Engagement Officer
Forestry Commission
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 5th May 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Communications / Marketing
Environment and Sustainability
Market Research
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. Our government are committed to creating 30,000ha of woodland a year across the UK by the end of this Parliament. This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to government’s wider environmental targets.
The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Forestry Commission have set up a joint tree planting programme for England to support the forestry sector, landowners and communities in the delivery of these ambitions. This role will focus on supporting and delivering regional promotion and engagement plans, and coordinating business development activity. You will work closely with the promotion and engagement team and regional teams.
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part that, we want to hear from you! By joining this programme you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and you will have the opportunity to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to revolutionise how we promote woodland creation and reach new audiences.
Our staff engagement levels are consistently well above the Civil Service average and staff turnover is well below. We value our people, we look after them, and we will look after you. We hope you will join us for the challenge.
Job description
The Engagement Officer will provide direct support to the Area Marketing and Communications Manager, Land Use Advisors, and the wider team in relation to any Promotion & Engagement (P&E) activity. This may range from coordinating events, to conducting desk-based targeting research, to triaging customer enquiries. Additionally, they will provide help and support to external stakeholders and customers, working together with the regional P&E and wider Area team, to help us reach the largest number of people amongst our target audiences.
Key Work Areas
- Work with Area Marketing and Communications Manager to help deliver Promotion & Engagement regional implementation plan and respond to any arising promotion and engagement opportunities.
- Coordinate business development activity, working together with Land Use Advisors, for example: research opportunities and manage attendance at networking events, farm clusters or local marts; help arrange farm walks.
- Manage event organisation and attend events where required, working with Area colleagues
- Create localised content such as case studies or newsletters, working with the national P&E team and Area team
- Undertake lead generation activities with new and existing audiences, which will range from researching new leads and proactive targeting of larger landowners, to early stage follow up of leads, to coordinating localised engagement with stakeholders.
- Help coordinate collaboration with other advisors
- Maintain a list of, and coordinate Area engagement with, all localised farmer and landowner forums/networks/groups, working within broader Area stakeholder engagement plan.
- Support regional stakeholder engagement in line with agreed plans, including maintaining stakeholder mapping databases and taking minutes of meetings.
- Triage incoming enquiries where required, working together with Area colleagues as per agreed regional enquiry process.
- Own local usage of Lead Tracker/CRM system, supporting Area colleagues as necessary and ensuring leads are followed up. Ensure any new leads generated at events are logged in the Lead Tracker/CRM system. Run regular reports on system data and identify trends and areas for improvement/opportunity
- Provide administrative support for P&E colleagues and any staff conducting P&E activity within the Area, for example sending out materials, arranging meetings/events, coordinating private agent engagement, formatting farm audit reports, etc.
Some travel will be required, mainly across the South West Area. This may involve occasional weekend work when supporting agricultural shows.
The role will report to the Area Marketing and Communications Manager.
Person specification
Essential:
- Prior experience of engaging with external customers and stakeholders through different channels including face to face
- Prior experience of event management
- Prior experience of copy-writing
- Highly organised and a proactive communicator
- Team player, able to work effectively with colleagues
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills
- Good IT skills and able to familiarise self quickly with new systems
Essential Professional and Technical experience
- Educated to degree level (any subject) or equivalent experience in relevant role
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.
Desirable:
- Prior experience working within the farming, forestry or land management sectors
- Experience in GIS software desirable but not essential, to support customer targeting based on spatial information
- Experience of using e-marketing platforms such as Mailchimp
- Experience of lead generation activity
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience of event management.
Benefits
- 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. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This is a Temporary Appointment until 31/03/2025 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
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. 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, Full Qualification Details.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 750 words providing details of how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Interview
Interview/Sift Indicative timeline (Subject to Change):
- Shortlisting to take place w/c 6 May 2024
- Interviews will be conducted w/c 27 May 2024.
At interview, Candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skills.
We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
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.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on 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. This includes grade on return.
Successful candidates if using their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the Forestry Commission travel policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km).
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.
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 will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sarah Warrener
- Email : sarah.warrener@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
