Caretaker - Hamsterley
| Posting date: | 28 August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £24,323 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Salary quoted is Pro-rata. The hours are annualised averaging 12 hours per week. |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 15 September 2024 |
| Location: | DL13 3NL |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 367341/1 |
Summary
Forestry England is an organisation like no other. Our strong values and shared ambition to connect everyone with the nation’s forests underpin all that we do.
North England Forest District is the largest in England, with 130 staff helping care for 61,000 ha of forest and 25,000 ha of open land in Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham and Lancashire. We operate in some of England’s most remote areas, generating significant economic and environmental benefits, and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.
North England Forest district is also home to 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest covering over 10,000 ha and is a major contributor to nationally significant biodiversity projects supporting red squirrels, water voles, ospreys, red kites, forest rewilding, limestone woodland and blanket bog restoration.
Our visitor offer and experience is focused on five Forest Centres; Hamsterley, Grizedale, Gisburn, Kielder and Whinlatter. In total, the nation’s forests in North England District attracts over one million visits per annum.
The Hamsterley Beat comprises 3,200 hectares of diverse woodland and forest located in County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear and includes mature mixed woodlands on the urban fringe at Chopwell and conifer dominated upland forests at Slaley and Hamsterley Forest. There is a staff team of 11.5 full time equivalent roles, supported by volunteers and on-site business partners.
Hamsterley forest is an important regional outdoor recreation destination, with visitor numbers growing year on year and the potential to reach 300,000 in the next 5 years. The site is popular with families who enjoy our play offer and family campaign trails; and mountain bikers, who benefit from a strong intermediate offer and the advanced offer at the Descend Bike Park. The forest also hosts a weekly Parkrun event plus many other activities and cultural events. We are currently developing plans to refresh the visitor offer with a new visitor centre, café and bike hire, plus working with Forest Holidays to introduce overnight stays in the forest.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hy309cPI3v8
We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and make a positive difference to our visitor experience.
Together we are using our expertise to grow the nations forests for everyone. We are adapting our landscape for tomorrow, creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We are providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air clean to breathe and producing sustainable timber.
As a caretaker you will be outgoing, dynamic, problem solving and passionate about day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs.
You will work as part of the Hamsterley Recreation Team to manage and maintain buildings and facilities to give the best possible visitor experience and customer service.
Your work pattern will be annualised hours working at least one weekend day a week and more days in the holidays. (averaging 12 hours per week).
The post will be responsible for carrying out day to day maintenance and minor repair on buildings and facilities (but not limited to):
- Visitor Centre Maintenance minor repairs and booking contractors when larger repairs needed.
- ANPR daily checks on cameras and pay stations minor repairs and booking engineers and replacement parts when needed.
- Toilets and Sewerage Works ensuring working, undertaking minor defect repairs booking contractors for larger repairs.
- Cleaning, litter removal, waste monitoring and recycling.
- Vegetation management around Visitor Centre e.g. removing weeds, trimming hedges.
- Formal Inspections e.g. play equipment, natural play areas, visual buildings inspection.