Key responsibilities & accountabilities
Leadership & People
Lead, manage and develop the recreation team (Recreation Rangers, Assistant Rangers, Craftsperson roles, apprentices).
Provide coaching, direction and support to foster a positive, inclusive and collaborative one-team culture.
Act as Duty Manager on a rota (including weekends, public holidays, peak visitor periods).
Promote Forestry Englands values, behaviours and health and safety culture (Look Out & Look After).
Health, Safety & Compliance
Ensure full compliance with health and safety guidance.
Oversee safe working practices for staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors.
Lead and support accident investigations, reporting, and corrective actions.
Maintain safe and compliant recreational facilities including play areas, trails, cycling routes and buildings.
Recreation Operations & Facility Management
Oversee the day-to-day management and presentation of High Lodge facilities, including buildings, play, trails, heritage and visitor infrastructure.
Lead building and asset management, facility inspections, audits and civil engineeringrelated works.
Maintain High Lodges buildings to statutory standards and customer expectations, working with Estates and specialist teams where required.
Implement district-wide Woodland Access Review actions and manage permissions, unauthorised trails and volunteer activities.
Commercial Management & Business Development
Identify and develop opportunities for commercial growth while ensuring alignment with sustainable land management principles.
Manage budgets, monitor income/expenditure and report on variances.
Oversee delivery of commercial activities contributing towards c.£1.5m of annual income.
Support the growth and diversification of the recreation business across East District beats.
Contract & Partnership Management
Lead contract management for recreation-related contracts (e.g., cleaning, vegetation management, gate locking, maintenance).
Manage contractors performance and health & safety compliance.
Work closely with external partners, concessionaires (e.g. Go Ape), volunteers and stakeholders.
Achieve value for money through fair, transparent procurement processes.
Events & Programme Delivery
Collaborate with the Visitor Services Manager on event development and delivery, including Forestry Englandled events (e.g., Forest Live) and externally delivered events.
Support the planning, permissions, logistics and safe delivery of activities and special events.
Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams (Sustainable Land Management, Civils, Ecology, Estates, Marketing).
Represent Forestry England at external meetings where required.
Provide site information and updates at internal district and national meetings. And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
