Operations Manager

High Lodge is one of Forestry England’s flagship outdoor recreation destinations, receiving over 500,000 visitors annually and offering high-quality facilities, trails, heritage features, play areas, cycling, events, and commercial partnerships. As the Operations Manager, you will lead the delivery, management and development of recreation operations across High Lodge and support recreation management across wider beat areas. The role is responsible for day-to-day operational excellence, facility and asset management, health and safety leadership, contract oversight, budget management, and developing a positive and inclusive “one-team” culture. You will play a central role in ensuring that High Lodge provides an outstanding visitor experience while contributing to the wider East District recreation strategy, commercial growth targets and Forestry England’s values of sustainability, safety, access and wellbeing.

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

Leadership & People

• Lead, manage and develop the recreation team (Recreation Rangers, Assistant Rangers, Craftsperson roles, apprentices).
• Provide coaching, direction and support to foster a positive, inclusive and collaborative “one-team” culture.
• Act as Duty Manager on a rota (including weekends, public holidays, peak visitor periods).
• Promote Forestry England’s values, behaviours and health and safety culture (“Look Out & Look After”).

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with health and safety guidance.
• Oversee safe working practices for staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors.
• Lead and support accident investigations, reporting, and corrective actions.
• Maintain safe and compliant recreational facilities including play areas, trails, cycling routes and buildings.

Recreation Operations & Facility Management

• Oversee the day-to-day management and presentation of High Lodge facilities, including buildings, play, trails, heritage and visitor infrastructure.
• Lead building and asset management, facility inspections, audits and civil engineering–related works.
• Maintain High Lodge’s buildings to statutory standards and customer expectations, working with Estates and specialist teams where required.
• Implement district-wide Woodland Access Review actions and manage permissions, unauthorised trails

and volunteer activities.

Commercial Management & Business Development

• Identify and develop opportunities for commercial growth while ensuring alignment with sustainable land management principles.
• Manage budgets, monitor income/expenditure and report on variances.
• Oversee delivery of commercial activities contributing towards c.£1.5m of annual income.
• Support the growth and diversification of the recreation business across East District beats.

Contract & Partnership Management

• Lead contract management for recreation-related contracts (e.g., cleaning, vegetation management, gate locking, maintenance).
• Manage contractors’ performance and health & safety compliance.
• Work closely with external partners, concessionaires (e.g. Go Ape), volunteers and stakeholders.
• Achieve value for money through fair, transparent procurement processes.

Events & Programme Delivery

• Collaborate with the Visitor Services Manager on event development and delivery, including Forestry England–led events (e.g., Forest Live) and externally delivered events.
• Support the planning, permissions, logistics and safe delivery of activities and special events.

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams (Sustainable Land Management, Civils, Ecology, Estates, Marketing).
• Represent Forestry England at external meetings where required.
• Provide site information and updates at internal district and national meetings.

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

How to apply…

You will 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 a technical skill during your interview. A 5‑minute presentation will need to be prepared in advance. The subject will be provided to applicants who are invited to interview.

The Behaviours being assessed at interview are –

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

Presentation:

Please prepare a 5-minute presentation in advance on: "How I Would Deliver a Toilet Refurbishment Project at High Lodge." Please explain how you would deliver the project and outline any key considerations you would need to take into account.

Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.

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.

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