Communications Manager

Job Introduction

We are Forestry England.

We live and breathe forests.

Job title – Communications Manager

Salary - £39,135 - £42,133  

Contract type – Fixed-Term Appointment until 31/03/2028

Hours – 37 hours per week

Vacancy closes - 23:58

Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment.

Together, we’re using our scale and expertise to grow the nation’s forests for everyone. We’re already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.

What you’ll do…

Forestry England are actively growing the nation’s forests, planting around 1,000 hectares of new woodland each year to support carbon sequestration and biodiversity, produce sustainable timber and create resilient landscapes for future generations. 

Forestry England is seeking a dynamic and skilled Communications Manager to bring the story of our Woodland Creation Programme to life. This is an exciting opportunity to craft compelling narratives about our efforts to expand the nation’s forests. From small broadleaf woodlands which link ancient woodlands, to larger forests designed for timber production and recreation, you will engage diverse audiences, building awareness and support for our vital work. You will shape public perception and champion woodland creation on a national scale, playing a key role in establishing Forestry England as a leader in creating new woodlands and to be recognised as an exemplar of forward-thinking, sustainable forest management.

This role requires creativity, strategic thinking and strong storytelling skills to ensure Forestry England’s woodland creation work is widely understood and celebrated.

Some travel across England will be required with occasional overnight stays necessary. This is a Temporary Appointment for three years with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.  

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work…

Any Forestry England office. Blended working arrangements will be considered within England.   

This role will sit within the National Woodland Creation Team.

 Benefits…

Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension. You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

• 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
• STaR is our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
• free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• a commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.

Read more about the benefits on the Forestry England website.

How to apply…

You will be asked to write a 200 word statement on your relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words. You will be assessed on both during sifting. More details about how to apply are listed on the application form. 

 The Behaviours being assessed at interview are – 

Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.

Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website. 

Nationality requirements…

Read more about nationality requirements here. 

Working for the Civil Service…

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). This means candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative. 

Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English.

Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in in line with/according to these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk.