Forest Craftsperson

What you’ll do

This post is a varied and exciting opportunity to join the Kielder West Beat team, part of North England Forest District. You will play a key role working with the other forest craftspeople to maintain and enhance the Forestry England estate using a range of practical and countryside skills including chainsaw/clearing saw work, grass strimming, fencing, planting, herbicide application, path maintenance and basic surveying. There will be an element of delivering tree saplings and materials for contractors.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work

This role is based in the Kielder West beat which covers 12,600 Ha of conifer forests, mixed woodland and SSSIs. You will be based from Hawkhope Depot at Falstone, NE48 1BB.

Operational:

• restock and establishment work: hand planting, tree guard construction, repairing fences and controlling vegetation.
• clearing and maintaining trees: high pruning, cutting back and felling to maintain access or assist with harvesting operations.
• tree safety work: from initial surveys through to remedial chainsaw works.
• surveying, including measuring/tariffing, tree safety, stocking densities.
• when needed, gather operational data accurately and efficiently and maintain appropriate up to date records to the standard required.
• contribute to the delivery of key programmes by transporting materials and consumables to work sites across the Kielder Forest area.
• assist with the running of our coldstore facility – occasionally taking in deliveries, performing quality checks on trees and delivering saplings out to sites.

Team working and health and safety:

• operate and maintain tools and resources to required standards and make sure work on site meets our health and safety standards.
• by effectively liaising with colleagues and stakeholders, plan, implement and deliver efficient work programmes that help meet Forestry England’s aims and objectives.
• maintain a high standard of professionalism when representing Forestry England.
• carrying out risk assessments working to high health and safety standards which are guided by FISA (Forest Industry Safety Accord).
• and any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Skills, knowledge & experience
Essential professional and technical experience

• practical experience in forestry or countryside / environmental management.
• general understanding of forestry, arboriculture, nature conservation, outdoor recreation and countryside- related issues.
• competently use a range of hand tools.
• awareness of health and safety systems relevant to practical countryside work e.g. risk assessments, Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guides and lone working systems.
• competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications.
• good interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work effectively alone and as part of a team.

Essential Qualifications

• NPTC or Lantra qualification in one or more practical forestry based skills – such as chainsaw, herbicide application, ATV, strimmer etc.
• full UK driving license, however Forestry England is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

Desirable

• forestry or land management qualification.
• further NPTC and Lantra qualifications in Forestry based skills.
• emergency first aid at work + forestry (F).
• a GCSE in Maths and English, or functional skills equivalent.
• knowledge of using Forester Web software.

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job contact :

• Name : FC Recruitment Team
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]