Senior Governance Manager

Working at the heart of the FC the Head of Internal Governance will gain real insight into the structure and relationships within the organisation. The post holder will support the Head of Performance and other senior managers across the FC, by leading a range of key corporate governance tasks, including:

? corporate risk management ? corporate security ? corporate counter-fraud & error ? business continuity management ? accountability and board structures ? public appointments ? maintaining governance frameworks

The post holder will report to the Head of Performance and line-manage a team of two.

The individual will collaborate closely with the secretariat teams of the FC?s two executive agencies (Forestry England and Forest Research) who will be responsible for the operational delivery of corporate governance against the policy, guidance and standards set by the team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead and maintain a standard corporate risk management policy and guidance across the FC in line with Cabinet Office and Defra Group requirements. Monitor compliance and provide assurance.

2. Provide support to the FC?s Security Risk Owner (SRO) by undertaking assurance reviews of compliance against the government functional standard for security, driving forward improvement plans to meet this. Leading the organisation?s cross functional security forum to ensure the FC?s security framework remains effective and up to date in response to changes in threats and processes.

3. Lead and maintain standard corporate counter fraud policy and procedures across the FC in line with Cabinet Office and Defra Group requirements. Monitor compliance and provide assurance.

4. Lead and develop business continuity management across the FC in line with Cabinet Office and Defra Group practices. Monitor effectiveness through testing and compliance reviews, providing assurance as necessary.

5. Oversight, maintenance and develop of the FC governance framework ensuring that accountability and board structures fully meet Cabinet Office/Defra Group requirements. This will include accountability and board structures, and key documentation such as the Terms of Reference for all boards and the Framework Document.

6. Oversee the work of the team on recruitment, induction and support of non-executive directors, board and committee meeting coordination, secretariat support to a range of governance meetings.

7. Lead the production of the governance statement within the FC?s annual report and accounts, and contributions to other relevant areas within this document.

8. Build and exploit a close working relationship with the secretariat teams across the FC to ensure that standards and best practice are met through operational delivery.

This role sits within a dynamic organisation, and responsibilities may evolve over time as we continue to develop our structures, services and ways of working. The post holder will therefore need to be adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment. Person specification, We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Things you need to know Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following:

A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A personal statement ? in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the essential criteria of the Person Specification., If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ?Assistance required? section in the ?Additional requirements? page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you?re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback 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

The ideal candidate will demonstrate an understanding of corporate governance and the standards required of arm?s-length bodies and executive agencies, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly. They should be familiar with operating a risk management framework, as well as experience in implementing a counter fraud framework, or the capacity to rapidly develop expertise in both areas. Strong IT proficiency is essential, including effective use of Microsoft Office applications. Line management experience is desirable., * Delivering at Pace

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing, Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.

Benefits Alongside your salary of £48,765, Forestry Commission contributes £14,127 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.

• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each year’s service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata). Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.

• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

The Forestry Commission (FC) is the government?s forestry expert. We work across England to inform, demonstrate and enable what delivers multiple benefits from trees, woods and forests. We collaborate across sectors so that forestry contributes to environmental resilience, climate action, timber security, and benefits for people and communities. We are a Non-Ministerial Government Department with a Royal Charter and part of Defra, the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities.

The FC comprises several distinct but complementary areas, each with their own governing boards and executive leadership teams and each operating under the overarching framework, led by the Commissioners? Office.