Beat Forester

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

- 322482**Salary**:

- £32,612 - £35,343- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Executive Officer- Pay Band 5 Ops**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

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

- Operational Delivery**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Based at Eals Burn, Bellingham, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 2HPAbout the job

**Job summary**:
Forestry England is the nation’s largest land manager. We have around 1,000 staff and 20,000 volunteers looking after more land and more trees than any other organisation. We also work in partnership with others across government and the charitable and private sectors.

North England Forest District is the largest in England, with 130 staff helping care for some 86,000ha, made up of 61,000ha of forest and 25,000ha of open land in Cumbria, County Durham, Gateshead, Lancashire and Northumberland. Annual timber production is 550,000m3 and the current planting programme is in excess of three million trees per annum. We operate in some of England’s most remote areas, generating significant economic input, and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.

The district is home to 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) covering over 10,000ha and is a major contributor to nationally significant biodiversity projects supporting red squirrels, water voles, ospreys, red kites, forest rewilding, 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.

**Job description**:
North England Forest District is recruiting for a Forester to take over the Kielder South (Wark) beat located within Kielder Forest Park, Northumberland.

**Kielder South Beat Forester**

The Kielder South Beat is made up of a woodland block totalling 10,470ha. The beat is managed for multi-purpose objectives, determined by individual character and location with a strong focus on maintaining the productive potential of the forest.

The beat has a restocking programme of around 145ha per year and an annual timber harvesting programme of around 100,000m3, predominantly from clear felling. As one of the most productive beats in the country, the role is critical to the income of Forestry England. This role is also responsible for the line management of a Beat Works Supervisor and a range of contractors.

Initially there will be a focus on the continuation of recovery operations related to significant storm damage from winter 2021, primarily Storm Arwen. This will include continuation of harvesting operations within windblown areas and follow up ground preparation and restock operations.
- Manage their beat area, team and resources effectively, efficiently, and safely and also work well with neighbouring beat foresters to deliver common goals and share resources where necessary.
- Deliver the economic, social and environmental work programmes to achieve the District Business Plan and Forestry England Strategic Framework targets.

The post receives operational pay, with an expectation of averaging 44 hours a week. There will be a requirement within this to work flexibly to meet the needs of the team and occasionally be on call as part the out of hours emergency roster.

**Responsibilities**:
**Key Work Areas**

People
- Line manage one Works Supervisor.
- Provide a clear sense of direction for the beat. Lead and inspire colleagues to work in synergy and deliver excellent results aligned to the Forestry England Leadership Model and Strategic Framework.
- Encourage and assist the team to innovate and deliver significant programmes, collaborating to embed shared delivery of goals and targets in demanding and busy environments.
- Maintain a positive culture within the Beat team and actively foster cross-functional collaboration and support as part of the wider 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, including:

- Forest Design, Scheduled Ancient Monument and SSSI plans.
- Completion of Operational Site Assessments for all works.
- Completion/coordination of all necessary survey works.
- Completion/supervision of Forest Management Programmes.
- Completion/supervision of clear fell programmes.
- 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 & Exter