Job Introduction
We are Forestry England.
We live and breathe forests.
Job title – Senior Civil Engineer
Salary- £41,802 to £44,830
Contract type – Fixed Term Appointment to 31.03.2028
Hours – 29.6 per week
Vacancy closes - 23:58 on 23rd November 2026
Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts—including civil engineers who help bring our forests to life. We are a passionate team who take pride in delivering high-quality infrastructure and want to make a positive difference for people and the environment.
At Forestry England, we care for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. We create and maintain the essential infrastructure that underpins these special places—ensuring they are safe, resilient and accessible. From large-scale visitor destinations to local green spaces, our work enables people to explore, connect, reflect and belong within forests that are designed to be welcoming to all.
We connect people with nature by providing the paths, structures and facilities that make access possible - supporting more people to experience the proven health and wellbeing benefits of time spent in forests.
Together, we combine technical expertise, practical delivery and environmental stewardship to create and maintain infrastructure that works with the landscape, stands the test of time, and supports places that matter—today and for generations to come.
What you’ll do…
Help deliver one of Forestry England’s significant national projects—creating inclusive, co-designed green spaces for reflection and wellbeing across England’s forests
As our project Senior Civil Engineer, you’ll take ownership of the civil engineering elements of this high-profile national project, ensuring safe, sustainable, and innovative solutions that make a lasting impact.
You’ll work closely with national and district teams, turning plans into reality through expert design, technical guidance, and hands-on project delivery. From developing budgets, procurement and managing contractors to overseeing infrastructure works, you’ll keep everything on track and compliant while driving quality and efficiency. Our small multidisciplinary team will work closely with input from communities and partners, as well as our district teams.
Our team has delivered projects like Delamere Visitor Centre, the Whinlatter WOW trail, inclusive play spaces at Sherwood Pines and Westonbirt Arboretum, and community woodland designs.
This is a chance to combine your engineering expertise with purpose—creating spaces that matter for communities and nature. If you thrive on complex challenges, collaboration, and delivering meaningful outcomes, we’d love to have you on the team.
Please watch our Making the Nation’s Forest’s More Accessible project video to gain an understanding of the sort of projects we have delivered recently.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
The role will be based in a centrally located Forestry England office with flexibility for blended working. There is a need for travel in this role, with occasional overnight says necessary.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
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…
We cannot accept applications via email. Please follow the steps outlined below. Any CVs and/or personal statements sent outside the system will not be considered for shortlisting.
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 selection process may include additional assessment and/or interview stages. Candidates will be informed of the assessment format and arrangements during the recruitment process.
You will be assessed on behaviours and strength based questions during your interview.
The Behaviours being assessed at interview are:
- Making effective decisions
- Delivering at pace
- Managing a quality service
Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 3rd December 2026, in-person at our Santon Downham Office, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0TJ.
You may also be assessed on Experience, Strength based questions, and/or the Technical Success Profile at the interview. The technical element could include a presentation, practical or written task.
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.
If you're planning to use AI to support your application, please ensure you've read our guidelines here first.
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.
