At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage recreation operations at High Lodge for an outstanding visitor experience.
- Company: Join Forestry England, a passionate team dedicated to growing the nation’s forests.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, pension contributions, discounts, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and a commitment to sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying a vibrant outdoor setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in operations management and a passion for outdoor recreation.
We are Forestry England. We live and breathe forests.
Salary - £33,854 per annum
Contract type – Permanent
Hours – 37 hours per week
Vacancy closes - 6th September 2026, 23:58
Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment. Together, we’re using our scale and expertise to grow the nation’s forests for everyone. We’re already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.
What You’ll Do…
High Lodge is one of Forestry England’s flagship outdoor recreation destinations, receiving over 500,000 visitors annually and offering high‑quality facilities, trails, heritage features, play areas, cycling, events, and commercial partnerships. As the Recreation Operations Manager, you will lead the delivery, management and development of recreation operations across High Lodge and support recreation management across wider beat areas. The role is responsible for day‑to‑day operational excellence, facility and asset management, health and safety leadership, contract oversight, budget management, and developing a positive and inclusive “one‑team” culture. You will play a central role in ensuring that High Lodge provides an outstanding visitor experience while contributing to the wider East District recreation strategy, commercial growth targets and Forestry England’s values of sustainability, safety, access and wellbeing.
Where you’ll work…
High Lodge Thetford Forest, Thetford Road, Brandon IP27 0AF. Occasional national travel with overnight stay may be required.
Benefits…
- Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension. You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
- 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
- STaR is our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays, clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
- Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
- A commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.
Read more about the benefits on the Forestry England website.
Nationality Requirements… Read more about nationality requirements here.
Working for the Civil Service… Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). This means candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative.
Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English.
Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in line with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk.
Operations Manager in Brandon employer: Westonbirt Arboretum - Forestry England
At Forestry England, we are dedicated to nurturing our forests and creating a positive impact on the environment. Located in Fineshade, Corby, we offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth through continuous professional development and a commitment to lifelong learning. With generous benefits including a robust pension scheme, ample holiday allowance, and unique perks like free entry to national arboretums, we strive to make your career with us both meaningful and rewarding.
Contact Details:
Westonbirt Arboretum - Forestry England Recruitment Team
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