Forestry Commission
Urban Forest Research Assistant
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Urban Forest Research Assistant
Role Overview
Location Preference: This role is designed to be in blended working between:
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Northern Research Station Midlothian, EH25 9SY, UK
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Alice Holt Lodge Farnham, GU10 4LH, UK
Location preference must be specified during the application process. Eligibility: This role is only open to those working within the UK, not overseas.
About the Organisation
As part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research is a world-leading provider of applied forest science that supports policymakers, practitioners, land managers, and anyone with green spaces across the UK.
Our researchers focus on critical issues:
- Urban and rural forests in response to climate change and biodiversity loss
- Identifying resilient tree species and protecting those at risk
- Reducing carbon emissions by supporting sustainable UK timber production
- Provid[ing] evidence on societal benefits of woodland, including data for Scotland, Wales, and England
Our work empowers every society to leverage urban and woodland assets for carbon sequestration, public health, and economic growth.
About the Role
This role sits within the Urban Forest Research Group, where research drives innovation in urban trees and forestry policy.
Role Purpose
The successful candidate will work closely with the Project Leader to:
- Conduct reviews of aerial photographs to understand temporal changes in tree populations.
- Provide support to the Urban Forest Research Group, including:
- Fieldwork assistance
- Literature retrieval and analysis
- Attendance at team meetings
Teamwork and adherence to prescribed methods under the guidance of their line manager are key requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Analysis & Data Collection
- Review aerial photographs to quantify tree presence using guided methodology.
- Repeat analysis across images of different ages to assess trends over time.
Reporting
- Present data results to the line manager and project team.
- Provide regular written, digital, and verbal updates on progress.
Collaboration & Group Support
- Participate actively as a member of the Urban Forest Research Group.
- Contribute to broader group activities, including:
- Fieldwork
- Online literature research (e.g., web retrieval)
- Team meeting attendance.
Requirements
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Essential Criteria
The candidate must hold:
- A degree in environmental sciences, geography, urban forestry, or a related discipline.
- Research experience relevant to the discipline.
The candidate should demonstrate:
- Effective verbal and written communication skills for internal reporting to team members and line managers.
- Literature review abilities, with experience summarizing research findings.
- Strong teamwork and independent working skills.
- Proficient computer skills, including mastery of Microsoft Office applications.
Desirable Criteria
Applicants may be further considered if they possess:
- Knowledge of urban tree species and their roles in urban spaces.
- Tree identification capabilities.
- Fieldwork experience with data collection skills.
Core Competencies
Your application will be assessed against the following key behaviours:
- Delivering at Pace: Ability to manage workload efficiently and align with project timelines.
- Communicating and Influencing: Clear, persuasive articulation of ideas to internal and external audiences.
- Working Together: Collaborative mindset alongside autonomy to support team objectives.
Benefits
Competitive Technology Package
- Annual Salary: £30,105, with an additional employer contribution of £8,721 to the Civil Service Defined Contribution Pension Scheme.
Professional Development
- Tailored career growth opportunities, including paid professional memberships, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning programs.
- Access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
Flexible Work Arrangements
- Blended working arrangement (flexible home/office balance) with part-time or reduced-hours options available.
- Up to two days flexi leave per month.
- Generous annual leave entitlement: 25 days (increasing incrementally to 30 days at retirement). Plus, 2.5 additional days and 8 paid bank/public holidays.
Wellbeing Support
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for 24/7 mental health and lifestyle support.
- Communal culture: Social events (cooking competitions, fell running, ** wellbeing workshops such as "Pilates"**), with an emphasis on creating a cohesive workplace community.
- 3 days of paid volunteering leave annually to contribute to charitable causes.
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Financial Benefits
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Employee Benefits Scheme offering discounts on:
- groceries
- gym memberships, holidays, days out, and shopping (local stores, online retailers).
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Cycle-to-Work scheme & interest-free loans.
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Electric vehicle charging provisions.
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Free onsite parking.
Family Support
- Parental leave flexibilities: Up to 26 weeks at full pay, 13 weeks statutory pay, and 13 weeks unpaid leave post-childbirth/adoption, with shared parental leave policies.
- Paternity leave: Up to two weeks at full pay.
- Cellcare schemes may include:
- Transitioning from childcare vouchers should apply.
Selection Process
How to Begin
Consult Civil Service Jobs for submission details:
- Submit a CV (covering essential criteria-based achievements).
- Create a 250-word Personal Statement addressing how your skills and experience align with the role’s essential criteria.
Timeline
- Sift meeting: 8 July 2026.
- Interview dates: 16 and 17 July 2026 (MS Teams platform).
- Candidates will be assessed on behaviours (see above) alongside relevant experience.
Fair Competition & Diverse Inclusion
Evaluation adheres to UK Civil Service recruitment principles:
- Disability Confident Scheme available for applicants with disabilities who meet minimum hiring requirements.
- Support for candidates with convictions or with experience transitioning from pathways like "previously incarcerated."
Confidentiality Requirements
- Security checks are mandatory:
- Criminal record checks.
- Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance for those working with government assets.
Eligibility
This role is open to the following groups (minimum eligibility checks as per UK immigration policy):
- UK and Irish nationals.
- Commonwealth citizens with UK working rights.
- EU/EEA nationals, including Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Liechtenstein citizens.
- Requires settled/pre-settled residence status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS (opens in new window)).
- Individuals with visas allowing UK limited/indefinite leave to remain.
Further full eligibility criteria are available here.
Contact Point for Applicants
For inquiries, contact: hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
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