Beat Forester

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 292392**Salary**:

- £32,612 - £35,343**Job grade**:

- Executive Officer- Pay Band 5 (Op)**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- FC - Forestry England - North England Forest District**Type of role**:

- Operational Delivery**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Spadeadam Office, MOD Spadeadam, Gilsland, Cumbria, CA8 7ATAbout the job

**Job summary**:
North England Forest District is the largest in England, covering some 86,000ha, made up of 61,000ha of forest and 25,000ha of open land in Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire and Northumberland. The District is managed by a multi-disciplinary team of more than 130 staff. Because we operate in some of England’s most remote areas, the economic activity we generate has a big impact locally and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.

The forest area is 90% conifer and 10% broadleaf. Annual timber production is in the region of 540,000m3. The District has 45 SSSIs covering over 10,000ha and is a major contributor to nationally significant biodiversity projects which help red squirrels, water voles, ospreys, red kites, forest re-wilding, limestone woodland and blanket bog restoration. Our built and agricultural non-woodland estate is extensive and we are engaged in a programme of business development which will create opportunities for additional revenue.

Our visitor offer and experience is focussed on our five Forest Centres: Grizedale, Gisburn, Hamsterley, Kielder and Whinlatter. The public forest estate in North England District attracts over one million visits per annum.

**Job description**:
The Spadeadam Beat comprises the 10,800 hectares of Spadeadam and Kershope forests straddling the border between Northumberland and Cumbria. The beat has an annual planting programme of around 150ha and a timber harvesting programme of around 80,000m3 each year from clear felling sites. The post is based at our office within RAF Spadeadam and the management of the relationship between Forestry England and the RAF, who own a large part of Spadeadam Forest, is vital to the role.
- Manage the Spadeadam & Kershope Beat, team and resources effectively, efficiently and safely.
- Manage and maintain the important relationship between Forestry England and RAF Spadeadam.
- Deliver the economic, social and environmental work programmes to achieve District Business plan and Forestry England Strategic Framework targets.

**Responsibilities**

**Key Work Areas**:
**People**
- Manage one Works Supervisor and contribute to the management of two Wildlife Rangers
- Provide a clear sense of direction for the Spadeadam & Kershope Beat Team: lead and inspire them so that they work in synergy and deliver excellent results which are aligned to the Forestry England Leadership Model and Strategic Framework.
- To encourage and help the team to innovate and deliver significant programmes collaborating with others to embed shared delivery of goals and targets in demanding and busy environments.
- To maintain a positive culture in the Spadeadam & Kershope Beat team and actively foster cross-functional collaboration and support as part of one Forest District team.

**Beat Planning & Operational Management**
- Prepare and implement plans to deliver high quality forest operations across the Beat, through harvesting, forest and environmental management operations.

To include:

- a. Implementation of Forest Design Plans, Scheduled Ancient Monument and SSSI plans.
- b. Completion of Operational Site Assessments for all works.
- c. Completion /co-ordination of all necessary survey works.
- d. Completion/supervision of Forest Management Programmes.
- e. Completion/supervision of clearfell programmes.
- f. Management of the Beat budget.- Ensure effective contract management for all works carried out across the Beat, ensuring compliance with industry best practice and internal FE procedures.

**Health & Safety**
- Oversee all aspects of Health and Safety across the Beat, promoting and improving our safety culture.

**Communication & External Liaison**
- Part of the planning process build and maintain excellent working relationships with statutory consultees, local communities & landowners and internal FE functions.
- Lead on, build & maintain the relationship between Forestry England and RAF Spadeadam.
- Liaise with the MOD to coordinate military training requests for exercises in the Kielder Main Block.

**Person specification**:
**Essential**
- Experience of leading a team and providing support to staff.
- Experience of planning and delivering of forest operations together with a good understanding of Health and Safety in forestry work.
- Higher level qualification in Forestry / Land management or sufficient relevant industry experience to satisfy the requirements of the post.
- Full UK Driving Licence.

**Desi