.

This includes working closely with internal stakeholders, Forestry England, Forest Research and externally with the National School of Forestry at the University of Cumbria, other higher education institutions, other training agencies, subject matter experts and organisations engaging with the Professional Forester Apprenticeship.

Key Work Areas

• Assist with promotion and engagement events, promoting the objectives of the programme to potential candidates and helping to identify potential career pathways into the Forestry Commission and the wider sector.
• Working with National and Area Team colleagues assist with the evaluation of potential DWO candidates at the annual recruitment sifts and assessment centres. Leading on the practical interactive elements of the assessments promoting an environment where potential candidates can be assessed in an inclusive and engaging manner drawing the best out of each candidate and providing vital insight during the selection process.
• Working with the Apprenticeship Programme Manager develop and deliver the DWO annual induction training programme in line with the requirements of the Forestry Commission and skills needed to support the learning embedded into the programme.
• Develop and deliver the national on-the-job training events identified in the programme syllabus, designing events to meet the need of not just the Forestry Commission but that of guidance such as UKWAS (UK Woodland Assurance Standard), UKFS (UK Forest Standard) principles and the Forestry Act (as amended 1967). Aligning those events with Area Team requirements, delivery deadlines and workloads, designing a wide range of learning events embracing the most appropriate delivery methods from face to face or virtual delivery.
• Building training calendar working with the Apprenticeship Programme Officer on the coordination on things such as site, venue, and transport requirements of training events.
• Working with the Apprenticeship Programme Manager and the University of Cumbria to assist with the design and led the delivery the Forestry Commission led off-the-job (academic) learning identified in the Professional Forester Apprenticeship framework.
• Provide ongoing pastoral, coaching and mentoring support to those on the programme.
• Provide ongoing technical support to underpin learning activities both during and following all events.
• Work closely with Area Team colleagues to support the ongoing skills consolidation of learning and knowledge building of Development Woodland Officers in their host Area Teams.
• In conjunction with Apprenticeship Programme Manager and the University of Cumbria assist with the design of a robust quality assurance system ensuring that feedback, suggested improvements, or amendments to training material or content are captured throughout training delivery for future enhancements to the training solution. Develop and maintain creative and engaging training materials and content, meeting go-centric guidelines and standards.
• Maintain a strong level of both personal motivation and training delegate motivation throughout the delivery of a training solution, irrespective of the duration.

Person specification

Essential

• A degree in a relevant subject such as forestry or land management.
• A strong working operational understanding and experience of the forestry sector
• An in-depth understanding of, and robust network in the forestry sector.
• A comprehensive understanding of the woodland creation and management, land-use change, and forest protection.
• A strong understanding of the regulatory landscape associated to Forestry within England.
• A track record of establishing successful working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Full current UK driving licence.

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

• Technical training qualifications such as, City & Guilds 6502 Award in Education and Training or 6302 certificate Preparation to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, PTLLS.
• Technical assessor qualifications such as, D32/33, A1, CAVA.
• Professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
• Experience of mentoring and coaching new recruits.

Qualifications

A degree in a relevant subject such as forestry or land management.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Developing Self and Others

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 (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A