Drone Operations Manager

Job summary

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research (FR) is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry professionals, land managers and anyone with green space, across Great Britain. 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 seeking ways to safeguard those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide robust data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this utilising the latest technology while working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

The Centre for Inventory, Forecasting and Operational Support (IFOS) at Forest Research have been involved in mapping and field data collection solutions for over 20 years. IFOS provides practical software and data solutions to help our customers manage information about their woodland resource in a pragmatic and integrated way. We also provide information, evidence and official statistics on the woodland resource in GB. We do this by blending GIS, Data Science, Statistics, Mapping and Forestry skills providing analysis, modelling and data processing solutions to answer the questions and queries posed to us.

This role will sit within the Field Data Services (FDS) team. FDS is responsible for the provision of high quality field data services to support scientific evidence and sustainable forest management. This is delivered through a network of highly trained professional staff and associates.

Job description

The Drone Operations Manager will:

• Ensure that Forest Research’s remote pilots conduct Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations in a safe, compliant and effective manner, achieved through biennial Remote Pilot (RP) meetings and audits of flight planning and recording across the UK
• Working with the FDS Programme Lead, manage and deliver the FDS programme of UAS operations to both internal and external customers across GB
• Work with the FDS Operations Lead and Remote Pilot to develop operational processes and workflows
• Maintain FR’s UAS operations manuals covering PDRA-01, Operating Safety Case (OSC ) for heavy lift, dropping articles and reduced separation, and migration from OSC to Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA).
• Act as FR’s Chief Pilot and support the FDS Operations Lead in future proofing the UA fleet
• Provide Drone Operation Manager support to Forestry England, including PRDA-01 OM submission, biennial RP meetings and audits of flight planning and recording to ensure compliance
• Take ownership of the UA fleet ensuring that aircraft are maintained and serviced
• Be responsible for line management of the drone team, currently one RP but anticipating this will increase to two/three
• Undertake flight activities in support of the annual programme, to maintain flight and operational currency, across a range of locations, forest/upland/remote areas, within the UK
• Ensure the teams deliver to deadline and budget whilst complying with FR’s health and safety, quality assurance (QA) and ISO14001 environmental management standards.

• The post holder must be willing and able to travel regularly throughout the UK. Destinations will include FR/FC offices, remote forest locations, or urban locations. Annual total is likely to be in the region of 100 days and are likely to require you to stay away from home overnight

Person specification

We are looking for enthusiastic candidates capable of managing their own time, priorities, and workloads, whilst supporting a small team to deliver FR’s annual drone work programme. Self-reliance, an ability to problem solve and innovate are at the core of this role as you will be helping to develop novel use cases, and advance the application, of existing and new UAV technology in the forest sector.

You will be a confident communicator, using a range of delivery methods, forming effective working relationships with colleagues, customers, contractors and other stakeholders, many of whom will have limited exposure to aviation or the UAV operating environment. You will be able to clearly explain technical information to the layperson but making sure it maintains relevance.

Candidates will have experience of delivering and overseeing a programme of UAS inspections, surveys and operations across a wide range of locations, with operations in a forest / woodland environment of significant value.

Essential Criteria:

• Experienced in drone operations management
• Experienced in drone project management and programme delivery
o Detailed understanding of the UK UAS regulatory environment
o Experience of producing and maintaining OMs for PDRA-01 operations
• GVC / RPC L1 (multirotor)
• Experience of line management / leading a team
• Effective communicator, both written and verbal
• Experienced in developing workflows and processes for UAS operations
• Problem solver, able to troubleshoot issues independently or escalate when necessary
• Due to the nature of the post a full current driving licence which allows you to drive in the UK is required

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.

• Experience of processing UAV data, including RGB, LiDAR, and multispectral
• GIS skills
• Experience of undertaking UAV operations in forest/woodland/environment sectors
• Enthusiastic about the application of new technology

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £11,700 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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

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% 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.

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/.

Things you need to know

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 500 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 the following three Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Changing & Improving and 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 application.

Sift is planned to take place in week commencing 6th July 2026

Interviews are planned to take place in the week of 20th July 2026

Applicants shortlisted for interview will be required to prepare and deliver a presentation on their understanding of the evolving UAV environment in the UK. More detail will be provided on confirmation of interview.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and the Personal Statement. Candidates will be expected to answer questions on the following 3 behaviours at the interview stage, Managing a Quality Service, Changing & Improving and Delivering at Pace.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

Visa Sponsorship

FR holds a licence to sponsor Skilled Workers under the Home Office points-based immigration system. Candidates wishing to apply should note that the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship would depend on an assessment of this role against defined criteria, which include:

o Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or
o Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and
o Evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously

Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.

For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers on our website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FR HR Services by email: hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.