Forestry Commission
Assistant Economist
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Role
The role will be based in Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH or Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY with blended working which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from the workplace.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Job Summary
Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research (FR) is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry professionals, land managers and anyone with green space, across Great Britain. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and seeking ways to safeguard those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide robust data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this utilising the latest technology while working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.
FR’s Centre for Forest Management applies a wide range of expertise to important issues concerning the resilience and value of Britain's trees, woods and forests. As part of this centre, the Forestry Economics Research Unit within FR’s Climate Change Research Group aims to provide outstanding forestry economics research - developing the evidence base, recognised for scientific excellence, objective and authoritative advice, and valued for its effective contribution to addressing key issues of forest policy and management. We work with end users and the wider science community to ensure that research is directed to priority issues and helps inform government policy and sector practice.
The Unit currently has six team members and is involved in a wide range of interdisciplinary projects. These include forest sector modelling, agroforestry, policy nudges in forestry and agriculture, and development of a Woodland Water Code to encourage greater private sector investment in UK woodland creation for water-related benefits. We also support the core funded programmes under the Science and Innovation Strategy for GB forestry with projects such as optimal rotation length modelling and the economics of climate change adaptation and mitigation. We are looking to expand our team to be able to enhance our capacity and capability to deliver such a broad set of interesting projects. The unit is split in terms of location between Northern Research Station in Roslin and Alice Holt in Farnham.
Job Description
The purpose of the role is to support the economics team on a variety of projects under the banner of economics of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Current topics are varied and therefore the preferences of the post holder can be taken into account when allocating work.
Key projects which require additional support currently ongoing in the team are:
- Development of a Forest Sector Model (FSM) – this project looks to combine the biophysical elements of forest dynamics to economic markets to run climate scenarios, for example, to understand how the forestry sector might respond under alternative scenarios
- Developing the timber evidence base - this project proposes the development of a novel Bayesian hierarchical structural time-series (BSTS) model to forecast softwood and hardwood utilisation in the UK economy. Outputs of which will directly support sustainable forest management by improving demand projections for domestic timber, informing afforestation strategies, and enhancing resilience to supply disruptions.
- Compound risks – this project uses Bayesian Decision Theory to translate a list of risks into decision-relevant insights through a scenario-based economic optimisation framework. This enables comparison of adaptation strategies in terms of costs and benefits analysis (CBA) under climate uncertainty.
- Economics of tree pests and disease – looking at the economic impact on GB forestry of pest and disease and cost effectiveness analysis of management options.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Across All Projects The Post Holder Will Contribute Directly To The Economics Evidence Base, Supporting Policy Making In Forestry In Great Britain. Specifically, The Role Is Looking For Someone To Undertake And Be Responsible For:
- Literature and evidence reviews – to summarise current understanding on a topic. This will either be used to develop a future research path or used for inputs into specific models (e.g. FSM)
- Data collection and quality assurance – for input into specific models (for example the ones mentioned above)
- Econometric and data analysis where relevant on specific projects under the leadership of a senior economist
- Contribute writing reports on economic research undertaken by themselves and the team, involving synthesising and clearly summarising the approach and results in plain English, to deliver Forest Research’s objectives for sustainable forest management – under the direction of a senior economist
- Engaging with stakeholders (for example Defra, devolved administrations and industry bodies like Confor) along with a senior economist to understand their research requirements and communicate research findings (for example through discussion or giving a presentation)
Additionally, the role will also progress
- New economic research under the direction of a senior economist – further to projects specifically mentioned above
- External income generation through supporting the writing of bids for funding research under the direction of a senior economist
The post requires a good understanding of core economic principles, and the ability to apply these to a variety of environmental economic topics.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- Economics degree (or joint degree with majority (over 50%) economics course credits/components)
- Some experience in environmental or ecological economics (through studying specific modules at university and/or having some work experience in the topic)
- Significant experience in data analysis skills to undertake data validation and descriptive statistics
- Ability to apply microeconomic theory
- Good standard of verbal and written communication, including writing reports
- Highly competent IT user with experience of MS Office packages, especially MS Excel
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
Desirable Criteria:
-
The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.
-
Experience of working in research or environmental economics and/or Bayesian methods
-
Interest in all or any of: decision theory, risk modelling, economic optimisation, cost benefit analysis and/or time series econometrics
-
Coding skills – R and/or Python
-
Evidence of applied econometric skills
-
Experience of spatial software, such as ArcGIS
-
Experience of raising external income
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Microeconomic theory
Salary and Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £33,854, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £9,807 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Your career
- Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
- Access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings
Your work/life balance
- Flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave.
- Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
- A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays
Your wellbeing
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
- A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
- We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
- Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time
Your Benefits
- A highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% of your salary
- An employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
- Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
- Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
- With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK. You will be asked to:
- Complete a CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
- Submit a Personal Statement (limited to 500 words
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London