Planning Training Lead

Job summary

The Planning Training Lead will be responsible for developing, coordinating and delivering a comprehensive training programme for internal colleagues and external stakeholders on the role of trees, woodlands and forestry within the planning system. The post holder will support Forestry Commission colleagues, planning authorities and other partners to improve understanding of planning policy, legislation and best practice relating to trees and woodlands. Central objectives to this work include improving planning knowledge, confidence and consistency of advice.

Working closely with the FS Planning Team (Area Teams and National Policy colleagues), as well as wider Forestry Commission and Defra Group partners, the role will help improve confidence, consistency and quality of planning advice across the organisation. The post will play a key role in supporting government planning reforms, strengthening protection for ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees, and promoting the contribution of trees and woodlands to sustainable development, nature recovery and climate resilience.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

1. Training Needs Analysis and Capability Development - Lead the assessment of current capability and future training needs for planning across Forest Services, working with Area Teams, National Office colleagues, the Learning & Apprenticeship team and wider Forestry Commission staff to identify knowledge gaps, priority learning requirements and development opportunities. Undertake a parallel assessment of external stakeholder needs, identifying priority audiences and thematic areas where increased understanding of trees, woodlands and forestry in planning would deliver the greatest benefit.
2. Training Strategy, Planning and Evaluation - Develop and maintain a targeted training strategy and delivery plan based on identified needs and organisational priorities. Ensure training programmes align with planning reform, emerging policy and business requirements, including the Forest Services Learning & Development Strategy, and establish appropriate mechanisms to evaluate effectiveness, capture feedback and support continuous improvement.
3. Internal Training and Professional Development - Design, coordinate and help deliver a fully accessible and structured programme of training for Forestry Commission staff, working closely with subject matter experts (SMEs) across Area Teams and National Office, particularly the Learning Team. Training will support colleagues in responding effectively to Local Plans, Spatial Development Strategies, Town and Country Planning Act applications, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, Biodiversity Net Gain, Environmental Delivery Plans, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Standing Advice and wider planning reforms affecting trees and woodlands.
4. External Training, Partnerships and Sector Engagement – Develop, co-ordinate and help deliver training programmes for external audiences including local planning authorities, mayoral and combined authorities, the Planning Inspectorate, Defra Group organisations and other key stakeholders. Build partnerships to support collaborative delivery, improve understanding of woodland-related planning issues and promote more consistent implementation of national policy and guidance.
5. Learning Resources, Digital Tools and Innovation – Work with colleagues to develop and maintain high-quality learning resources, guidance, digital content and supporting materials to improve consistency and accessibility of planning advice. This will include implementation of the Planning for Development (PfD) tool and other digital planning initiatives, ensuring both internal and external users are equipped to make effective use of emerging technologies.
6. Communications, Awareness and Advocacy - Develop and implement a communications and engagement plan to improve awareness of the Forestry Commission's planning role and strengthen understanding of when, why and how the organisation should be engaged in planning consultations and plan-making. Promote the environmental, social and economic benefits of trees and woodlands, helping to improve consideration of woodland issues across the planning system and support woodland protection, enhancement and creation

Person specification

The successful applicant will have a passion for trees, woodlands and forestry, together with a strong commitment to improving understanding of their role within the planning system. They will be an effective advocate for the environmental, social and economic benefits provided by trees and woodlands and will champion their integration into planning policy and decision-making through training, education and professional development.

Essential

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• Degree-level qualification in planning, environmental management, forestry, communications or a related discipline, or substantial experience in a similar role.
• Experience of developing, coordinating and delivering training programmes, learning resources or professional development activities.
• Knowledge of the planning system and its relationship with environmental policy, forestry, land use and sustainable development.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships and translate complex technical and policy information into accessible and engaging learning content.
• Experience of developing guidance, training materials, learning resources or knowledge management products.
• Excellent organisational, project management and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deliver outcomes to agreed timescales.
• The ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisational boundaries.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, organisational learning and capability development.

Please clearly demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria throughout your application. Failure to provide sufficient evidence against the essential criteria may result in your application not being progressed.

Desirable

• Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, a relevant professional body.
• Experience of influencing external organisations and stakeholders to achieve environmental or organisational objectives.
• Evidence of successfully leading continuous improvement initiatives and building organisational capability.
• Experience of designing and delivering training within a planning, environmental, land-use or public sector context.
• Technical training qualifications such as, City & Guilds 6502 Award in Education and Training or 6302 certificate Preparation to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, PTLLS
• Technical assessor qualifications such as, D32/33, A1, CAVA

Technical Skills and Experience

• Knowledge and practical experience of stakeholder engagement, communications and knowledge transfer.
• Experience of project or programme management, including planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience of land-use planning, particularly in relation to trees, woodlands, forestry or the natural environment.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications and digital collaboration tools, including Microsoft Teams and other remote-working technologies.
• Ability to interpret and work with maps, geospatial information and spatial datasets.
• Experience of developing or supporting digital learning resources, online training platforms or knowledge-sharing tools would be advantageous.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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 is a Temporary Appointment until 30 March 2028, with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

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

• 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 will be split into 3 parts and request: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Qualifications.
• A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.

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 personal statement.

Interview

Interviewing will take place w/c 2nd November via Teams. This date is subject to change.

The interview will assess you on Experience, Strengths and Behaviours, and will include a short presentation. Further information will be available for candidates invited to 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. 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.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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.

This is a full-time role. 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 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.