Works Supervisor (Harvesting)

South England Forest District manages some 46,000 hectares of the public forest estate across
West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset & South Wiltshire. The
varied, mixed woodlands produce some 80,000 m3 of timber each year, of which 20,000 m3 is
hardwood. The land management team have responsibility for an extensive programme of habitat
restoration, principally ancient woodland and lowland heath.

Much of the land is of high importance for nature conservation, supporting some 29,000 hectares
(ha) deemed to be of national importance for wildlife of which approximately 28,000 ha are also
designated as being of international importance for biodiversity as Special Areas of
Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar sites. The majority of the land
managed by the District is also within areas designated for their landscape value, including
4,000 ha within AONBs and 31,500 ha across two National Parks.

The area receives some 20 million day visits by the public each year and includes two major
Forest Centres at Moors Valley Country Park and Alice Holt Woodland Park.

The Harvesting Direct Production team of three is responsible for the planning and harvesting
of 50,000m3 of timber per year across the geographic spread of the Forest District. Working
closely with the Land Management and Planning teams, its role is to deliver Forest Design Plan
and conservation objectives while fulfilling supply contracts to our sawmill customers.

The majority of the volume is short wood produced by a mechanised harvesting contractor, but it
also includes an element of mature hardwood felled using traditional motor manual techniques.

Job description

Your role will be to provide support to the DP Harvesting Forester, through front line
supervision and site management of DP operations. You will assist in setting and maintaining
standards in all aspects of DP harvesting.

You will:-

• Assist in leading and managing staff and contractors to deliver outputs and results.
• Assist in setting and maintaining operational / Health and Safety standards.
• Assist in the planning of work programmes by attending to site and operational needs.
• Co-ordinate the production and dispatch of wood for the DP Unit and liaise with customers.
• Act as Duty Officer providing 24 hr emergency contact cover for a period of one week in
  approximately every 14 weeks i.e. approximately 4 times per year.

Person specification

Essential Experience

• Relevant experience in forestry or land management.
• Competence with a wide range of IT applications including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Competence with GIS applications.

Desirable Experience

• Hold a recognised Forestry qualification to at least National Diploma level.
• Good understanding of and experience in the application of Health & Safety in forest
  operations.
• A sound understanding of and experience in the application of contract management.
• Experience of using Sales Record Package (SRP)

Professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters or another relevant professional body is desirable.