Plant Health Forestry Area Lead & Ips typographus Programme Lead

Job summary

These are exciting opportunities to join the Plant Health Operations Team within Forest Services, part of the Forestry Commission. You will play a key role in protecting England’s and Great Britain’s (GB) trees and woodlands from pests and diseases, leading a team of experts to deliver operational excellence and strategic impact across England and GB.

The roles offer meaningful environmental work, professional development and the opportunity to build expertise in regulatory delivery, outbreak management, surveillance and partnership working. You will work alongside knowledgeable and committed colleagues, with a varied mix of office-based collaboration and occasional site activity.

About Forest Services and the Plant Health Forestry Team

Forest Services are the Government’s forestry experts. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve, and expand England’s woodlands through regulation, incentives, and expert advice.

Within Forest Services, the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) Team delivers technical policy advice, operational activities (border and inland), and the Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM) programme. Our work ensures that GB’s treescape is protected from pests and diseases, and that we are prepared to respond to emerging threats.

The PHF Team operates with both England and GB-wide responsibilities:

• England: Inland surveillance, outbreak management, biosecurity promotion, and regulatory implementation, working with Defra and the Devolved Governments as part of the GB Plant Health Service.
• GB-wide: Statutory functions (including border inspections) and technical advice and support on plant health.

Job description

About the roles

The purpose of these roles is to represent, co-ordinate and lead FC’s plant health service operations across defined areas within GB and specialist programmes.

Each role will have core delivery responsibilities and a focussed specialism within the wider plant health forestry operational portfolio.

Core delivery responsibilities

• Lead and support staff and contractors to deliver high-quality inspection, surveillance and plant health services.
• Line manage relevant Plant Health Officer(s) and act as confirming officer for PHF Operational Support Officer.
• Manage a contractor resource to ensure the effective delivery of inspections and plant health services. This includes inland surveillance and border activity.
• Lead training and induction of new staff into the PHF team and support wider integration across the PHF operational delivery teams.
• Build strong links between your team and other Forest Services departments, maintaining regular communication and raising awareness of PHF’s work across the wider organisation
• Promote knowledge sharing across the PHF operational portfolio to strengthen England’s response capability and resilience across regional teams.

Area Lead Core Objectives

• Lead targeted and reactive inspections of wood, wood products, and processing premises. This work is delivered by FC surveyors and contract plant health inspectors.
• Shape and oversee the effective delivery of survey programmes, including Annual Quarantine Pest Surveillance.
• Lead annual audits of processors authorised to receive material affected by pests and disease.
• Lead and co-ordinate PHF operational responses to new pest and disease findings and outbreaks.
• Oversee responses to reports and enquiries received through citizen science projects and encourage high-quality reporting across the FC and wider sector.
• Maintain overview of national and regional pest and disease dynamics, advising on appropriate outbreak management action as required.
• Collaborate with Forest Services area teams, Forest Research, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and other partners to support the timely implementation of, and compliance with, relevant legislation.
• Support PHF planning and technical teams with digital development, data improvement and contingency planning.

Engaging with stakeholders and Partnership Working

• Contribute to clear, accurate and accessible guidance, using appropriate channels and media for internal and external audiences.
• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with the wider UK Plant Health Service, trade bodies, landowners, businesses and other stakeholders.
• Maintain effective liaison arrangements with groups involved in plant health activity, supporting consistency, co-ordination and timely information sharing.
• Promote practical biosecurity best practice

Vision and Culture

• Help create a positive team culture that values wellbeing, inclusion, learning and professional development.
• Lead by example in developing a proactive health and safety culture.
• Play an active role in raising the profile of the Forestry Commission’s plant health service and demonstrating the value and impact of its work.

These are primarily leadership and programme-delivery roles, with occasional site visits to support complex or high-priority statutory responses alongside field-based teams.

Travel within the relevant area, and occasionally elsewhere in Great Britain, will be required. This may include some overnight stays.

Area Lead specialisms

The four Area Lead roles will each retain core operational delivery responsibilities while taking ownership of a designated plant health specialism. In addition to leading operational delivery within their area, postholders will provide national leadership, coordination and subject matter expertise across their specialist portfolio. Based on current pest and disease priorities, these specialisms are expected to include, but are not limited to, aerial surveillance, Phytophthora ramorum response, regulatory activity at the border, sweet chestnut blight response, and delivery of the annual quarantine pest surveillance programme. The portfolio of specialisms will remain flexible and will be reviewed regularly to reflect emerging threats, organisational priorities and changing operational requirements.

The Ips typographus programme lead

Ips typographus (the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle) is one of the most serious biosecurity threats facing GB's forests. The Forestry Commission leads a major national programme to prevent the pest from establishing and to safeguard the economic, environmental and social benefits provided by the country's spruce woodlands.

As the national lead for the Ips typographus specialism, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for England's response programme. This includes oversight of surveillance, outbreak management and regulatory controls, while coordinating the work of specialist teams and collaborating across Forestry Commission, Defra and external partners. You will act as a recognised subject matter expert, helping to shape policy, guide operational delivery and ensure the programme continues to meet the government's eradication objectives.

Person specification

Essential criteria

HND level or equivalent professional qualifications in either Forestry/Plant Health/Arboriculture or a related subject; and/or significant experience in forestry or the timber industry, ecology or import/export.

A track record of building successful working relationships with a range of colleagues, partners and stakeholders.

Experience of managing or supervising staff, contractors or service providers.

A strong understanding of current UK tree pest and disease concerns, their management and associated legislation.

Proven ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement, making appropriate decisions and escalating issues where necessary.

Competence in Microsoft 365 applications.

Ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands and deliver high-quality work to deadlines.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical or regulatory information clearly.

Ability to identify common UK tree species.

A full, valid UK driving licence.

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and experience of inspections of regulated goods, or forest pest and disease surveys.

Proven ability to work in a flexible way, demonstrating a positive approach towards change and cross team collaboration

Project or programme-management skills, including planning, monitoring delivery and managing risks.

Experience of using geographic information systems (GIS).

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,802, Forestry Commission contributes £12,110 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension (opens in a new window) with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 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).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.

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, Strengths and Experience.

Fixed term Appointment to 30th March 2028. This is a Temporary Appointment with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following:

1. A tailored CV setting out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the person specification. Please also indicate the role(s) and area(s) you are interested in.
3. You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement relating to the Behaviour, Working Together

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 personal statement and the Behaviour, Working Together. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

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.

In person interviews are to be held 8th & 9th December at the Bristol National Office. Dates are 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 Service 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; for further information 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 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.

The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.

Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.

Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.

Reasonable Adjustment

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.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.

Feedback

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

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 : FS Recruitment
• Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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 FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

Attachments

Forest Services Area Map Opens in new window (pdf, 578kB)