National Regulations Team Manager

Job summary

Lead the protection of England’s trees, woodland and forest and help shape a sustainable environment for future generations.

We are seeking an experienced team leader to join the Forestry Commission’s national Regulations team. In this role, you will oversee the implementation and improvement of environmental protections for trees, woodland and forestry across England, ensuring compliance with statutory regimes and tree and woodland policy.

The team’s work focuses on two key areas: enforcing action against non-compliant or illegal activity and streamlining regulatory processes for compliant land managers. You will co-lead these workstreams, driving efficiency and maintaining high standards.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with proven leadership and regulatory experience, capable of performing under pressure in a fast-paced, occasionally adversarial environment. Strong attention to detail, the ability to manage complex information, and a commitment to team wellbeing and productivity are essential.

Collaboration is central to this role. You will work closely with your national and local counterparts across England and engage with a wide range of stakeholder interests. Influencing key decision-makers to deliver positive outcomes for the team and the wider Forestry Commission will be a critical part of your success.

Job description

The successful candidate will lead the Eastern Regulations Team, working closely with the Western team manager and reporting to the Head of Regulation.

About the Regulations team
The national Regulations team ensures effective implementation and continuous improvement of forestry regulation across England. As subject matter experts in forestry regulation, legislation and policy, and their application, our work focuses on two key areas:

Managing Enforcement and Complex Cases

We lead case management for non-compliance with tree felling conditions and alleged illegal felling, including reviewing inspection reports, conducting desk-based checks, determining enforcement actions, and referring cases for criminal investigation where necessary.

The team handles complaints and responds to appeals heard by Reference Committees’ and or Judicial Review. Occasionally, members may act as witnesses in court.

Additionally, we support Area teams on complex afforestation or deforestation cases, ensuring decisions comply with regulations and are enforceable.

Streamlining regulatory processes

We design and refine regulatory processes to ensure clarity, efficiency, and compliance with legislation and the Regulators’ Code. This includes providing guidance on Felling Licences, Environmental Impact Assessments, Habitat Regulations Assessments, and Woodland Management Plans. Our advice is limited to legislative and regulatory requirements; technical assessments are carried out by field teams, so only basic environmental knowledge is required for this role.

Our goal is to accelerate decision-making and processing times for afforestation and woodland management, reduce costs, and maintain environmental protections. We also contribute to training new staff and shaping digital systems that support regulatory functions.

As subject matter experts in forestry regulation and legislation, we provide specialist advice on regulatory requirements. Therefore, this role requires strong analytical skills, the ability to interpret legislation, and evidence-based decision-making

About the post

The post holder will lead a small team of regulations managers, ensuring their wellbeing, development, and performance. You will provide guidance, act as a knowledge resource, and offer direction where needed. Responsibilities include maintaining team effectiveness, managing wellbeing during challenging situations, and driving continuous improvement through commissioned projects.

The role also involves representing the Forestry Commission and engaging with key stakeholders, including but not limited to Natural England, Defra policy teams, Defra Fraud and Investigation Service, the Rural Payments Agency, the Environment Agency, and Historic England. Strong presentation skills and the ability to navigate government processes are essential.

Responsibilities

The Regulations National Team Manager (East) will:

Rapidly develop expertise in forestry regulation, through an established induction programme, and become a subject matter expert on forestry regulation, legislation, case law, policy, and processes.

Lead and manage the Eastern Regulations team, on performance and workload monitoring, formal reviews, and wellbeing support.

• You will regularly review performance data to ensure that caseloads are manageable and progressed in a timely, factual, and accurate manner, seeking legal advice when it is needed.
• You will manage formal reviews on performance, absence, and behaviour in line with HR policies, manage difficult conversations with staff, and manage the wellbeing of the eastern Regulations team.

Collaborate with senior managers to align regulatory priorities with FC strategy and take effective leadership to manage the FC head count and maintain team cohesion.

Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders to improve regulatory administration and enforcement.

Co-lead reviews of forestry regulation and contribute to future regulatory development.

Shape and communicate FC’s regulatory approach, to minimise non-compliance and ensure national consistency.

Ensure regulatory delivery aligns with FC and government forestry policy priorities.

Drive process improvements, digital solutions, and guidance updates to enhance efficiency and reduce regulatory burden through cost-effective operational practices.

Monitor regulatory changes and customer feedback to identify simplification and efficiency opportunities.

Maintain networks across the FC organisation, Defra policy teams, other Government Bodies and sector groups, to support better regulation objectives.

Provide accurate management information for KPIs, performance monitoring, and business improvement.

Respond to FOI/EIR requests, Parliamentary Questions, and media enquiries per established protocols.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Ability to absorb, retain, and apply large volumes of technical information.
• Skilled at managing multiple priorities at pace.
• Excellent oral and written communication, with high-quality written English.
• Confident decision-maker, able to justify decisions to external and potentially adversarial audiences.
• Proven strategies for maintaining resilience and wellbeing during stressful periods and seeking support when needed.
• Experience in people and performance management.
• Experienced in handling FOI/EIR requests, formal complaints, and challenging case discussions.
• Competent IT user: MS Office, SharePoint, and quick to learn bespoke systems.
• Comfortable with blended/remote working and maintaining team engagement via online communication.

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of regulatory processes and case reviews.
• Experience seeking and applying legal advice in decision-making.
• Skilled in interpreting and applying legislation.
• Project management experience, including process, IT, and people development.
• Working knowledge of tree felling controls, EIA forestry regulations, Habitats and Species Regulations, or related legislation.
• Clear understanding of current forestry policies.
• Ability to advise stakeholders on regulatory impacts, including communication planning and stakeholder management, particularly in land management and forestry contexts.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,765, Forestry Commission contributes £14,127 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension
• 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 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).

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 is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 30 September 2026, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 500 word please provide details of how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the person specification and your preferred location.
3. You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement relating to the lead behaviour 'Seeing the Big Picture'
4. You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement relating to the lead behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions'

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 lead behaviour 'Seeing the Big Picture'. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Shortlisting will take place w/c 16th February 2026. Interview dates will take place w/c 2 March 2026

These dates may be subject to change.

At interview you will be assessed on Experience, Behaviours and Strengths. You may be asked to prepare a presentation 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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, 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 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 : Bruce Maguire
• Email : Bruce.maguire@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.