Perth & Argyll CMO

Job summary

Scottish Forestry (SF) is the Scottish Government (SG) agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations. We have five regional offices or conservancies throughout Scotland that:

• provide forestry guidance and advice;
• administer incentives (including grants) to deliver SG priorities;
• implement forestry policy and regulations, and feed regional perspectives into national activities.
• Carry out health, education and engagement programmes with local communities.

Perth and Argyll Conservancy has a team of 27 technical and support staff. The team is based across two offices with most people based at Upper Battleby near Perth, and three in Argyll.

The conservancy team are busy, dedicated and enthusiastic carrying out a wide range of interesting and often complex casework and projects around our regulatory, grant giving and partnership remit. A key part of our work is woodland creation with the Conservancies having a major role in delivering the Scottish Government’s woodland creation targets. We are currently seeing a significant increase in the amount of new woodland creation in the area, approving around 3000 ha/year through the Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS).

Perth and Argyll Conservancy has 3 area teams each led by an Operations Manager, supported by the Case Support team and Office Manager

We strongly believe in an inclusive and supportive work culture. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background. Scottish Forestry are a flexible employer and encourage applicants who wish to work

Job description

What you will do

Monitor new and existing cases, as well as associated grant claim payments, in discussion with the Operations Managers, and aim to balance casework within teams.

Maintain an overview of all conservancy casework by developing a suitable system for recording case progress thus providing an effective service to applicants and minimise delays in processing casework.

Main Duties

• Oversee allocation, recording and management of all casework i.e. Forestry Grant Scheme applications, Felling Permission Applications, Illegal Felling reports, Forest Plans etc in discussion with Operations Managers and Office Manager. Produce management information reports as required.
• Monitor all submissions for monthly clearing, noting the outcome and maintain an overview of FGS contract issue and return.
• Develop and maintain a record of all management Information for Conservancy Grants and Regulations activities.
• Maintain an overview of all claim processing, variation requests and coordinate the Single Application Form (SAF) exercise ensuring payments are made within the agreed deadlines.
• Act as the lead Conservancy contact for the National Office Operations Delivery team, coordinating action/disseminating information where required within the Conservancy.
• Provide support to CSO’s within Area Teams and help balance case allocations across teams where required to cover for absence
• Support and coordinate the training, mentoring and learning of Case Support Officers within the Conservancy teams.
• Deputise for Office Manager by acting as signatory/authorising officer for finance.
• Other duties as line manager decides is necessary.

Person specification

Experience

Essential:

• experience of Grants & Regulations administration and use of IT systems e. Rural Payments & Services (RP&S), Casebook etc
• experience of planning, organising and managing workloads

Desirable:

• previous experience of developing/overseeing a manual case management system

Technical

Essential:

• proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office packages Excel, Word and Outlook

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,875, Scottish Forestry contributes £9,523 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 with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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.To apply complete the online application form on the Scottish Forestry Website

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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

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 : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot
• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot