Forestry Commission
Laboratory Technician – Pathology
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Location
This role will be based in Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY. 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 is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry practitioners, land managers and anyone with green space, UK-wide. 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 ways of safeguarding those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.
Job Description
This role offers an excellent opportunity to support the delivery of scientific work at Forest Research's Northern Research Station. The post-holder will play an important role in supporting the efficient operation of laboratories across all the disciplines using the facilities. The post requires a highly organised and adaptable individual who can provide support to our researchers, carrying out a wide variety of essential laboratory support tasks to enable our researchers to successfully deliver their research projects on time and to the required standard.
Key Work Areas
Duties will be varied but will include:
- Waste management in the laboratories
- Supporting and contributing to the maintenance and calibration of equipment
- General laboratory housekeeping. This will include ensuring the labs are kept clean and tidy, cleaning fridges and incubators and defrosting freezers as required
- Collecting deliveries from reception and delivering them to the correct location on site
- Replenishing laboratory consumables
- Labelling reagents and chemicals and ensuring their correct storage in the laboratories
- Supervising contractors and service engineers
- Supporting and helping with logging in and preparation of samples to be tested
- Contributing to the writing of COSHH assessments, Risk Assessments, and Standard Operating Procedures
- Assisting with preparation of culture media
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, forestry or microbiology, or equivalent relevant experience
- Demonstrable practical experience in a diagnostic or research environment
- Experience with technical laboratory tasks such as making stock solutions, media preparation, and waste sterilisation and disposal
- Good standard of verbal and written communication
- Competent IT user with experience of MS office packages
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.
- Knowledge of plant pests and diseases
- Knowledge of basic techniques used in mycology, bacteriology or identification of pests including culturing or preservation of specimens
- Experience of working in a containment laboratory
- Experience of working in an ISO17025:2017 accredited laboratory
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Working Together
Salary and Benefits
Salary
Alongside your salary of £30,105, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £8,721 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).
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
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
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
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 and Experience.
Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK, you will be asked to supply:
- A CV – setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
- A Personal Statement – (limited to 250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification
- Submit a statement of up to 250 words on the following behaviour: Working Together.
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We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification.
Shortlist
The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
Sift will take place week beginning 7 September 2026.
Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 28 September 2026 in person at Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY.
At the Interview stage, you will be assessed on your experience and the 3 following behaviours: Working Together, Delivering at Pace, and Managing a Quality Service.
If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and Lead Behaviour (Working Together). Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality Requirements
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)
Working for the Civil Service
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