Research Worker

Job summary

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry practitioners, land managers and anyone with green space, UK-wide. 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 ways of safeguarding those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

This role sits within the Forest Research Field Data Services (FDS) team which provides a capacity to conduct field work across Great Britain. Through a network of field stations which work in close co-operation, FDS establishes, maintains and assesses field experiments for the science centres within Forest Research and on behalf of other customers, including the Forestry Commission, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and other external clients. It also provides local contact and liaison between Forest Research and networks of regional Forestry Commission staff, partner organisations and private woodland owners and managers.

Job description

The successful applicant will work as part of a small team of Forest Research Workers based at Haldon Forest Park, near Exeter, carrying out a wide range of environmental, plant health and crop surveys; establishing, maintaining and assessing field experiments; and assisting with managing contractors and auditing their work. They will carry out tasks including pesticide applications and using power tools. At times the role will also support the wider FDS team across a range of surveys and locations across Great Britain. The job involves working with internal and external partners to Forest Research across a wide geographical area and so will require flexibility in terms of staying away overnight and working day pattern.

Key Work Areas

Working with people:

• By regular individual and group contact with colleagues, communicate and encourage ideas for solutions to problems or improved working practices. Assist in identifying and applying new or improved working methods or techniques.
• Listen attentively to others, understand, respect and accept the value of different views, ideas and ways of working.
• Confidently handle challenging conversations or interviews.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and written.
• Promote adherence to relevant policies, procedures, regulations and legislation, including equality and diversity and health and safety.

Quality Assurance and Delivering the Work Programme:

• Manage and deliver the delegated work programme to ensure that all work carried out complies with both the Forestry Commission’s Code of Office Procedures and Forest Research’s Quality Assurance (QA), Environmental Protection and Health & Safety policies and systems.
• Produce accurate and professional work, applying cross checking methods to ensure accuracy.
• Plan and organise the work programme as specified by your line manager in order to complete tasks to meet deadlines. Make regular progress reports and draw attention to potential difficulties before they occur.
• Understand and apply technology to achieve efficient and effective business and personal results.
• Where required work independently with autonomy.

Use of resources:

• Achieve efficient use of Field-Station resources in all areas of work through planning and efficient management.
• Carry out standard maintenance and report repair needs as required.
• Understand that all actions have a cost and choose the most effective way to do something in a resource efficient way.
• Take opportunities to challenge misuse of resources in order to achieve value for money and sustainable ways of working.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstrable experience working outdoors in all weathers
• Demonstrable work experience in forest and woodland management
• Literacy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate level 5)*
• Numeracy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate level 5)*
• Demonstrable experience of working safely whilst undertaking forest operations including competent use of forestry best practice FISA guides
• Competent IT user with experience of the Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrable ability to communicate both verbal and written
• Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise work, make decisions and problem solve

Applicants must be willing to travel frequently, stay away from home overnight, and work flexibly across a wide geographical area in line with operational requirements.

Due to the nature of the role applicants are required to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK.

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.

• Experienced pesticide user able to safely apply pesticides using knapsack sprayers
• Experienced strimmer / brush cutter / clearing saw operator able to safely use these machines for mechanical weeding and cleaning
• Experienced Chainsaw operator
• Experienced in use of small tractors and flails / mowers for inter-row mowing
• Experience of GIS applications
• Experience of driving 4WD vehicles
• Experience of trailer towing

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,159, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £9,026 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).

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% 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.
• Submit a Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words) explaining what attracted you to this role and 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 each of the three listed Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating & Influencing & 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 the week commencing 16th November 2026

Interviews are planned to take placein person at Haldon Forest Park, Exeter, Devon, EX6 7XR in the week commencing 30th November 2026

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and the Personal Statement. However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.

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.

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 : 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.

Attachments

CS_Behaviours_2018 Opens in new window (pdf, 1043kB)