Head of Major Programmes

at  Forestry Commission

JOB SUMMARY

Forest Services (FS) as part of Forestry Commission (FC) are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.
The Head of Major Programmes will report to the Head of Strategy and Transformation and lead a multi-disciplinary team. They will be supported by three colleagues reporting directly to them: an IT Development Lead, a Project Manager and a Business Data Analyst. They will also activity manage a Business Change Manager and a Project Support Officer from our Business Transformation team. Their wider team also includes two Business Analysts and two Change Managers.
The role is well-established within Strategy and Transformation and is being vacated for a period of 18 months. We expect that the successful applicant will undertake a month-long handover prior to the current postholder’s departure and following their return, meaning that the end date for the role is 31 August 2026 (with the possibility of extension or conversion to permanent should circumstances change).
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in that, we want to hear from you.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

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

• Programme Management approach and methodology

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,960, Forestry Commission contributes £15,109 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many 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 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, office availability, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.
Things you need to know

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The purpose of this role is to direct and oversee the major programmes in Forest Services, often in close collaboration or partnership with other parts of the Defra group. You will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation has the capability and capacity to deliver on those programmes’ objectives, providing leadership, focus and energy in complex and novel environments where a level of uncertainty can be assumed. Currently, there are two major programmes of note for Forest Services: the Nature for Climate Fund and the Farming and Countryside Programme. Both are high-profile Defra-led initiatives that require strong input and on-the-ground delivery from Forest Services, to ensure the right outcomes are met for land managers and other stakeholders across England.
It is expected that you will also work very closely with the Head of Business Transformation as joint Heads of our Project Delivery Profession, to drive forward our maturing professional capability in this area, and with our Head of IT and Business Services to ensure that digital and contractual elements of major programmes are well-understood and delivered in line with current best practice.