Recreation Craftsperson

Job summary

The Recreation Craftsperson will be part of a customer-facing team supporting the site’s recreational commercial activity. Assist in the upkeep of recreation facilities and site infrastructure, event support, and health and safety responsibilities.

Job description

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Act as the face of Forestry England on site, by being approachable for questions and engage with visitors in a polite and appropriate manner.

• Inspect, manage, and maintain recreational facilities in line with Forestry England’s Health & Safety standards to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

• Undertake forest estate management operations. This includes reporting of fly-tipping, litter picking, maintenance of equipment, restoration and creation of various habitats, and improvement of the landscape such as felling, fencing, pruning, and planting of trees and shrubs.

• Manage vegetation along recreation trails, cycle paths and car parks through use of chainsaw and application of pesticides.

• Contribute to the delivery of key programmes by providing a support service in delivering essential surveys, events, and sales.

• Work closely with volunteers to ensure they have a safe and positive experience in line with our volunteer management processes.

• Assist with onsite communication between recreation and land management teams, franchise operations, neighbours and wider stakeholders to maintain close working relationships and to improve the customer experience.

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential Professional and Technical experience

• Good understanding of health and safety best practice relating to working in a forest or public access site.
• Experience of woodland management, groundwork, or site maintenance with ability to use a wide range of hand tools.
• Experience in tree safety inspections and recreation site inspections.
• Basic computer skills with competence in the use of MS Office applications.

Desirable Professional and Technical experience

• Experience in a public-facing role.
• Experience in working with volunteers and groups.
• Experience in tree felling and use of chainsaws.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE at level C or above in Maths and English Language, or equivalent.
• Full driving license.

Desirable

• Training and certificates in chainsaw, clearing saw, brush cutter, and other machine use.
• ATV (sit in and sit astride)

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,959, Forestry Commission contributes £7,810 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 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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), 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 –

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

You may also be assessed on Experience, Strength based questions, and a technical element. 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 removed].

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 an enhanced (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 Settlemen