Forestry Commission
Biosecurity Officer
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Job Description
Location
National (England). Any FC or Defra office in England considered.
Job Details
The post holders will be expected to travel to deliver events and meet with colleagues nationally on a regular basis.
Blended working is also possible. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Job Summary
Forest Services advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in that, we want to hear from you.
Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. We aim to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, contributing to the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year. This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to government’s wider environmental targets. These include protecting the existing woodland resource from the threat of pests and disease. The Farming and Countryside Programme funds a grant to trial new ways of tackling specific pests and disease through the Tree Health Pilot.
The Plant Health Forestry team supports healthy trees, woods, and forests, now and in the future. We work together to prevent entry, provide early detection, and minimise impacts of harmful tree pests and diseases, and to ensure traceability of forestry planting material. Interception, identification, eradication, control and management of pests and diseases is fundamental to the Government’s commitment to preparing for future climate change and developing green and healthy places to live.
Plant Health Forestry is geographically dispersed across England. We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other teams within the Forestry Commission, Forest Research (FR), the Devolved Governments of Wales and Scotland, other Government Agencies, and trade and industry bodies and businesses within various sectors that include importers, processors, forest management companies and landowners.
We are seeking a well-motivated individual with skills and experience related to the environmental sector with a focus on trees, and a passion for the protection of our natural environment from pests and diseases. By joining the Forestry Commission, you will join a team of passionate, committed colleagues. You will be able to build on a wealth of expertise to make your mark by helping us transform how we work together and reach new stakeholders.
For further information see https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/category/biosecurity/
Job Description
Biosecurity in a Tree Health context is a set of measures to help prevent the accidental introduction or otherwise and the spread of tree pests and diseases. The purpose of this role is to promote and communicate the principles of biosecurity, instilling good practice and providing practical advice. This is important for upskilling within the FC and the wider sector. This post holder will support the Defra-group biosecurity project to promote the implementation of a recognised standard.
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Key Work Areas:
- Implement and coordinate biosecurity activities for the public, government, forestry sector, non-government organisations, contractors and other interested parties
- Review and update biosecurity guidance and requirements
- Develop and promote biosecurity tools and promotional materials
- Develop and promote tree health and biosecurity training resources and core documentation (e.g., pest factsheets and e-learning)
- Foster relationships with external stakeholders and colleagues across Forestry England, Forest Research, and Forest Services
- Increase awareness and understanding of tree health issues and biosecurity within the arboricultural and forestry sectors, wider public, Forestry Commission, and related organisations
- Deliver training and lead events
- Develop and review content for tree health and biosecurity documents, and social media posts
- Keep up-to-date with policy and research developments and inform and advise stakeholders of updates (e.g., plant passporting, pest and disease risk pathways)
Person specification
Essential:
- Educated to Degree-level in an environmental, or closely related subject, or comparable work experience
- Knowledge of this work area in relation to forestry, and/or tree or plant pests and diseases, and/or biosecurity
- Experience in writing and/or editing resources for a variety of audiences, with proven ability to successfully promote and disseminate information
- Experience of project planning and/or delivery
- Experience in delivering training and/or presentations to public and professional audiences
- Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications
Desirable:
- Experience producing guidance and/or policy documents
- Experience in developing e-learning
- Experience in designing promotional media
- Successful event planning and delivery experience to virtual, in-person, and hybrid audiences
Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £33,854, Forestry Commission 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).
- 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 years’ 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)
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.
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Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
- Fixed term Appointment to 30th March 2027. This is a Temporary Appointment with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will complete the following online:
- A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 3 parts and request: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
- A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interview
For candidates successful in gaining an interview, we will be assessing you on Experience, Behaviours and Strengths. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to provide a short presentation; details about what will be required will be provided to those invited.
Sift dates to be confirmed.
Indicative timeline: Interviews are planned for week commencing 31st August 2026. The dates are subject to change.
We will be conducting interviews online using MS Teams. Candidates will need to have access to a suitable computer for an MS Teams meeting.
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 Service 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.
- 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 obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.
- Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or
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