Operations Administration Officer

Job summary

Forestry England is looking for an accomplished Administrator to provide support to staff, customers and contractors based at the District Office in Santon Downham near Thetford. You will work as part of a team to provide superb administrative support for the Forestry and Land
Management Team.

The Forestry and Land Management Team covers a wide remit delivering sustainable forest management through timber harvesting, wildlife management and tree establishment. The team’s purpose is to ensure the competent and effective management of the nation’s forests and ensure income from both timber and venison further the organisation’s mission for people, the environment and the economy.

About Us:

East England Forest District, covers an area of 35,000 ha from North Norfolk to Brighton; including Thetford Forest and the outlying beats of Sandlings, Kent, East Sussex, Chilterns and Thames Chase Community Forest. The District has a varied landholding including the largest lowland pine forest in England at Thetford, community woodland on the outskirts of London at Thames Chase, and a range of mixed woodland, many of which are on sites of Ancient Woodland.

There are numerous sites of conservation interest designated across the District, including Special Protection Areas to conserve the breeding habitat for the Woodlark and Nightjar, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Specific Scientific Interest, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland, County Wildlife Sites and Scheduled Monuments.

The District offers outdoor recreation, leisure and wellbeing activities for hundreds of thousands of people each year at its recreation centres. Forestry England’s freehold estate is dedicated for public access on foot, with numerous small carparks and informal access points.

Job description

Working as part of a wider team you will provide effective administrative support to the
operational teams. Proactively ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed and that
relevant standards are met.

East Forest District produces around 125,000m3 of timber each year (generating a £7million
income) and has an annual planting programme of around 1million trees.

Key Work Areas:

Forestry & Timber Sales Administration – Use of the internal software system to administer
timber sales contracts. Providing assistance to Forest District colleagues, as well as
maintaining and updating the system.

Financial Administration support – using the internal eFinancial system at a basic level for
support tasks including raising of purchase orders and arranging payment of invoices.

Wider Support Role – Working as a key member of the Forestry and Land Management team provide
cover and support colleagues with ad hoc requests which could include updating and maintaining
guidance documents; data-gathering; running reports and monitoring of the team’s adherence to
policy and guidance.