HLS Project Manager
| Posting date: | 24 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £37,485 to £40,590 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 June 2024 |
| Location: | SO43 7NH |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 355232/1 |
Summary
Our four values capture how we work:
- Think beyond a lifetime - We make plans today for a better tomorrow, so our business and our forests are sustainable and fit for the future.
- Be adventurous - We approach challenges with creativity and adventure, embracing research and innovation to stay relevant.
- Do it together - We get our best results when we work with others, and we encourage diverse perspectives, so we make better decisions.
- Look out and look after - We care about our colleagues, volunteers, partners, and customers, and we take a stand against unsafe behaviour.
South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people, containing a diverse range of roles - from wildlife rangers and ecologists to marketing professionals, all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares (ha) of public forest estate and national parks that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight.
Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites, and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).
The New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme is England’s largest environmental scheme and restores and enhances the internationally-important habitats of the New Forest. The heathland, mires, bogs, ponds and streams, along with the wet heaths, wet grasslands and wet woodlands, are among the Forest’s most precious qualities. In terms of wetland habitats, the New Forest supports one of only four significant sites of bog woodland in the UK, as well as one of the six best sites of riverine woodland. Together with other scarce wetland and heathland habitats, the Forest also contains the most extensive lowland valley mire systems in north-western Europe.
The HLS scheme has run since 2010 and so far it has:
- Restored miles of internationally-important habitats for wildlife
- Supported the historic practice of commoning, which maintains the rare New Forest landscape
- Worked to identify and protect historic sites across an area the size of 17,000 football pitches
- Inspired more than 18,000 children to cherish the area’s unique environment
As HLS Project Manager you will be directly involved in the delivery of some of the most ambitious and impressive habitat restoration projects in the country. Working in the unique landscape of The New Forest, which is one of the most important areas for freshwater wildlife and lowland heathland in Britain, you and your team will restore areas of habitat protected under international legislation.
Key Work Areas
- Leadership and team management
As HLS Project Manager you will lead a team of 7 dedicated and skilled members of staff. You will ensure your team understand what they need to achieve, the value of the work they are undertaking and how it contributes to wider strategic goals. As a team leader you will act as Line Manager for 5 team members and Reporting Officer for 2 other members of staff. You will motivate your team and provide them with the support they need to deliver their specialist work programmes.
- Delivery of habitat restoration programmes
Working collaboratively with Forestry England colleagues and external partners you will develop a work programme to deliver habitat restoration projects across Forestry England land in The New Forest. You will prioritise outcomes and track and report progress against agreed milestones. Managing project governance, including providing key reports as required to the HLS Board to obtain support with effective decision making.
- Stakeholder engagement
You will work to encourage buy- in and support from our stakeholders and the public to achieve our goals. Working with the Forestry England Communications Team you will promote the work delivered by the HLS team and encourage greater understanding of its contribution to society. Key stakeholders include The Verderers of The New Forest, Natural England and The New Forest National Park Authority
- Budget and contract management
Through careful budget management you will ensure that public money is spent efficiently, following correct procedures and with accurate records kept. You will lead on procurement processes for the HLS Team and contract management, ensuring that FE procedures are followed at all times.