Regulations and Incentives Support Officer, North East England

The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, facilitating the protection, improvement, expansion and connection of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector. There has never 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.

The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Forestry Commission have set up a joint tree planting programme for England to support the forestry sector, landowners and communities in the delivery of the UK's woodland creation ambitions.

If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in realising that, we want to hear from you. By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to revolutionise how we work together and reach new stakeholders.

The Yorkshire and North East Area contains over 212,000 hectares of woodland ranging from important habitat networks of Ancient Woodlands through to large productive conifer forests. In the North East, the predominant woodland type is conifer (64.5%) whereas in Yorkshire and the Humber broadleaves form the most significant component (41.5%). This diverse range of woodland types extends over 4 National Parks, 3 National Landscapes and through the urban woodland resource is also connected to Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. The Area Team operates from the Defra Office in York and the Environment Agency Office in Newcastle.

The post includes the need to travel and will include some long journeys and overnight stays both within and outside the Area.

Job Description

Have you always wanted to work outdoors in woodlands but haven't got the necessary qualifications or experience? This is a unique opportunity for somebody who is looking to gain technical forestry skills. The Regulations and Incentives Support Officer is a key post, helping our Woodland Officers deliver their key forestry tasks, whilst also helping out the area team with organisation and administration. Over the course of the role, you will become familiar with the Woodland Officer role, with the long-term view to completing site visits independently. This is an amazing opportunity for anybody considering a job working in the environmental sector.

Purpose Of The Job:

• Expand woodland cover:

• Assist Woodland Officers in facilitating the design and delivery of new woodlands optimising the benefits they can deliver to the owner and as natural capital.
• Assist Woodland Officers in the administration of the Forestry Regulations relating to woodland creation (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessments).
• Assist Woodland Officers to administer/process applications for forestry grants.
• Champion the multiple benefits of new woodlands as a business opportunity for land owners and as natural capital (including biodiversity, water quality, flood management, carbon sequestration, etc.) for the wider environment and society.

• Support Woodland Officers in the administration of Forestry Regulations:

• Forestry Act – Felling Licences.
• Environmental Impact Assessments – deforestation, forest roads and forest quarries.
• Habitats Regulations – forest operations within Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, and Ramsar sites to ensure that forestry operations are planned and carried out in accordance with the principles of the UK Forestry Standard.

• Champion the benefits of actively managed woodland.
• Support woodland owners and managers in responding to key challenges of pests and diseases including: ash dieback, Phytophthora ramorum, deer and grey squirrels.
• Work to increase resilience within woodlands to the challenges of a changing climate.
• Facilitate closer working across the forestry sector – for instance between markets, contractors, managers, etc.

• Encourage, enthuse and support key partners and stakeholders to help facilitate the expansion, protection and improvement of our woodlands and treescape.
• At shows and events champion the many values of trees and woodland to the wider public helping them understand and appreciate the importance and values of active management.

Person specification

Essential:

• A keen interest in woodlands and natural ecosystems.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills demonstrating the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and our customers.
• Proven ability to be innovative, enthusiastic, and prepared to work on your own initiative.
• Proven ability to learn and adapt.
• Comfortable and experienced in using verbal and written communication to engage with stakeholders or customers.
• A minimum of 5 GCSEs/Standard Grades or equivalent (A-C Passes) including English Language & Maths is required.
• Good computer skills with experience of MS Office.

Desirable:

• Experience and knowledge of forestry practice in the UK or a similar forestry environment.
• A desire to work outdoors and experience of spending time in nature.

Qualifications

A minimum of 5 GCSEs/Standard Grades or equivalent (A-C Passes) including English Language & Maths is required.

Behaviours

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Alongside your salary, the Forestry Commission contributes towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. A range of family friendly benefits, an environment with flexible working options, learning and development tailored to your role, and a culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment are also provided.

25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each year's service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata). Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave. 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. This is a Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2026 with possibility of extension or permanency, but no guarantee.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.
• A Personal statement – in no more than 500 words please provide details of how you meet the Essential relevant experience and criteria as set out in the person specification.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Applications will be sifted week commencing w/c 30th June 2025. Interviews will be held online w/c 7th July 2025. Dates subject to change.

We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK.

However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.