Senior Governance Manager

Job summary

The Forestry Commission (FC) is the government’s forestry expert. We work across England to inform, demonstrate and enable what delivers multiple benefits from trees, woods and forests. We collaborate across sectors so that forestry contributes to environmental resilience, climate action, timber security, and benefits for people and communities. We are a Non-Ministerial Government Department with a Royal Charter and part of Defra, the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities.

The FC comprises several distinct but complementary areas, each with their own governing boards and executive leadership teams and each operating under the overarching framework, led by the Commissioners’ Office.

Job description

Working at the heart of the FC the Head of Internal Governance will gain real insight into the structure and relationships within the organisation. The post holder will support the Head of Performance and other senior managers across the FC, by leading a range of key corporate governance tasks, including:

• corporate risk management
• corporate security
• corporate counter-fraud & error
• business continuity management
• accountability and board structures
• public appointments
• maintaining governance frameworks

The post holder will report to the Head of Performance and line-manage a team of two.

The individual will collaborate closely with the secretariat teams of the FC’s two executive agencies (Forestry England and Forest Research) who will be responsible for the operational delivery of corporate governance against the policy, guidance and standards set by the team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead and maintain a standard corporate risk management policy and guidance across the FC in line with Cabinet Office and Defra Group requirements. Monitor compliance and provide assurance.

2. Provide support to the FC’s Security Risk Owner (SRO) by undertaking assurance reviews of compliance against the government functional standard for security, driving forward improvement plans to meet this. Leading the organisation’s cross functional security forum to ensure the FC’s security framework remains effective and up to date in response to changes in threats and processes.

3. Lead and maintain standard corporate counter fraud policy and procedures across the FC in line with Cabinet Office and Defra Group requirements. Monitor compliance and provide assurance.

4. Lead and develop business continuity management across the FC in line with Cabinet Office and Defra Group practices. Monitor effectiveness through testing and compliance reviews, providing assurance as necessary.

5. Oversight, maintenance and develop of the FC governance framework ensuring that accountability and board structures fully meet Cabinet Office/Defra Group requirements. This will include accountability and board structures, and key documentation such as the Terms of Reference for all boards and the Framework Document.

6. Oversee the work of the team on recruitment, induction and support of non-executive directors, board and committee meeting coordination, secretariat support to a range of governance meetings.

7. Lead the production of the governance statement within the FC’s annual report and accounts, and contributions to other relevant areas within this document.

8. Build and exploit a close working relationship with the secretariat teams across the FC to ensure that standards and best practice are met through operational delivery.

This role sits within a dynamic organisation, and responsibilities may evolve over time as we continue to develop our structures, services and ways of working. The post holder will therefore need to be adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.

Person specification

Essential criteria

The ideal candidate will demonstrate an understanding of corporate governance and the standards required of arm’s-length bodies and executive agencies, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly. They should be familiar with operating a risk management framework, as well as experience in implementing a counter fraud framework, or the capacity to rapidly develop expertise in both areas. Strong IT proficiency is essential, including effective use of Microsoft Office applications. Line management experience is desirable.

Qualifications

Formal qualifications are not required for this role, but applicants are welcome to highlight any relevant qualifications that may support their application.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

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 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 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.

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

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.

A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the essential criteria of the Person Specification.

Applications will be sifted week commencing 15th June 2026. This date is subject to change.

Interviews will be held week commencing 29th June 2026. This date is subject to change.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face in Forestry Commission, 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ. 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.

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.