Operations Co-ordination Manager – Plant Health Forestry

Location

The Forestry Commissions Plant Health Forestry team are geographically dispersed. These posts have a national remit and can be based from any Forestry Commission office, with the preference for one position being based in Southern England.

About the Job

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Plant Health Operations Team within Forest Services, part of the Forestry Commission. You will play a key role in protecting England’s trees and woodlands from pests and diseases, leading a team of experts to deliver operational excellence and strategic impact across England and Great Britain.

Job Description

About Forest Services and the Plant Health Forestry Team

Forest Services are the Government’s forestry experts. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve, and expand England’s woodlands through regulation, incentives, and expert advice.

Within Forest Services, the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) Team delivers technical policy advice, operational activities (border and inland), and the Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM) programme. Our work ensures that the UK’s treescape is protected from pests and diseases, and that we are prepared to respond to emerging threats.

The PHF Team operates with both England and GB-wide responsibilities:
– England: Inland surveillance, outbreak management, biosecurity promotion, and regulatory implementation, working with Defra and the Devolved Governments as part of the UK Plant Health Service.
– GB-wide: Statutory functions (including border inspections) and technical advice and support on plant health.

About the Role

We are recruiting to two roles within the Plant Health Forestry team.

One role currently focuses on Health and Safety compliance and responding to outbreaks of Ips typographus and oak processionary moth across the South and East of England.

The other role focuses on operational delivery of border activity, Phytophthora ramorum, sweet chestnut blight, and inland surveillance programmes.

As plant health risks and operational priorities change, the focus of these roles will adapt. Together, the postholders are responsible for leading and coordinating the operational delivery of the Forestry Commission’s response to tree pests and diseases, helping to protect the nation’s forests, woodlands and trees.

Job Summary

As a senior leader within the Operations Team, you will lead a team of dedicated professionals and work closely with colleagues across Forest Services and wider Forestry Commission functions to deliver against our strategic priorities and business objectives.

You will oversee the operational response to regulated tree pests and diseases, both inland and at the border. This includes managing responses to established and emerging threats, directing surveillance activity, and supporting the management of interceptions to help protect the UK’s trees, woods and forests.

The role plays a key part in shaping the future of our operations. You will contribute to the development of systems, processes and ways of working that enable the team to deliver its core functions effectively, while identifying and driving continuous improvement.

You will also champion a positive health and safety culture, ensuring high standards of wellbeing, compliance and safe working practices across all areas of activity.

Given the national scope of the role, regular travel throughout England and occasional overnight stays will be required.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Provide a clear sense of direction and accountability for the PHF Operations Team
• Lead the team to work collaboratively to deliver excellent results, aligned with the Forest Commission Strategy and Forest Services Business Plan.
• Champion a safety first Health and Safety culture and compliance with policy.
• Promote a positive and inclusive environment and actively foster cross functional collaboration. Support and empower staff to take responsibility and make decisions through trust and delegated authority.
• Provide clear direction and foster a culture of continuous improvement and wellbeing.
• Ensure compliance with organisational guidance and procedures.
• Deputise for the PHF Operations Team Manager, as necessary.

Operational Delivery

• Ensure delivery of statutory functions, including Statutory Plant Health Notices, movement authorisation processes, and demarcated area requirements.
• Lead on management of specific pest and diseases surveillance/outbreaks operations.
• Collaborate closely with the other Operational Co-ordination Manager to develop realistic work programmes for the operational team, paying particular attention to retaining the balance from competing demands.
• Support outbreak response; act as Operations Commander when required.
• Work as part of the GB Plant Health Service, supporting the delivery in Scotland and Wales (e.g., boarder inspections and inland licencing operation) as out lined in the Plant Health Schedule for the FC devolution MOU, as well as all Plant Health Forestry operations in England.

Strategic Development

• Support the strategic development of the operational team, including effective change management
• Work closely with other teams in Forest Services and wider Forestry Commission to support and facilitate the delivery of plant health strategic priorities, including identification of opportunities for collaboration.
• Communicate our strategy and value of our work to colleagues and stakeholders.
• Support on operational and contingency planning and strategic development of operational systems and procedures.

Management of Resources

• Lead the team, efficiently manage resources to enable effective delivery.
• Business plan and delivery performance monitoring.
• Support contract management.

Stakeholder Engagement, Representation and Communications

• Build strong relationships across the Forestry Commission, Defra, Devolved Governments, and external stakeholders.
• Support internal and external communications, this may include handling media activity in close association with FC and Defra communications teams.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong proven team leadership skills, including the ability to lead a team to achieve ambitious targets
• A strong understanding of current UK pest and disease concerns/legislation
• A proven track record of integrating a collaborative approach to team working and experience of working with multiple internal and external stakeholders to co-ordinate work.
• Experience and proven track record in building credible internal and external stakeholder relationships in line with corporate values.
• An ability to deliver at pace on several concurrent priorities.
• Experienced in maintaining and improving approaches to health and safety
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

 Desirable

• Knowledge of forestry operations and the wider forestry sector.
• Experience in contingency planning and/or incident management.
• Experience of building and managing budgets, financial monitoring, and cost control
• Forestry, land based or plant health related qualification or membership of a relevant professional body

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