Operations Managers - Harvesting & Marketing

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 (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 –

• 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 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 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, Switze