External Training Manager

Job summary

The Forestry Commission (FC) are the Government’s forestry experts. We work nationally and locally on unlocking the full potential of woodlands and the forestry sector to expand, protect, improve, and connect England’s valuable woodland assets.

Background information

Since 2021 Forestry Commission has provided over 2,000 places on its vegetation fire and incident management training courses across the United Kingdom, Rep. of Ireland and UK Overseas Territories (UKOT). The current programme is co-ordinated and administered by Forest Services’ national Policy and Advice Team for a wide range of partners, including Forest Services, Forestry England, Forest Research, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Defra Plant Health, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, land managers, Fire and Rescue Services and research bodies, universities and professional bodies.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced External Training Manager with an established track record of managing land-based training providers to deliver training programmes. You will be organizing and managing training across plant health, forestry, fire, research and land management sectors is essential. Responsibilities include management and development of the training programme, individual course management and finances, liaison with the custom award centre, internal and external marketing as well as customer engagement and management. Additional responsibilities include supporting incident management and Policy and Advice team project management.

Key work areas

Supporting PB3 Advisor for Wildfire and Contingency Planning by carrying out the

following:

• Lead the strategic planning, development and delivery of training programmes that support Forestry Commission and Forestry England priorities, workforce capability and organisational objectives.
• Identify emerging skills and capability requirements, driving the development of innovative training, learning and development initiatives to meet future business needs.
• Provide governance and assurance for training delivery, ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory and organisational standards, including risk, quality and business continuity requirements.
• Develop and manage strategic partnerships and stakeholder relationships with internal teams, Lantra, Forest Research and external providers to maximise training effectiveness, value and continuous improvement.
• Manage programme performance, financial resources and reporting, using data and insight to evaluate outcomes, inform decision-making and provide recommendations to senior leaders.
• Lead training, research and development projects, driving innovation, organisational improvement and the delivery of strategic outcomes across the forestry sector.
• Provide incident management support at ad-hoc periods in response to incidents and emergencies.
• Provide project management support for research and development initiatives, working with Forest Research and external partners.

Supporting PB3 Carbon and Water Advisor (until end of November 2026):

• Provide maternity cover for the Carbon Projects Manager, responding to enquiries and developing the carbon agenda for the Forestry Commission
• Maintain relationships with project partners in the Nature Returns partnership including Environment Agency, Defra, Natural England, Kew Gardens and Forest Research.

Supporting PB1 Head of Policy Advice Team (from December 2026):

• Provide project management support across the Policy and Advice Team.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge of GB forestry and the UK Forestry Standard, with the ability to align training to organisational and sector priorities.
• Experience managing training systems and providers, including LMS platforms, accreditation processes and training delivery arrangements.
• Strong programme and project management skills, with experience delivering complex initiatives, managing performance and driving continuous improvement.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across organisations and sectors.
• Experience of governance, financial and business administration, including compliance, risk management, reporting and use of Microsoft 365 applications.
• Proven incident management and leadership capability, with the ability to make informed decisions and support organisational resilience and innovation.

Desirable Criteria

• Use of online booking systems
• Proven incident management support capability, with the ability to make informed decisions and support organisational resilience and innovation.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 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).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This role is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 30th March 2027 with possibility but no guarantee of permanency or extension.

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

1. A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.

2. A personal statement – in no more than 500 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.

Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours, Strength and Experience.

The sift will be conducted w/c 24th August 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interview will be held on week commencing 14th September 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interviews will be held in person at Forestry Commission, 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ.

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.

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.

The post is full time. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Security

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.

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, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) 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. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : FS Recruitment
• Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.