Senior Governance Manager

Details
-----------

Reference number

463601

Salary

£48,765 \- £52,557
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28\.97%
GBP

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer
Pay Band 3### Contract type

Permanent### Business area

FC \- Commissioner's Office \- The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and facilitate the protection, improvement and expansion of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector### Type of role

Governance### Working pattern

Flexible working, Full\-time### Number of jobs available

1
Contents
------------

• Location


• About the job


• Benefits


• Things you need to know


• Apply and further information

Location
------------

BristolAbout the job
-----------------

Job summary

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.

Job description

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

Essential criteria

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.

Qualifications

Formal qualifications are not required for this role, but applicants are welcome to highlight any relevant qualifications that may support their application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace


• Changing and Improving


• Making Effective Decisions


• Communicating and Influencing

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).

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.

Applications will be sifted week commencing 15th June 2026\. This date is subject to change.

Interviews will be held week commencing 29th June 2026\. This date is subject to change.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face in Forestry Commission, 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Experience and Strengths.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing PreEmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtaine

This listing is from indeed. View original listing ↗