Plant Health Forestry Policy Officer

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 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 and Scotland, 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.

Job description

We are seeking a well-motivated individual with skills and experience relevant to be a Subject Matter Expert on Plant Health. This role will support stakeholders and the Plant Health Forestry Team by providing advice on the relevant import and export regulations for forestry material for tree pests.

You will develop specialist expertise in the application of plant health legislation, particularly that which relates to the import and export of regulated wood, wood products and bark. You will use this knowledge to support policy development in collaboration with others from across the UK Plant Health Service as well as ensuring consistent application of the regulations in practice. You will liaise with other Government Departments to ensure that the end-to-end process performs effectively.

The chosen candidate will support the successful development and delivery of necessary regulatory and policy changes arising from the UK-EU SPS Agreement. As such we are looking to recruit someone with a passion for detail, highly self-motivated to support change and improvement, with an excellent track record of working with teams to achieve high performance in a fast-paced environment. The ability to work closely and collaboratively with others is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and policy advice to internal and external stakeholders
• Provide routine advice and expertise on Plant Health Regulations to a range of Forestry Commission, Defra, and forestry sector stakeholders
• Work closely with members of the Plant Health Forestry team as its subject matter expert for the relevant Plant Health Regulations
• Work with HMRC and Defra leads on Customs entry requirements for wood, wood products and bark
• Draft, or contribute to, Standard Operating Procedures and other guidance documents

UK Wood Packaging Marking Programme (UKWPMMP)

• Act as the Subject Matter Expert for the UKWPMMP and advise team members and stakeholders on the programme
• Liaise with the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (Timcon) as the trade body responsible for administration of the UKWPMMP and arrange meetings of the Advisory Council for the Programme as required
• Provide support to the Independent Assessment Agencies (IAAs) that supervise the UKWPMMP and appoint new IAAs where required
• Evaluate bespoke applications from suppliers of wood packaging where required.

Customer service standards

• Monitor and follow up complex cases of non-compliance with plant health import and export regulations and complaints
• Act as an investigating officer when necessary to obtain the evidence to follow up serious cases of non-compliance or complaints

Networks:

• Represent Forestry Commission at governance meetings and take responsibility for progressing actions and feeding back relevant information
• Maintain a network of contacts within Defra plant health policy teams, HMRC, stakeholder groups and with plant health officials overseas to achieve regulatory compliance.

Manage staff:

• Line management responsibility for one member of staff

The responsibilities of this role may evolve over time as we continue to develop our structures, services and ways of working. The post holder will therefore need to be adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.

Person specification

Essential

• Proven experience of working in uncertainty with the ability to manage a busy workload and quickly respond to emerging or changing priorities
• Demonstrable ability to interpret and explain complex technical information for application in real life situations consistently
• Organised and logical approach, allowing provision of consistent and reliable advice within teams and to external stakeholders
• Ability to build productive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including colleagues at all levels, external stakeholders and colleagues across government.
• Proven ability to work well independently and to develop own knowledge as well as within a team
• Evidence of ability to produce clear reports and recommendations with a keen eye for detail
• 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 of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) for plant health and specifically ISPM15
• Knowledge and experience of applying plant health legislation to commodities of wood, wood products and isolated bark

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application.

Qualifications

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

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission 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 (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).

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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment until 30th March 2027 with 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, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 500 words showing how you meet the criteria of the Person Specification
3. You will also be asked to provide 250-word statements relating to the Behaviour' Making effective decisions
4. You will also be asked to provide 250-word statements relating to the Behaviour' Communicating and influencing

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, Making effective decisions

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Interview Stage

For candidates successful for interview, we will be assessing you on Technical skills, Experience and Behaviours

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Applications are planned to be sifted for the week commencing 20th July and interviews planned for week commencing 27th July. Dates 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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Security

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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

Feedback

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 : 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.