Forestry Commission
Research Worker
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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.
This role sits within the Field Data Services (FDS) team, which operates field stations across England, Wales and Scotland. These stations are staffed by small, dedicated teams that provide technical support for a wide range of Forest Research fieldwork activities.
Working closely with scientific colleagues, FDS teams use their technical expertise to help plan and deliver field projects safely, efficiently and to a high standard. In addition to supporting Forest Research programmes, teams undertake work on behalf of external clients, including the Forestry Commission (FC) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). They also act as a local point of contact between Forest Research, government agencies, partner organisations and private woodland owners and managers.
The work is varied and rewarding, with no two days the same. Activities include environmental and forestry surveys, field data collection, GIS mapping, surveying using high-precision Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), sample collection, the establishment and maintenance of field experiments including planting, vegetation control and fencing.
The Talybont Field Team are based near Brecon, in the only Forest Research field station in Wales. From this location, the team delivers fieldwork across Wales and parts of the West of England. The team shares office facilities with colleagues from Natural Resources Wales and works closely with them on a range of projects.
The successful candidate will join a highly skilled and supportive team and will also have opportunities to assist the wider FDS network, contributing to fieldwork projects across Great Britain when required.
Job Description
You will work as part of a small team of Forest Research Workers based at Talybont Research Station, carrying out a wide range of environmental, plant health, and forestry surveys. The role also involves establishing, maintaining, and assessing field experiments, as well as conducting experimental fieldwork such as collecting samples using a variety of techniques. In addition, you will assist with the management of contractors and the auditing of their work.
The position includes undertaking maintenance activities, including pesticide applications and the operation of power tools. You will work closely with both internal and external partners across a wide geographical area, requiring flexibility to travel regularly, stay away overnight when necessary, and adapt to varying work patterns.
Person Specification
The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of attention to detail and a commitment to producing work of a consistently high standard. They will be well organised, capable of managing competing priorities, and able to complete tasks accurately and efficiently. They will have a good understanding of health and safety principles, including risk assessments, safe systems of work, and environmental risk assessments, and will be committed to maintaining and promoting high standards of health, safety and environmental protection.
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The successful candidate will be an effective communicator, able to build positive working relationships with colleagues, contractors, stakeholders and members of the public. They will work well as part of a team while also being confident and self-motivated when working independently. They will demonstrate a flexible, reliable and proactive approach to work, with a willingness to travel extensively, stay away from home overnight when required, and adapt working patterns to meet operational needs while working across a wide geographical area.
Essential Criteria
- Demonstrable experience working outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Demonstrable experience in forest and woodland management.
- Literacy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate Level 5).
- Numeracy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate Level 5).
- Demonstrable experience of working safely whilst undertaking forestry operations, including the competent use of Forestry Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guidance and forestry best practice.
- Competent IT user with experience of Microsoft Office applications.
- Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise work, make sound decisions, and solve problems effectively
Applicants must be willing to travel frequently, stay away from home overnight, and work flexibly across a wide geographical area in line with operational requirements
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in the safe handling and application of pesticides, including the use of knapsack sprayers.
- Experience operating vegetation management equipment such as strimmers, brush cutters and clearing saws for mechanical weeding and site maintenance.
- Experience using chainsaws in accordance with relevant health and safety requirements and industry best practice.
- Experience operating small tractors and associated equipment, including flails and mowers for vegetation management and inter-row mowing.
- Experience using Esri Geographic Information System (GIS) applications for data collection, mapping and analysis.
- Experience driving four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles in a range of terrain and field conditions.
- Experience towing trailers and undertaking associated vehicle and load safety checks.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Salary and Benefits
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).
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
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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% 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.
Any move to Forest Research 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
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
- Complete a CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
- Submit a Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification
- Provide a 250 word statement for each of the three listed Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating & Influencing & Delivering at Pace.
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
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