Job Description

Details

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Reference number

433447

Salary

34,362
GBP

Job grade

Other

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Other

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Peebles, Scotland, EH45 8NB

About the job

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Job summary

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is an agency of the Scottish Government and we manage Scotland's Forests and Land on behalf of the Scottish Ministers and the people of Scotland.



We are a major provider of outdoor recreation opportunities across Scotland including a wide-ranging portfolio of visitor destinations including six Forest Parks. The work we do makes a significant contribution to the local and national visitor economy as well as ensuring our national forests deliver a wide range of social benefits.



The Visitor Services (VS) Team is responsible for the development and delivery of a high quality visitor experience across the forest estate. This includes; planning and managing recreation opportunities, engaging with visitors, facilitating events, facilitating education and learning, working with partners & tenants, dealing with enquiries and engaging with communities.



Our region is diverse and comprises Tweed Valley & Galloway Forest Parks, Galloway Dark Sky Park, the 7stanes trail centres, the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere and a land reclamation programme in the former East Ayrshire coal area. It is an extremely busy and dynamic Region to live and work in.

Job description

The Area Visitor Services Manager (AVSM) post will be responsible for delegated sites in the Scottish Borders, focused in the Tweed Valley and our key 7Stanes sites at Glentress, Innerleithen and Newcastleton. You will also play a key role as part of the Regional Visitor Services Management Team developing and improving recreational opportunities across the FLS estate.



The key responsibility of the AVSM role is to plan, manage, develop and promote high quality, safe visitor experiences within your delegated area of Scotland's national forests.



You will help ensure that the facilities are maintained to a high standard to achieve and maintain a high quality visitor experience, through the oversight of regular inspections and the management of the facility maintenance programme which you will lead on developing.



Much of the workload of the Visitor Service Team is about managing across teams. Your ability to communicate well, negotiate and organise yourself and others will be vital. Part of the role is to encourage new audiences to our sites across the forest estate, working with neighbours, groups and communities to enhance the visitor experience.



Travel throughout the region and beyond will occasionally be required. Occasional overnight stays are likely to be necessary. The role will include regular weekend working as part of a planned duty rota along with occasional evening and public holiday working.

Person specification

Experience

Essential:

Experience of managing recreation/visitor facilities in a public facing setting within the countryside/recreation/tourism sector to a high standard Budget management experience An ability to communicate and work effectively with a wide range of people Solid foundation in effective health and safety and environmental management, ideally in relation to recreation or other land-based operations Staff management or supervisory experience Experience of managing Outdoor Access and working knowledge of Land Reform Scotland Act

Desirable:

Experience of partnership working with communities Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders Contract/ project management experience Experience of supporting and manging public events Knowledge and experience of managing mountain bike trails Experience of revenue generation/commercial activity Knowledge of countryside and land management, with a commitment to learn more

Technical

Essential:

Land based visitor services/tourism experience A degree or diploma in recreation or countryside management or similar discipline OR significant experience in a similar role A full current driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK. However, we are willing to consider any proposals that would allow you to do the job by other means Competent in the use of IT and social media with a good working knowledge of Microsoft applications including Excel, Word and Outlook

Desirable:


Ability to use GIS or equivalent software, with a commitment to learn more

Benefits

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Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

Please see our recruitment portal for further details.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Martin Page Email : martin.page@forestryandlamnd.gov.scot
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Recruitment team

* Email : resourcing@forestryandland.gov.scot