Forestry Commission
Engagement Officer
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Job Location and Work Arrangement
The post will be based within the South West and will include the need to travel within the area. The role is blended working, with a combination of virtual and office-based flexible working. The parent office for this role can be either Bristol, National Office or Exeter, Bullers Hill.
Job Summary
Never has there 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 Engagement Officer role focusses on supporting the delivery of regional promotion and engagement plans to drive the woodland creation agenda. You will be based in the South West Area Team and work closely with the national promotion and engagement team and existing Area teams.
You will provide direct support to the Regional Promotion and Engagement Manager, Land Use Advisors, and the wider team in relation to any Promotion & Engagement (P&E) activity. This role will be part of a team of Engagement Officers providing support across the five area teams.
This may range from coordinating events, to conducting desk-based targeting research, to triaging customer enquiries. Additionally, they will provide help and support to external stakeholders and customers, working together with the regional P&E and wider Area team, to help us reach the largest number of people amongst our target audiences.
Job Description
- Work with Regional Promotion and Engagement Manager to help deliver the Promotion & Engagement regional implementation plan and respond to any arising promotion and engagement opportunities.
- Coordinate business development activity, working together with Land Use Advisors, for example: research opportunities and manage attendance at networking events.
- Manage event organisation and attend events where required, working with Area colleagues.
- Create localised content such as case studies and newsletters, working with the national P&E team and Area team.
- Undertake lead generation activities with new and existing audiences, which will range from researching new leads and proactive targeting of larger landowners, to early stage follow up of leads, to co-ordinating localised engagement with stakeholders.
- Triage incoming enquiries where required, working together with Area colleagues as per agreed regional enquiry process.
- Help coordinate collaboration with other advisors.
- Maintain a list of, and coordinate Area engagement with, all localised farmer and landowner forums/networks/groups, working within broader Area stakeholder engagement plan.
- Support regional stakeholder engagement in line with agreed plans, including maintaining stakeholder mapping databases and recording meeting actions.
- Own local usage of Lead Tracker/CET system, supporting Area colleagues as necessary and ensuring leads are followed up. Ensure any new leads generated at events are logged in the Lead Tracker/CET system. Run regular reports on system data and identify trends and areas for improvement/opportunity.
- Provide administrative support for P&E colleagues and any staff conducting P&E activity within the Area, for example sending out materials, arranging meetings/events, coordinating private agent engagement, formatting farm audit reports, etc.
Some travel will be required, across the South West. This may involve occasional weekend work when supporting agricultural shows.
The role will report to the Regional Promotion and Engagement Manager.
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.
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If your home is outside the South West Area you will be expected to travel to your work area or designated parent office in your own time and cost.
Person Specification
Essential
- Prior experience of engaging with external customers and stakeholders through different channels including face to face.
- Prior experience of event management.
- Highly organised and a proactive communicator.
- Team player, able to work effectively with colleagues.
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
- Good IT skills including Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and Sharepoint. Able to familiarise self quickly with new systems.
Desirable
- Prior experience of copywriting.
- Prior experience working within the farming, forestry or land management sectors.
- Prior experience of working in marketing and communications.
- Experience in GIS software desirable but not essential to support customer targeting based on spatial information.
- Experience of using e-marketing platforms such as Mailchimp and Eventbrite.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
We'll assess your technical skills during the selection process by asking you to complete a task at interview.
Compensation and Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £30,105, Forestry Commission contributes £8,721 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A range of family friendly benefits.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
- 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ 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 (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Fixed Term Appointment until 30th March 2027 with possibility of extension or permanency, but no guarantee.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
- A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the Person Specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, the 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.
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At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skills
The interview will be held in person at Bullers Hill, Kennford, Exeter, EX6 7XR. Please keep this in mind when applying.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
- 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 by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
- Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
- Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.
- New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
- Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
- This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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 via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview,
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