Area Administrative Officer - Bucks Horn Oak, United Kingdom - UK Civil Service

Description

Job summary

Forest Services as part of Forestry Commission are the Government�s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England�s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.

The South-East and London Area stretches from Kent in the east to Hampshire in the west, as far north as Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and the greater London area. This post will be based in the Bucks Horn Oak Office in Alice Holt Forest, Surrey.

The Area Team is led by Jane Hull (Area Director) and currently operates with 41 staff; the team will expand over the coming months as we work towards meeting the Government�s ambitions to create 30,000ha a year of new woodland in the UK by 2025.

Job description

The purpose of the job for the Area Administrative Officer is to provide effective administrative support to the Area Team and to proactively ensure that appropriate procedures are followed and that relevant Forestry Commission England standards are met. Some travel may be required with, very occasional, overnight stays.

Key Work Areas

Financial support including finance tasks such as payments, monitoring and liaising with the Finance team. Booking travel and accommodation, collation and scrutiny of claims and monitoring of budgets. Exploring office cost savings where appropriate.

Admin support to Area team, including Health and Safety responsibilities as required by Area Director, such as ensuring checks on safety equipment, first aid kits etc. are made. Support the IT local infrastructure manager for the Area team, monitor incoming communications, assist with arranging meetings, acting as minute taker if necessary, booking venues and arranging events. Maintain the area team SharePoint area, including being Office 365 Champion. Act as a Training Co-ordinator for the area team, including direct liaison with the Health, Safety and Technical Training team.

Office management to include receptionist duties and dealing with area team post. Monitoring and coordinating office maintenance procedures and contracts, including biomass boiler and cleaning contract, printers, kitchen and other equipment and liaison with Forestry England regarding buildings maintenance (Bucks Horn Oak only). Work with Forestry England and admin hub staff to carry out weekly and monthly fire checks and have the responsibility of being one of a team of Fire Marshals for the Bucks Horn Oak building.

Communications and partnership support to Area team to include collating the weekly update, act as secretariat for the Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committees, maintain contacts database, mailing e-alerts, invitations to events, etc. Maintain library, publications stocks and exhibition materials. Maintain filing and review as required. Monitor and triage planning application consultations that come into the dedicated mailbox.

Personal Development - Undertake training and development in line with Individual Learning Plan to develop competencies required for the post.

Person specification

ESSENTIAL

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

Behaviours

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

Benefits

� A Civil Service pension
� A range of family friendly benefits
� An environment with flexible working options
� Learning and development tailored to your role
� A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
� A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more
� 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years� service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
� Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave
� 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata)

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.