Recreation Craftsperson - Forest of Dean

Role overview

This position is based at Beechenhurst, GL16 7EL, with duties carried out across the Forest of Dean and, on occasion, beyond it. The area receives more than 1 million visitors each year across a wide mix of recreation sites, with facilities managed by two Recreation Managers and supported by recreation rangers, visitor services officers, and craftspeople who work together to keep sites safe, welcoming, and enjoyable.

The Recreation Craftsperson plays a key part in supporting the wider recreation team. The role centres on keeping visitor areas and car parks clean, tidy, and well maintained, alongside daily waste collection, litter removal, and general upkeep. A further core duty is opening site gates and barriers each morning, following a timetable that changes through the year.

This is a varied role with no two days the same. It calls for resilience, flexibility, and the ability to handle tasks and environments that may be demanding or unpredictable. Work takes place outdoors throughout the year in all weather conditions, both independently and with colleagues and volunteers. Travel may be on foot, by bicycle, and in vehicles, including off-road routes, and some duties can be physically strenuous.

You will work on a seven-day rota, which includes alternate weekends, regular public holidays, and occasional out-of-hours events. The aim is to help deliver a high-quality visitor experience and ensure that recreation facilities remain safe and fit for purpose.

Key duties

• Keep sites presentable through bin emptying, litter picking, and the removal of waste to depots, including separating recyclable and non-recyclable materials.
• Carry out light maintenance such as fitting, repairing, and painting signs, fixing fences, replenishing play-area safety materials, and closing any play equipment that appears unsafe.
• Undertake seasonal vegetation work, including strimming and mowing around recreation sites, entrances, and forest furniture; chemical spraying may also be required after the appropriate training and certification.
• Check public toilets and complete basic duties such as replacing consumables, unblocking toilets, or mopping floors after flooding or misuse until a tradesperson or cleaner completes fuller repairs.
• Open public entrances, buildings, and car parks each day in line with site opening hours.
• Carry out safety inspections of facilities, trails, and trees, making sure defects are logged and dealt with promptly.
• Support the upkeep of recreation facilities, including fly-tipping response, toilet supply replenishment, signage work, and vegetation management.
• Respond professionally to incidents, including giving basic first aid and supporting emergency services when needed.
• Keep accurate records of incidents and accidents, including all relevant supporting information.
• Protect personal, colleague, and public safety by following risk assessments, lone-working procedures, PPE checks, and safety guidance.
• Provide in-person customer service, offering advice and information to visitors, selling memberships, maps, and other products, and helping at visitor information points when required.
• Monitor parking ticket machines and complete car park patrols as needed.
• Carry out additional tasks requested by your line manager, where reasonable.

Working pattern and environment

The post requires year-round outdoor work in changing weather conditions and involves both lone working and teamwork. It also includes movement around the forest by foot, bicycle, and vehicle. Some tasks may involve physical effort and exposure to busy public spaces.

Experience, skills, and knowledge

To be successful, you should bring strong communication skills, confidence working within a team, and practical IT ability such as using MS Office. You should also have experience with basic DIY or manual work and a sound understanding of health and safety best practice.

Helpful background for the role includes experience in a busy outdoor environment, front-line customer service, and carrying out inspections of facilities or equipment.

Qualifications

A full UK driving licence is required. A First Aid at Work qualification would be an advantage, as would practical or vocational qualifications.

Behaviours assessed

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Pay and benefits

The salary for this role is £26,959. In addition, Forestry Commission contributes £7,810 toward membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. The employer pension contribution is 28.97%.

• Learning and development tailored to the role
• Flexible working options
• A culture that supports inclusion and diversity
• Civil Service pension with a 28.97% employer contribution

Application and selection

The vacancy uses Success Profiles and the selection process will assess behaviours. Applicants must submit a 200-word statement describing relevant experience and career history, plus a personal statement of no more than 500 words. These will be used at the shortlisting stage. A technical skill will also be assessed at interview.

The interview will assess the behaviours listed above. Successful candidates will also need to complete a criminal record check and the Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard check. A medical assessment is also expected.

If reasonable adjustments are needed, applicants should contact the recruitment team by email. Feedback is only provided to candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Artificial intelligence guidance

AI may be used as support when preparing an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, accurate, and based entirely on the applicant’s own experience. Any plagiarism or passing off AI-generated content as personal experience may lead to withdrawal of the application and possible disciplinary action for internal candidates.

Nationality and eligibility

This role is broadly open to UK nationals, Irish nationals, Commonwealth nationals who have the right to work in the UK, eligible nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and certain family members under the EU Settlement Scheme, some individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible for EUSS by 31 December 2020, and Turkish nationals and certain family members with the right to work in the Civil Service.

Working in the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards expected of civil servants. Recruitment is based on merit through fair and open competition. The Civil Service supports diversity and equal opportunity, including the Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants at risk of redundancy who meet the minimum requirements. This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service also welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction, in line with its stated inclusion approach.