Westonbirt Arboretum - Forestry England
Works Supervisor - Thetford
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Works Supervisor - Thetford
Forestry England
We are here to love and breathe forests.
Works Supervisor – Thetford
Location: Santon Downham Office, Brandon, Suffolk (IP27 0TJ) Salary: £30,105 per annum Contract Type: Permanent Hours: 37 hours per week Vacancy Closes: 14th July 2026, 23:58
About the Role
We empower you to use your expertise to create truly exceptional forests. You’ll be part of an engaged and innovative team passionate about forests and our natural heritage.
The Works Supervisor (Beat) will play a central role in ensuring safe and effective delivery of forest operations at Thetford Forest. This involves protecting habitats, producing sustainable timber, and maintaining high wildlife conservation standards.
The Thetford Forest spans 20,000 hectares and is split into four beats, each contributing towards 85,000 m³ of typical annual timber production and planting a pipeline of up to 1 million trees annually.
As Works Supervisor for Thetford East Beat, you’ll support your Forester with developing forest operations, including:
- Harvesting and processing timber
- Establishing new plantings
- Hazardous tree management and vegetation control for wildlife protection
You’ll manage teams of Beat Craftspeople and contractors, ensuring work meets UKFS (UK Forests), UKWAS (UK Woodland Assurance Scheme), and FISA (Forest Industry Safety Association) standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead planning and coordination of large-scale forestry operations, ensuring high efficiency and safety across multiple activities.
- Support the Forester in defining, prioritising, and delivering key objectives for Thetford East Beat.
- Work with contractors and beet workers, maintaining compliance with industry safety and environmental regulations.
- Foster collaborative relationships with operational staff, contractors, and internal teams.
- Ensure all work supports biodiversity, timber production, and public enjoyment of Thetford Forest.
- Engage with clients and stakeholders, offering professional advice and consistent communication.
Where You’ll Work
Based at Santon Downham Office, Suffolk, but heavy focus on outdoor, hands-on work across all seasons. You’ll need to cope with rough terrain, unpredictable weather, and on-site travel.
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- Standard: 37-hour weeks, Monday–Friday (7 AM – 5 PM), with increased flexibility for operational needs (including occasional unsocial hours).
- Regular out-of-office meetings, training, and short trips around England, possibly requiring overnight stays.
What We Offer
Salary & Benefits
- Contributory pension contributing 28.97% of pay Scheduled for the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (CSDB2) after your joining date.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by one day each year (up to 30 days), plus public holidays.
- STaR employee benefits, including discounts on supermarkets, hotels, insurance, mobile phones, gym memberships, and household bills.
- Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to National Arboretums (Westonbirt and Bedgebury).
- Support for continual professional development, including funding for training and professional accreditation.
Preferred Qualifications and Prior Experience
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in operations-level forestry roles (preferably in the UK public sector).
- Strong understanding of forestry management, planning, and operationalBest_Practices, including:
- Safeguarding habitats (SSSI/SPA standards).
- Timber production and supply chains.
- Coordination with contractor/employee teams.
- Ability to evidence your impact in improving sustainability, biodiversity, or operational efficiency within complex forest operations.
- Awareness of UKFS-core standards, FISA, and UKWAS is a plus.
How You’ll Be Assessed
This role respects our values of knowing our forests, encouraging robust innovation, and leading by example.
Selection Process
-
Written application requiring:
- A 200-word statement on your relevant experience.
- A personal statement (up to 500 words) on why this role and our mission excite you. Evaluations will cover behavioural fit, experience, and suitability for the role.
-
Interview assessment focusing on:
- Four behaviours (see full descriptions below)
- Seeing the big picture
- Managing a quality service
- Communicating and influencing
- Delivering at pace
- Case study and practical knowledge tests on forest management.
- Four behaviours (see full descriptions below)
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Interview Behaviours
| Assessed Behaviour | Key Expectations |
|---|---|
| Seeing the big picture | Strategic thinking for forested landscapes, work compliance with national standards. |
| Managing a quality service | Delivering services with consistency and satisfaction for stakeholders. |
| Communicating & influencing | Persuasive stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and managing interpersonal dynamics. |
| Delivering at pace | Auspicious decision-making under pressure to meet operational deadlines. |
Vaccination information may be checked in line with existing relevant legislation and health and safety policies.
What We’re Looking for in Hire
- Fluency in spoken English for routine day-to-day communication as required by forest operations.
- Commitment to working in whatever weather and navigating challenging terrains.
Civil Service Legal Requirements
- MadGov outlines partnership eligibility based on anti-discharge principles. No restrictions apply.
- Principle of correctness: Final appointments are based on merit; nations guidelines ensure transparent and fair competition.
- Mind full public trust in fair recruitment.
Any further complaints related to application process must be emailed to: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk.
Diversity and Support
- Disability Confident Scheme (DCS): Candidates meeting minimum selection criteria with disabilities are guaranteed an interview.
- Schemes for athletes, ex-prisoners, military leavers, and veterans.
- Additional support available including adjustments for disabilities (contact fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk).
Next Steps
- Go to the Forestry England jobs page to apply.
- Check nationality requirements.
- Read official guidelines if leveraging AI to support your application.
Resources for Mentees & Employees
- Civil Service Civica.Account
- Entry programmes and support for under-represented communities.
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