Hamsterley Forest Caretaker

Job Summary

Background

Forestry Commission is a leading organization in the forestry sector, dedicated to connecting people with the nation's forests. Our strong values and shared ambition to grow the nation's forests for everyone underpin all that we do.

The North England Forest District is the largest in England, with a team of 130 staff members working together to care for 61,000 hectares of forest and 25,000 hectares of open land in Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham, and Lancashire. We operate in some of England's most remote areas, generating significant economic and environmental benefits, and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.

The North England Forest District is also home to 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest covering over 10,000 hectares 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 visitor offer and experience are focused on five Forest Centres: Hamsterley, Grizedale, Gisburn, Kielder, and Whinlatter. In total, the nation's forests in the North England District attract over one million visits per annum.

The Hamsterley Beat comprises 3,200 hectares of diverse woodland and forest located in County Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne & Wear, including mature mixed woodlands on the urban fringe at Chopwell and conifer-dominated upland forests at Slaley and Hamsterley Forest. There is a staff team of full-time equivalent roles, supported by volunteers and on-site business partners.

Hamsterley forest is an important regional outdoor recreation destination, with visitor numbers growing year on year and the potential to reach 300,000 in the next five years. The site is popular with families who enjoy our play offer and family campaign trails, and mountain bikers, who benefit from a strong intermediate offer and the advanced offer at the Descend Bike Park. The forest also hosts a weekly Parkrun event, plus many other activities and cultural events. We are currently developing plans to refresh the visitor offer with a new visitor centre, café, and bike hire, plus working with Forest Holidays to introduce overnight stays in the forest.

Job Description

We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and make a positive difference to our visitor experience.

Together, we are using our expertise to grow the nation's forests for everyone. We are adapting our landscape for tomorrow, creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We are providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air clean to breathe, and producing sustainable timber.

As a caretaker, you will be outgoing, dynamic, problem-solving, and passionate about day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs.

You will work as part of the Hamsterley Recreation Team to manage and maintain buildings and facilities to give the best possible visitor experience and customer service.

Your work pattern will be annualized hours working at least one weekend day a week and more days in the holidays (averaging 12 hours per week).

The post will be responsible for carrying out day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs on buildings and facilities, including:

• Visitor Centre Maintenance: minor repairs and booking contractors when larger repairs are needed.
• ANPR daily checks on cameras and pay stations: minor repairs and booking engineers and replacement parts when needed.
• Toilets and Sewerage Works: ensuring working, undertaking minor defect repairs, and booking contractors for larger repairs.
• Cleaning, litter removal, waste monitoring, and recycling.
• Vegetation management around Visitor Centre: removing weeds, trimming hedges.
• Formal Inspections: play equipment, natural play areas, visual buildings inspection.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in buildings maintenance.
• GCSE (Grades A-C or 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths and English.

Desirable Experience

• Problem-solving.
• Communication.
• IT.

Qualifications

GCSE (Grades A-C or 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths and English.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £24,323, Forestry Commission contributes £7,046 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A with an average employer contribution of 27%.

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