Business Support Officer

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Pickering, Yorkshire and the Humber, YO18 7EL

About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join Forestry England and play your part in shaping the future of the nation’s forests in Yorkshire. At Forestry England we believe the nation’s forests are a living treasure through which we can have an incredibly positive long-term impact on people’s lives, nature recovery, the climate emergency, and the green economy, all built on a foundation of world-class sustainable forestry. 

The Yorkshire Forest District covers an area from Hartlepool to Spurn Head, stretching over the North York Moors National Park, to the Yorkshire Dales and Huddersfield in the west. The district is responsible for the sustainable management of a 21,000-hectare estate, and the team currently consists of over 60 employees, supported by dedicated volunteers. 

Based at our offices in Pickering, our Business Support Officers support the administration of the many and varied departments within the district. Although each member has a specific area of responsibility, all Business Support roles are considered integral and interchangeable, providing back-up for colleagues during times of absence or peak workflow, so there’s always something to learn that’s outside of your immediate remit. 

We’re passionate about looking after our people and this vacancy is primarily concerned with the administration of Health and Safety compliance, covering such areas as Health & Safety, Staff Training, Fleet Vehicle Administration and Building Management. 

Job description

The successful candidate will be part of a team of 6 Business Support staff, who efficiently support the running of the district.

Your Key Work Areas will be to: 

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Office Manager for People.
• Maintain accurate records regarding Health & Safety compliance.
• Book Training courses for staff, monitor mandatory training completion and maintain accurate records of course completion and certification, providing reports to Senior Managers as requested.
• Maintain accurate records to support our fleet vehicles. Monitoring fuel usage, mileage, MOT renewals, servicing etc.
• Be the main point of contact for the purchase, recording and distribution of Corporate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment.
• Communicate and engage effectively with a range of people, including internal and external staff and stakeholders. This will include dealing with stakeholder enquiries promptly and courteously by email, telephone, letter or in person, referring to the relevant lead where appropriate.
• Follow corporate guidance in the procurement of appropriate resources, adhering to budgets and monitoring usage.
• Support the development of systems and procedures where necessary to ensure efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness across the business support and administration function.
• File, scan, print and assist with office duties and maintaining accurate and up-to-date records and spreadsheets.
• Answering telephone calls, booking meeting rooms, assisting visitors to the office, handling mail (physical and electronic, incoming and outgoing) and other general administrative tasks requested by Senior Managers
• Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed accurately and efficiently.
• Embrace the Forestry England Values in your everyday behaviour – Think beyond a lifetime, Be adventurous, Do it together and Look out & look after.
• Adhere to the Civil Service Code and its core values of Integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

The duties/responsibilities listed describe the post as it is at present and is not exhaustive. The post holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary to the business.

Person specification

Essential:

• Very competent IT user with practical experience of Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience of working in an office environment, ideally providing administrative support.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong organisational skills and good attention to detail.
• Experience of working under pressure handling multiple tasks and prioritising your own workload.
• Maths and English GCSE/O Level at Grade 4/C or equivalent.

Desirable:

• Proven working experience in either a Health & Safety and/or Training environment.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £24,323, Forestry Commission contributes £7,046 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted civil service healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell up to 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (Pro rata).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Mrs Lee Burkill
• Email : lee.burkill@forestryengland.uk
• Telephone : 07342 086423

Recruitment team

• Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

Read Full Description