Civil Engineer

Forestry England
Civil Engineer

Location

Pickering, Yorkshire and the Humber, YO18 7EL

Job summary

Forestry England is an organisation like no other. Our strong values and shared ambition to connect everyone with the nation’s forests drives all that we do.

Civil engineering underpins the delivery of Forestry England’s operational activities. The infrastructure we build and maintain supports all aspects of Forestry England. From the supply of sustainably sourced timber, through to being the largest outdoor recreation provider in the country, civil engineering is vital to our success.

This post is highly varied and an exciting opportunity to join the Forestry England Civil Engineering team. You will play a key role, providing support to the Civil Engineering Team, health and safety, financial assurance and technical services in support of our organisational objectives.

If you enjoy having a varied work scheduled that takes you outdoors, exploring and working in different places and are motivated by seeing how your work impacts the environment – this is an excellent opportunity for you.

Being part of Yorkshire Forest District is to be part of a progressive and inclusive organisation, where you will work in and amongst some of Yorkshire’s spectacular, breath-taking landscapes.

Our benefits include a generous holiday entitlement, substantial training, development and volunteering opportunities, flexible and blended working arrangements and membership of an excellent civil service pension scheme.

Job description

This important role is part of Forestry England’s Yorkshire Forest District Civil Engineering team. As part of this team, you will provide civil engineering support, advice and guidance to all district functional teams.

We are looking for a Civil Engineer with a real passion for engineering. The successful candidate will assist with the day-to-day operations of the Civil Engineering team function within the Yorkshire Forest District. This will entail delivering projects large and small from concept to conclusion, working with other FE functions, stakeholders and external contractors in exciting rural locations.

You will be responsible for assisting the District Civil Engineer in providing ongoing management of all civil engineering assets (bridges, reservoirs and dams), provide support to our harvesting operations and recreational activities and ensure that our infrastructure meets Forestry England standards.

The role will be based in our Pickering office.

Key Work Areas:

• Assisting the Principal Civil Engineer in the implementation of the civil engineering delivery across the Yorkshire Forest District to Forestry England standards.
• Undertake civil engineering asset inspections as part of an inspection programme across the district.
• Act as programme manager and engage with contractors to deliver on time and to budget under the Civil engineering framework.
• Assisting in creation and issuing of tenders under the Forestry England Civil Engineering framework contract.
• Assist with the provision of Engineering design details.
• Monitor adherence to specification, quality of delivery, and health and safety management of contracts and address any shortfall with the Principal Civil Engineer.
• Assist the Principal Civil Engineer in fulfilling their obligations under CDM2015.
• Champion a safe working environment by role modelling high standards of health and safety through the effective management of Forestry England staff and contractors undertaking work on Forestry England land.
• Be aware of, and manage accordingly, the need to engage positively with other stakeholders including the project team throughout the project development and contract period.

Person specification

Essential

• HNC Civil Engineering or equivalent to meet the educational base requirement.
• Knowledge and understanding of CDM2015 and construction Health, Safety & Environmental risk management.
• Candidate should have proven relevant experience in civil engineering, particularly regarding management of contracts, construction activities and/or project management.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

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

• Candidate should have good IT skills and be familiar with MS office packages and the use of Autocad and GIS.
• Membership of (or working towards) a relevant professional body.
• An understanding of procurement rules associated with public bodies.
• Familiar with NEC4 contracts.
• Good knowledge or experience of working in rural and environmentally sensitive areas and environmental protection requirements.
• Ideally candidates should possess a relevant and up-to-date health and safety qualification such as IOSH, SMSTS, or significant demonstrable experience of health and safety knowledge.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,863, Forestry Commission contributes £8,063 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Alongside your salary of £29863, Forestry Commission contributes £8063 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days holiday pa with an extra day’s holiday entitlement each year over the first 5 years up to a maximum of 30 days per year, plus bank holidays and 2.5 extra days leave.
• 3 days paid volunteering leave every year (once you have passed probation).
• 5 days dedicated to your self-driven development each year.
• Extensive opportunities for further learning through Civil Service Learning.
• Reimbursement of any relevant professional membership fees.
• Employee benefits that include (but are not limited to) the Cycle to Work scheme, free high-street and online discounts and offers through ‘STaR’, and the opportunity to join the Civil Services Sports Council.
• Access to our dedicated Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that gives free, confidential and independent support – whether it is personal or work-related.
• Free eyesight tests and £100 voucher for glasses for visual display usage.
• Pay advances of up to £5,000 for computers, sports equipment, or training costs.
• Free parking at all Forestry Commission sites (including Moors Valley Country Park and Alice Holt Forest) and free entry into our National Arboretum in Westonbirt.
• Up to 15% discount at Forest Live Events, Forest Holidays cabins, and Go Ape outdoor activity centres.
• Numerous retail discounts including 10% off at Forestry Commission shops and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:

A 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.

A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal experience, skills and qualities are relevant to this role. Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift is expected to take place on Thursday 29th August and interviews will be conducted on Wednesday 11th September 2024. (To be confirmed).

Interviews will be conducted in person. Candidates will be further assessed on behaviours and experience at 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

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 . click apply for full job details