Senior Civil Engineer

What you’ll do…

Help deliver one of Forestry England’s significant national projects—creating inclusive, co-designed green spaces for reflection and wellbeing across England’s forests

As our project Senior Civil Engineer, you’ll take ownership of the civil engineering elements of this high-profile national project, ensuring safe, sustainable, and innovative solutions that make a lasting impact.

You’ll work closely with national and district teams, turning plans into reality through expert design, technical guidance, and hands-on project delivery. From developing budgets, procurement and managing contractors to overseeing infrastructure works, you’ll keep everything on track and compliant while driving quality and efficiency. Our small multidisciplinary team will work closely with input from communities and partners, as well as our district teams.

Our team has delivered projects like Delamere Visitor Centre, the Whinlatter WOW trail, inclusive play spaces at Sherwood Pines and Westonbirt Arboretum, and community woodland designs.

This is a chance to combine your engineering expertise with purpose—creating spaces that matter for communities and nature. If you thrive on complex challenges, collaboration, and delivering meaningful outcomes, we’d love to have you on the team.

Please watch our Making the Nation’s Forest’s More Accessible project video to gain an understanding of the sort of projects we have delivered recently.

Where you’ll work…

The role will be based in a centrally located Forestry England office with flexibility for blended working. There is a need for travel in this role, with occasional overnight says necessary.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
• Be responsible and accountable for the health and safety of all civil engineering activities undertaken as part of the project delivery. Role model high standards of health and safety and pro-actively seek out opportunities to improve working practices of Forestry England staff and contractors.
• Prepare a plan of civil engineering works to support the delivery of the project over the full project duration working with district colleagues to integrate with their existing programmes.
• Support the delivery of the project programme providing civil engineering technical expertise across all sites, alongside district colleagues.
• Undertake regular monitoring and management of contractor health and safety and environmental performance at a project wide level; pro-active management of health and safety and environmental issues; thorough investigation of accidents and near misses, ensuring that lessons learned are shared and implemented.
• Work closely with the district civil engineering teams to deliver the project civil engineering work programme across England.
• Ensure an asset management plan is in place for each site.
• Work to agreed budgets, and share progress with the project manager through monthly monitoring.
• Be accountable for all commercial aspects associated with the delivery of the works, including compliance with all procurement requirements and contract management.
• Build networks both internally and with external agencies and partners to support the management and delivery of Forestry England’s civil engineering activities.
• Obtain consents for undertaking civil engineering works, including where necessary completion of planning applications among others.
• Actively manage the environmental impacts of our civil engineering activities, including where required, ensuring the accurate measurement and management of carbon emissions. Pro-actively seek out opportunities to reduce carbon emissions within own field of influence.
• Ensure all civil engineering activities comply with the requirements of UKWAS and other applicable legislation and best practice.

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

Essential Professional and Technical experience
• Significant experience in the safe design and delivery of civil engineering construction projects, including a good understanding of the Construction Design and Management Regulations and other applicable H&S legislation.
• Significant experience working in the Civil Engineering sector including works planning, design, and contract management.
• Significant experience in working within a team, communicating effectively, and building enduring relationships with other disciplines and stakeholders. Candidates must be able to successfully engage with geographically disperse teams.
• The ability to produce civil engineering design details and specifications.
• A good understanding of the NEC contract suite and the associated contract management processes.
• Project management skills to be able to deliver the work programme on time and within budget.
• Knowledge of the relevant CE standards and best practice and application to forestry civil engineering.
• Experience and knowledge of IT systems and familiar with MS office packages and the use of AutoCAD or Civils 3D and GIS

Desirable Professional and Technical experience
• Civil Engineering experience of working in a forestry or rural environment and application of ecologically sensitive best practice.
• Experience using GIS software or other mapping systems.
• Proven relevant experience in managing multiple civil engineering construction projects

Qualifications

Essential
• 3 A levels.
• HND in Civil Engineering or equivalent related field
• CITB Site Managers Safety Training Scheme or IOSH Managing Safely qualification

Desirable
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

• 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%

Job contact :

• Name : FC Recruitment Team
• Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk

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