Collections Manager (Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest)

Collections Manager

Bedgebury £26,889 - £31,807 plus benefits 

Background Information

Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest is home to the world-leading national conifer collection and is looking for someone who is up for an equally large and challenging role. 

The Pinetum (comprising over 12,000 specimen trees) covers approximately 320 acres, set within the wider Bedgebury forest, and is home to some 91 vulnerable or critically endangered species and five NCCPG National Collections (including Yew, Juniper and Thuja). 

Bedgebury is also one of the leading visitor attractions in the South East of England, hosting over 250,000 annual visits, offering cycling trails, walking, adventurous play, Go-Ape, music concerts, education and many other events and activities. 

Bedgebury management sits within the wider East England Forest District team comprising some 100 members of staff and responsible for managing circa 35,000ha of Public Forest Estate land in Kent, East Anglia, East Sussex and the Chilterns. The main administrative centre for the District is based in Thetford Forest. 

Purpose of the Job 

A dynamic person, working with the site Manager and wider team you will be responsible for leading operations within the Pinetum and managing the tree collection. You will be leading and managing a team of dedicated individuals who will help you deliver your objectives. This will include leading on operations, including the safe and most effective management for FC staff and contractors. 

Your work will take into account the Collection's social, cultural and scientific value, its contribution to the forestry sector and the search for alternative forestry species and recreation objectives. By managing the Bedgebury Accessions Policy, in line with other policies such as the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, you will take responsibility for the quantity and quality of plants produced and their input into the database and GIS mapping of the Pinetum. You will lead on the Bedgebury Conifer Conservation Project and oversee all Management Plans and Landscape Plans. 

As a crucial member of the small management team at Bedgebury you will be expected to take an active part in supporting the delivery of a broad range of activities across the site, including events. 

The East England Forest District also holds Lynford Aboretum at Thetford within its estate and the Collections Manager will also be responsible for the strategic direction of this collection. 

As Collections Manager you must have;

•             Comprehensive experience of contract management, including health and safety requirements 

•             Experience managing operations within forestry or arboriculture

•             Understanding of the breadth of conservation issues relating to conifer trees

•             A degree or similar in forestry, horticulture or arboriculture

•             A comprehensive understanding of Health & Safety and best practice requirements in this area of work

•             IT skills including Word and Excel 

To apply, please visit our website: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/ 

0131 314 6519

resourcing@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 

Please quote ref 0006-48. Closing date: 2 June 2013

No recruitment agencies please. 

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