Forestry Commission
SPS Policy and Implementation Officer - Plant Health Forestry
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All Forest Services locations considered, subject to office availability. These posts have potential for hybrid working, with regular travel to Bristol National Office and for activities such as field visits, team meetings and training.
Job Summary
Forest Services as part of Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally 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.
The Plant Health Forestry team sits within Forest Services and 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 to ensure traceability of forestry planting material. Interception, identification, eradication, control and management of pests is fundamental to the Government’s commitment to preparing for future climate change, economic growth and developing green and healthy places to live.
Plant Health Forestry, consisting of policy, operational and technical team members, is geographically dispersed with teams based in Edinburgh, Bristol, York and London, and individuals based in a variety of other locations. We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other teams within the Forestry Commission, Forest Research, the Devolved Governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, other Government Agencies, trade and industry bodies and businesses within various sectors that include importers and exporters, suppliers of wood packaging and timber processors as well as forest management companies and landowners.
We are recruiting 2 posts to support the development and implementation of policy and legislation change as a result of the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and European Union.
Responsibilities
Job description
You will be part of a small team working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to understand, develop and deliver legislative, policy, and operational process change as a result of the SPS agreement. There are 2 posts available. These are new roles and report to the Plant Health Forestry Principal Policy Advisor.
Role one will be primarily focussed on the legislative and policy aspects of the SPS agreement as well as gaining experience in the wider policy context.
Role two will mainly work on activities related to SPS implementation, impact assessment and business readiness.
Postholders for both roles will be required to develop a good understanding of plant health legislation, standard operating processes and policy considerations as there will be a requirement for both roles to be flexible and deliver based on priority work across both general areas.
You will be considered for both roles and will be asked to state a preference at interview.
- Lead Forestry Commission engagement with teams in Defra and Devolved Governments regarding development and implementation of the new plant health legislation
- Attend and contribute to regular meetings with teams from across Government
- Draft, contribute to and comment on policy proposals related to Plant Health
- Engage with wider FC and Devolved Governments to help them understand and prepare for the requirements of new plant health legislation
Project Management and Governance
- Produce and maintain project documentation including project briefs, critical path timelines and risk registers as relevant for the delivery of Forestry Commission activities
- Chair technical working groups as necessary to support development and implementation of new Plant Health legislative regime
- Identify and escalate emerging risks and issues as work progresses
- Lead on or contribute to development of communications materials for different audiences.
- Work with content designers to ensure gov.uk content is up to date and reflects current operational requirements
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Policy Development and Implementation
- Support implementation of any policy changes including development of options for operational implementation and implementation planning
- Help scope and define options for a review of fees and charging including economic appraisals
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders to establish new ways of working that reflect changing legal or operational parameters
Other
- Line Management responsibility for up to 1 staff member
- Contribute to wider Plant Health Forestry team activities and initiatives as required
- Participate in other projects or work areas that require input as directed and agreed with manager.
The responsibilities of these roles may evolve over time as the SPS negotiations progress and the team develop our wider structures, services and ways of working. The post holders will therefore need to be adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.
Person specification
Essential
- Degree or equivalent professional qualifications in a related area; and/or significant experience working in forestry or the timber industry, ecology or import/export.
- Experience of working in uncertainty with the ability to manage a busy workload and quickly respond to emerging or changing priorities
- Experience of contributing to the development of policy; and/or implementation of policy decisions
- Ability to build productive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including colleagues at all levels, external stakeholders and colleagues across government.
- Experience of working at a strategic level, identifying dependencies and inconsistency across multiple projects
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages to different audiences
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft applications for core business purposes, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, SharePoint and Teams
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of import and export procedures and terminology
- Knowledge and experience of applying plant health legislation
- Project or change management qualification
Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £48,765, Forestry Commission contributes £14,127 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).
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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.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 30 March 2027, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A personal statement – in no more than 750 words please provide details of how you meet the Essential relevant experience and criteria as set out in the person specification.
- You will be asked to provide 250-word statements relating to the Behaviours ‘Seeing the Big Picture' and 'Delivering at Pace', details within the application form.
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 lead behaviour ‘Seeing the Big Picture’. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Applications will be sifted week commencing 10th August 2026. This date is subject to change.
Interview Stage
For candidates successful for interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths. You will also be asked to complete a presentation, details of which will be provided alongside invitations to interview.
Applications are planned to be sifted for the week commencing 10th August and interviews planned from the week commencing 17th August. We will be conducting face to face interviews at the Bristol office.
Dates are provisional may be subject to change.
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 Commission 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 visit the Childcare Choices website.
- If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
- In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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