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Technical Support Forest Operations

Closing date: 20 February 2023 | Salary: £28,403 - £32,088 (Grade 4) | Location: Aberystwyth or Welshpool

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Full Time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compressed hours considered - discussions at interview stage welcome

Post number: 200466

As an organisation we support flexible working. This role allows hybrid working (a mix of home and office working) and a working pattern suitable for you can be discussed on appointment if you are successful.

You will be contracted to one of the NRW location stated in this advert, at which you will be required to attend for regular meetings, training and for one-to-one meetings with your manager. These will be planned in advance.

Job description

The Forest Operations Team are responsible for the sustainable management of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate to meet accreditation under UK Woodland Assurance Scheme and ISO14001 and to deliver Sustainable Management of Natural Resources. The team covers management of the Welsh Government woodlands in the Mid-North (West) area from Aberystwyth in the south to Dolgellau in the north. These comprise a diverse mix of upland and lowland blocks including north and south Dyfi, Abergynolwyn, Machynlleth, Artists Valley, Nant y Moch, and Nant yr Arian.

The role of the Technical Support is key in the delivery of annual harvesting, restocking and establishment programmes working closely with external contractors and timber processing companies to ensure that these plans are delivered to time.

General duties of the role include supervision of service contracts and monitoring of Standing sales contracts providing regular written records of site visits in diaries. The individual will report any breaches of contract as well as Health & Safety and environmental incidents. There is an element of stock-taking of roadside timber produce, as well as recording of planting stock and chemical usage. Site surveys will be undertaken to provide management information, such as stocking densities on restock sites, weevil and weed surveys, and thinning control. The monitoring of timber security through regular lorry checks is necessary as well as the deployment of cameras to ensure compliance. The person will assist the wider team in planning and delivery of operations as and when required.

The role has some office-based work but is predominantly site based. Some out of hours working may be required should there be a need to respond to unforeseen incidents on site.

If you would like to have a site visit to discuss the role as well as seeing the working environment, please contact us.

Must have full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include to:

Deliver technical advice for specific sector or technical issues.
Deliver work plans, and delivery of agreed actions to contribute to business planning.
Participate in NRW technical groups.
Interact with peers in NRW to promote consistent industry and specialist subject practices.
Have responsibility for direct delivery of delegated programmes.

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of the following:

Experience of working in land management disciplines.
Knowledge of sustainable forest management, UKWAS and forest certification schemes.
Knowledge of forest planning and forest operations.

Welsh language requirements

Essential: Level 1 – able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

Desirable: Level 4 – Fluent in spoken Welsh

Please note if you do not meet the level 1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Competencies

Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following competencies, both at shortlisting and interview. Please give examples of how you demonstrate these competencies when completing your application form.

Essential Knowledge and Skills	The post holder has a good grasp and understanding of organisational procedures and policy. Has experience working in a number of environments or in a range of roles in one organisation. Has a good understanding of the technical nature of the function/team. Although not a subject expert, will have a sound understanding and experience in at least one technical area enabling them to plan and deliver schemes of work. The post holder will have a good level of literacy, numeracy and communication skills including well developed customer facing skills. The post holder will also have good computer literacy and data management skills. Experience of supervising others would also be a desirable attribute. Post holders will have a high level of knowledge and experience of health, safety and wellbeing as well as public safety and public liability.
Evaluation of Information	Ability to understand and interpret procedure manuals, statutory codes and legislation whilst carrying out the role. The role may involve the management of data. The role may include planning and delivery of schemes which may require an understanding of how different projects and programmes inter-relate.
Impact	As an externally facing role, work undertaken will impact both externally and internally. The work undertaken is generally within a discrete area so any impact of the work primarily affects the direct environment but may also extend across other subject and work areas. The impact of decisions or work activities will typically be relatively short to medium term.
Communication and Relationships with Others	Good customer facing skills are essential, to communicate across a range of functions within NRW as well as external parties. Ability to develop and sustain good working relationships that are likely to be of an on-going nature and may involve a degree of influencing.

Benefits of working for us

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

Agile and flexible working (role dependent)
Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 26.6% to 30.3%
28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
Health and wellbeing benefits and support
Weekly well-being hour to use as you choose
Competitive financial rewards to enhance your monthly pay

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

How to apply

Please send a completed application form to: Applications@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk using the post number as the email reference

Before completing your application, please read our Guidance on completing a job application form

Application closing date: 20 February

Interviews will take place face to face at the Aberystwyth office

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Jon Bell at jon.bell@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk or 07733291327

Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented, including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability. We have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

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