Operations Co-ordination Manager - Plant Health Forestry

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Plant Health Operations Team within Forest Services, part of the Forestry Commission. You will play a key role in protecting England’s trees and woodlands from pests and diseases, leading a team of experts to deliver operational excellence and strategic impact across England and Great Britain.

Job description

About Forest Services and the Plant Health Forestry Team

Forest Services are the Government’s forestry experts. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve, and expand England’s woodlands through regulation, incentives, and expert advice.

Within Forest Services, the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) Team delivers technical policy advice, operational activities (border and inland), and the Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM) programme. Our work ensures that the UK’s treescape is protected from pests and diseases, and that we are prepared to respond to emerging threats.

The PHF Team operates with both England and GB-wide responsibilities:
- England: Inland surveillance, outbreak management, biosecurity promotion, and regulatory implementation, working with Defra and the Devolved Governments as part of the UK Plant Health Service.
- GB-wide: Statutory functions (including border inspections) and technical advice and support on plant health.

About the Role

We are recruiting to two roles within the Plant Health Forestry team.

One role currently focuses on Health and Safety compliance and responding to outbreaks of Ips typographus and oak processionary moth across the South and East of England.

The other role focuses on operational delivery of border activity, Phytophthora ramorum, sweet chestnut blight, and inland surveillance programmes.

As plant health risks and operational priorities change, the focus of these roles will adapt. Together, the postholders are responsible for leading and coordinating the operational delivery of the Forestry Commission's response to tree pests and diseases, helping to protect the nation's forests, woodlands and trees.

Job Summary

As a senior leader within the Operations Team, you will lead a team of dedicated professionals and work closely with colleagues across Forest Services and wider Forestry Commission functions to deliver against our strategic priorities and business objectives.

You will oversee the operational response to regulated tree pests and diseases, both inland and at the border. This includes managing responses to established and emerging threats, directing surveillance activity, and supporting the management of interceptions to help protect the UK's trees, woods and forests.

The role plays a key part in shaping the future of our operations. You will contribute to the development of systems, processes and ways of working that enable the team to deliver its core functions effectively, while identifying and driving continuous improvement.

You will also champion a positive health and safety culture, ensuring high standards of wellbeing, compliance and safe working practices across all areas of activity.

Given the national scope of the role, regular travel throughout England and occasional overnight stays will be required.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Provide a clear sense of direction and accountability for the PHF Operations Team
• Lead the team to work collaboratively to deliver excellent results, aligned with the Forest Commission Strategy and Forest Services Business Plan.
• Champion a safety first Health and Safety culture and compliance with policy.
• Promote a positive and inclusive environment and actively foster cross functional collaboration. Support and empower staff to take responsibility and make decisions through trust and delegated authority.
• Provide clear direction and foster a culture of continuous improvement and wellbeing.
• Ensure compliance with organisational guidance and procedures.
• Deputise for the PHF Operations Team Manager, as necessary.

Operational Delivery

• Ensure delivery of statutory functions, including Statutory Plant Health Notices, movement authorisation processes, and demarcated area requirements.
• Lead on management of specific pest and diseases surveillance/outbreaks operations.
• Collaborate closely with the other Operational Co-ordination Manager to develop realistic work programmes for the operational team, paying particular attention to retaining the balance from competing demands.
• Support outbreak response; act as Operations Commander when required.
• Work as part of the GB Plant Health Service, supporting the delivery in Scotland and Wales (e.g., boarder inspections and inland licencing operation) as out lined in the Plant Health Schedule for the FC devolution MOU, as well as all Plant Health Forestry operations in England.

Strategic Development

• Support the strategic development of the operational team, including effective change management
• Work closely with other teams in Forest Services and wider Forestry Commission to support and facilitate the delivery of plant health strategic priorities, including identification of opportunities for collaboration.
• Communicate our strategy and value of our work to colleagues and stakeholders.
• Support on operational and contingency planning and strategic development of operational systems and procedures.

Management of Resources

• Lead the team, efficiently manage resources to enable effective delivery.
• Business plan and delivery performance monitoring.
• Support contract management.

Stakeholder Engagement, Representation and Communications

• Build strong relationships across the Forestry Commission, Defra, Devolved Governments, and external stakeholders.
• Support internal and external communications, this may include handling media activity in close association with FC and Defra communications teams.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong proven team leadership skills, including the ability to lead a team to achieve ambitious targets
• A strong understanding of current UK pest and disease concerns/legislation
• A proven track record of integrating a collaborative approach to team working and experience of working with multiple internal and external stakeholders to co-ordinate work.
• Experience and proven track record in building credible internal and external stakeholder relationships in line with corporate values.
• An ability to deliver at pace on several concurrent priorities.
• Experienced in maintaining and improving approaches to health and safety
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of forestry operations and the wider forestry sector.
• Experience in contingency planning and/or incident management.
• Experience of building and managing budgets, financial monitoring, and cost control
• Forestry, land based or plant health related qualification or membership of a relevant professional body

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

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 (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).

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 March 2027, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.

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

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 750 words please provide details of how you meet the Essential relevant experience and criteria as set out in the person specification.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Applications will be sifted w/c 10th August 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interview Stage

For candidates successful for interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths. You will also be asked to complete a presentation, details of which will be provided alongside invitations to interview.

Applications are planned to be sifted for the w/c 10th August and interviews planned from the w/c 24th August. We will be conducting face to face interviews at the Alice Holt office.

Dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

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. Determine your eligibility at 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.

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

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 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.

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

Travel options include: -

Some occasional travel may be required as part of the duties of this post. The FC is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any method of travel, subject to prior approval. Successful candidates wishing to use their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the FC Travel Policy on CO2 emissions.

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 : 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.