Regulations and Statutory Support Assistant Manager

Job summary

The Commissioners’ Office (CO) provides essential support to the Forestry Commission’s senior executives and non-executives and other colleagues on a range of corporate issues, many of which are either statutory or mandatory for a body within central government.

These functions range from oversight and control of data protection, knowledge, information and records management, and security through to risk management, counter fraud & error, and corporate finance.

The CO also leads on Parliamentary business for the Commission (such as PQs and correspondence casework) and on responding to external scrutiny from the NAO, the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, and the Information Commissioner.

The team provides support to the Board of Forestry Commissioners and leads on the appointment of non-executives, as well as the development, maintenance, and smooth running of good governance practices throughout the organisation. This includes supporting a range of statutory and non-statutory committees.

The team is mainly based in the FC’s National Office in Bristol and reports to the FC Chief Executive.

Job description

Support the independent Secretary of the Reference Committee to increase our capacity to progress statutory appeals relating to the regulatory decisions made to Forest Services regulatory activity.

From June 2026, this work will be delivered through a new block booking approach, where cases are grouped geographically and processed through target one week operational cycles. The postholder will have a key role in supporting these clustered weeks, ensuring that the Committee has all required information, documentation, and logistical support to operate efficiently.

The post holder will report to the Regulations and Statutory Support Manager.

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Management of Appeals

• Support the processing of appeals in connection with the Commissioners’ powers and duties, including Grants and Regulations, with particular emphasis on the operation of the Reference Committees, which are required to report directly to Ministers.
• Provide full administrative, logistical, and coordination support during block‑booked operational weeks, including organising site visits, managing hearing schedules, and ensuring the Committee is fully briefed on the cases being considered.
• This requires independent travel across England to support site visits and hearings that will take place over a concentrated week each month.
• The role is aimed at increasing our capacity to respond to current case load in order to assist in progressing as cases efficiently through the new block‑booking model.
• Support the wider work of the Commissioners Office to increase it’s resilience and capacity to respond to changing workloads and during periods of leave / absence etc.

Person specification

Essential:

• Experience and knowledge of IT systems, including MS Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and email.
• Excellent working knowledge of forestry regulation, with a particular focus on the control of tree felling (Part II of the Forestry Act 1967).
• The ability to reprioritise and keep track of multiple activities in a rapidly changing operating environment, particularly during weeks where several cases must be handled concurrently under the block‑booking model.
• Proven ability to produce clear and concise written communications.
• Driving licence and/or the capacity to travel independently across England.
• High standard of ethics and the ability to remain neutral while exposed to competing interests.

Desirable:

• Understanding of legislation and case law related to Restocking Notices and appeals, including Grundy, Wickford, and Smar.
• A proven ability to manage conflict and reconcile competing interests and points of view.
• Experience of dealing with tribunals and hearings, including minute‑taking, meeting preparation, and technical support.
• Experience of working in support of senior staff, non‑executive board members, and independent review panel members.
• Experience managing multiple cases simultaneously, or supporting high‑intensity operational periods (helpful given the block‑booking approach).

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

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.

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 Fixed Term Appointment ending 31st March 2027, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.

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

1. A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons
   for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the Person Specification.
3. You will also be asked to provide 250-word statements relating to the Behaviour' Communicating and Influencing

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

Applications will be sifted week commencing 27th April 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interviews will be held week commencing 4th May 2026. This date is subject to change.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Experience and Strengths.

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.

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 PreEmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

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.

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.

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.