Job Introduction
We are Forestry England.
We live and breathe forests.
Job title – Communications Manager
Salary- £40,388 - £43,482 per annum
Contract type – Fixed Term Appointment to 31st March 2028
Hours – 37 hours per week
Vacancy closes - 12th July, 23:58
Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts—and communicators who bring our work to life. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm 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. Through powerful storytelling and clear, engaging communications, we showcase the special places we create and care for—places where everyone can feel welcome: to explore, to connect, to reflect, and to belong. From world-class landscapes to green spaces close to communities, our forests are designed to be accessible, inclusive and meaningful for all, and our communications play a vital role in making sure everyone feels invited.
We connect people with nature by telling compelling stories that inspire visits, build understanding and highlight the proven health and wellbeing benefits of time spent in forests.
Together, we use our voice, creativity and expertise to engage diverse audiences, celebrate the impact of our work, and help shape places that matter—today and for generations to come.
What you’ll do…
This role leads communications and public engagement for a high-profile national programme to create and install Covid-19 commemorative features in the nation’s forests. These features will provide spaces for reflection, remembrance and recognition of the lives lost, the impact of the pandemic, and the sacrifices made across society. Working closely with the programme director, a multidisciplinary team and communications colleagues in Forestry England’s national team and six districts, you will manage all aspects of communications for creating and installing the features in forests. This will include media relations and stakeholder and community engagement. The role requires strong communications management, excellent content creation skills, and a commitment to inclusive and accessible communications. As well as excellent communications skills, this role requires the ability to lead compassionate engagement with people affected by loss and trauma, ensuring their voices are heard and reflected with care, respect and dignity. This is a fixed-term role aligned to the lifespan of the programme, with a strong emphasis on legacy, accessibility, and community collaboration.
This is a temporary appointment until 31st March 2028 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Where you’ll work…
The role will be based in a local Forestry England office with flexibility for blended working. We would anticipate the role spending one day each fortnight in our Bristol head office. Travel across England will be required with occasional overnight stays 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.
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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.
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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.
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free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
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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…
You will also be asked to answer the following question:
Set out your experience of planning, delivering and evaluating community and stakeholder engagement on a sensitive issue or project. (150 words)
You will then 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.
You will be assessed on behaviours and strength-based questions during your interview, and also asked to do a short presentation.
The Behaviours being assessed at interview are:
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Communicating and Influencing
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Delivering at Pace
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Making Effective Decisions
We expect interviews to be held on the 21st and 22nd July in person at our Bristol office.
Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email [email protected].
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: [email protected].
