Work Supervisor (Harvesting)
| Posting date: | 19 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,171 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 October 2025 |
| Location: | SO43 7NH |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 428744/1 |
Summary
Forestry England’s South District Harvesting & Marketing Direct Production (DP) team is responsible for the planning and harvesting of around 50,000m3 of timber each year.
Working closely with our Land Management and Planning teams, your role will be to support the delivery of our Forest Design Plans (FDP) and conservation objectives, while fulfilling supply contracts for our sawmill customers.
Most of the timber volume that we produce is shortwood by a mechanised harvesting contractor. There is also a smaller element of mature hardwood felling, for which we use traditional motor manual techniques.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Where you’ll work…
We are Forestry England. We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests. Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 160 people with a diverse range of roles - from foresters and wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals. We all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares of public forest estate that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight. Nearly all of our forests are within either a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 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 therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (for habitats), Special Protection Areas (for birds) and Ramsar sites (for wetlands). We also provide public access and recreation in our forests, with nearly 50 million visits every year to South England Forest District. If the post you are applying for is PB5 or above, you will be asked to join the District duty roster, after a suitable period of time.
This post will be based at one of our main offices in South District which are at Lyndhurst SO43 7NH or Micheldever SO21 3BP.
Assist in leading and managing staff and contractors to deliver outputs and results -
• support the Harvesting & Marketing Forester (DP) through frontline supervision and site management
of DP operations
• assist in setting and maintenance of standards in all aspects of DP harvesting
• co-ordinate work sites to maintain efficient progress, taking into account all the constraints and
objectives whilst maintaining production to meet contractual commitments
• complete paperwork and site diaries to record information and report actions
• visit sites on a regular and timely basis
• communicate with local Beat teams in order to use their resources, when these are available
• support the preparation and supervision of some of the hardwood auction sites for the hardwood
auction each November
Assist in setting and maintaining operational and health & safety standards -
• complete quarterly safety checks and personal protective equipment (PPE) inspections for the DP
team, ensuring that records are kept up to date
• liaise with utility companies and stakeholders in advance of operations to plan safe work sites that
meet Forestry Commission, industry, and statutory guidance
Support the planning of work programmes by attending to site and operational needs -
• undertake the planning of work sites to deliver FDP and DP objectives in advance of operations
starting
• ensure all products reach the specification of our customer contracts
• visit sites on a regular and timely basis
Coordinate the timely production and dispatching of timber and liaising with customers to deliver
contract commitments -
• prescribe cutting specifications to meet our customer’s requirements and maximise revenue for South
District
• obtain and record stock figures on a regular basis
• coordinate dispatches to meet customer requirements and clear any roadside stocks as soon as
possible
After one year in post join our Duty Officer roster, providing 24-hour emergency contact cover for a
period of one week in every 14 (approximately four times per year)
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme