Project Support Officer
| Posting date: | 24 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £32,089 to £32,724 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 07 July 2025 |
| Location: | Farnham |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 411807/1 |
Summary
We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other teams within the Forestry Commission (FC), Forest Research, the devolved Administrations of Wales and Scotland, other Government Agencies, trade industry bodies and businesses within various sectors that include importers, processors, forest management companies and landowners.
Plant Health Forestry is part of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Services, the Government’s forestry experts, whose role is to protect, improve, expand and connect England’s trees, woodlands and forestry sector.
The Project Support Officer’s role will support a number of key projects and provide additional capacity throughout the Plant Health Forestry team to manage existing workloads. The role involves a high degree of autonomous working including taking responsibility of daily tasks and the ability to use your own judgement to make independent decisions and respond to emerging or changing priorities.
This is primarily an office based post but occasional travel across England, Wales and Scotland for activities such as team meetings, training and event support will be required.
Provide comprehensive project support across the team as well as leading on areas of work to ensure successful completion. The role will involve a number of key projects across the team, including improving financial and business processes, supporting tree pest and diseases incentives.
Oversee and support change management and communication projects, with a focus on establishing new ways of working within the team and throughout the Forestry Commission.
Play an integral role in the FC’s management of Oak Processionary Moth (OPM). Contributing to the development and refinement of processes, handle finance processes, liaison with FC colleagues/other stakeholders, leading event management and actively manage OPM public enquiries.
Finance
Collaborate closely with the OPM Programme Manager to oversee and manage a £1.6m OPM budget, ensuring meticulous tracking of all expenditure and swift resolution of any invoicing or contract issues. Core responsibilities include:
- Lead the daily monitoring of the £1.6m OPM budget and play a central role in the monthly budget monitoring, reviewing and reporting process.
- Proactively identifying, investigating, and resolving financial discrepancies with contractors, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
- Managing the end-to-end processes for purchase orders, including preparation, approval, and tracking to maintain clear oversight of contractor payments.
- Driving sourcing, negotiating, and coordination with external contractors for materials, services, and events, and overseeing orders and payments, including for overseas procurements.
Build collaborative and supportive relationships with budget managers across the PHF team to refine, enhance and implement effective financial processes.
Other
Provide Effective line-management for one Administrative Officer; ensuring they have the information and resources and support needed to excel in their role, while actively supporting their ongoing learning and development.
Collaborate closely across the Plant Health Forestry team, offering targeted assistance to both the Ips typographus team and Incident Management Team to support operations and project success.
Support the OPM team to address a high volume of complex enquires from colleagues, contractors, external stakeholders/landowners and members of the general public. Ensuring a responsive and professional approach to all interactions.
Plan awareness events for the OPM programme for stakeholders.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme