Community Ranger - South East, United Kingdom - Forestry Commission

Forestry Commission

Verified Company

South East, United Kingdom

1 week ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Details:

Reference number:

Salary:

- £29,832 - £31,077

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade:

Administrative Officer

Pay Band 6a(Op)
Contract type:
Fixed Term
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment:

- upto 31/07/2024.

Business area:

FC
Forestry England
Type of role:
Operational Delivery
Working pattern:
Flexible working, Fulltime, Job share
Number of jobs available:
1Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits:

Things you need to know

Location

South East EnglandAbout the job

Job summary:

We are recruiting a Community Ranger to work as part of the Thames Beat team overseeing Jeskyns Community Woodland (near Gravesend, Kent).

The Thames Beat team manages a total of eleven community woodlands across London, Essex, and Kent, which have been created with communities since 1990 on greenfield and brownfield land.

Today they support a range of habitats from established woodland to orchards, and wildflower meadows.

Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests, to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife.

You will play a part in maintaining and enhancing our community woodland estate.

Job description:

Job description

As a Community Ranger you will be responsible for supervising day-to-day operational delivery and visitor experience, overseeing health and safety, and developing community involvement and recreation opportunities.

You will supervise x 3 staff members and be responsible for Jeskyns Community Woodland and supporting work at other Thames Chase sites when needed.

Reporting to the Beat Manager, you will play a key role in supervising contractors, staff and volunteers.

The Thames Beat team is part of Forestry England's East England Forest District. The district employs over 150 staff and covers an area of 35,000 ha.

The district's woodlands are varied and range from the huge conifer plantations in Norfolk to our small community woodlands on the outskirts of London.

The East District woodlands are important for timber production and conservation, with a large proportion of the landholding designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and offer opportunities for a wide range of recreation from the informal use of open access woodland to the adventurous play and trails.

Forestry England is a progressive and inclusive organisation, where benefits include a generous holiday entitlement, substantial training, development and volunteering opportunities, as well as flexible working arrangements and membership of an excellent civil service pension scheme.

Our staff work in and among some of the most diverse and spectacular natural environments in England.

Purpose of the role

To oversee day-to-day operations, including recreation maintenance, habitat / species management, volunteer management and community involvement at Jeskyns Community Woodland.

Key Work Areas:

Ensure that the site is managed to a high standard and in accordance to agreed management plans. This will also involve supporting the development of management plans, when required.
Coordinate and deliver daily and weekly site inspections and ensure site recreational facilities and infrastructure are maintained and safe.
Supervise the daytoday tasks and scheduling of 3 x staff (Assistant Rangers and occasionally Forest Craftspeople).
Coordinate and prioritise weekly and monthly jobs lists and to undertake and/or supervise practical tasks, involving contractors, staff and volunteers to use tools and machinery, whilst following the appropriate training and health and safety procedures.
Ensure that all work conforms to Forestry England's health and safety policies and procedures. Promote a safe working environment by role modelling high standards of health and safety; through regular monitoring and recording of H&S compliance; and the prompt reporting of accidents and near misses ensuring that lessons learned are shared and implemented. Liaise with emergency services when required as part of our emergency response procedures.
Respond to public enquiries and manage social media / online information. Engage with visitors onsite on a daytoday basis, facilitating access to our community woodlands.
Support the delivery of tree safety and other site surveys as and when required.
Build and maintain good working relationships with external partners, tenants, and concession operators.
Represent Forestry England on site and at stakeholder meetings and events, as and when required.
Lead on the development and safe management of programmes connecting volunteers and local communities with the nation's forests.

Support the Beat Manager and Community Woodland Lead with projects and district priorities, when required.

Person specification:

Professional & Technical Expertise

Essential: