Harvesting Machine Operator
East of England
Job details
Location
Brandon
Salary
£30,105
Hours of work
Full time
Contract
Permanent
Closing date
December 14, 2025
Job Summary
What you’ll do…
As Harvesting Machine Operator, you will help deliver the district’s business plan by efficiently using forestry harvesting and extraction machines. You will use purpose-built forestry machines working as part of a dedicated team to plan and carry out tree harvesting. You will operate a forwarder and harvester to mechanically fell trees and extract timber to roadside. You will work closely with the harvesting team and management to plan operations, meet district targets for outputs and specifications and ensure all health and safety issues are addressed.
Contractual hours are 37hrs/week, operators work additional overtime hours meaning early starts each day. The successful candidate will be expected to work the same pattern of hours as the rest of the team.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Where you’ll work…
Thetford Forest.
Job Description
You will operate a forwarder and harvester to mechanically fell trees and extract timber to roadside. You will work closely with the harvesting team and management to plan operations, meet district targets for outputs and specifications and ensure all health and safety issues are addressed.
Person Specification
•fell and forward trees during clear fell and thinning
•complete your operations in line with health, safety and environmental standards using tools such as site management plans and risk assessments
•maintain machines liaising with the workshop as required
•work with the forester and works supervisor to maintain stock control by measuring roadside and on- site timber
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
Essential professional and technical experience
• You must have previous experience of large-scale mechanised harvesting operations and working in an outdoor environment
• A full UK driving license, however Forestry England is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means
• Competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications
• You must be self-motivated and be able to learn and solve problems practically and safely
• You will have a flexible approach to work and be part of a team
Desirable professional and technical experience
• Ability to obtain trailer towing certificate within 9-12 months of appointment Qualifications
Essential
• Forwarder FMOCS qualified, units 1.5 & 3.2 (Old) or 0020-15 & 0020-16 (New) or 0020-42 (New), new units must have Base Machine Endorsement 4 – Over 2.5 ton wheeled articulated
Desirable
•Harvester FMOCS qualified
•current NPTC or equivalent certification in chainsaw use (Maintenance, cross cutting and felling up to380mm)
For full job details and how to apply please view the full job listing here.
