Research Worker (Thetford)

Job summary

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research (FR) is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet. And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit forestresearch.gov.uk.

This role sits within the Forest Research Field Data Services (FDS) Technical Services Unit (TSU) which provides a capacity to conduct field work across Great Britain. Through a network of field stations, TSU 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 and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) staff, partner organisations and private woodland owners and managers.

Job description

To carry out the delegated research, survey and forest work programmes to prescribed standards, budget and deadlines. The successful applicant will work as part of a small team of Forest Research Workers based at Stanton Downham, near Thetford, carrying out a wide range of environmental, plant health and crop surveys; lay out, maintain and assess field experiments; and in cases assist with managing contractors and auditing their work. They will carry out tasks including pesticide applications and use power tools including chainsaws. The job involves working with partners both internal and external to Forest Research (FR) 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 contact with colleagues, communicate and encourage ideas for solutions to problems or improved working practices.
• 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 in writing.
• Promote adherence to relevant policies, procedures, regulations and legislation, including equality and diversity and health and safety.
• There is a requirement to work as a lone worker as well as being able to work within a wider team.

Quality Assurance and Delivering the Work Programme:

• Manage and deliver the delegated work programme to ensure all work complies with Forest Research’s QA policy and systems.
• Produce accurate and professional work, applying cross checking methods to ensure accuracy.
• Plan and organise work programme as specified by line manager 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 to achieve value for money and sustainable ways of working.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Literacy Level 2 qualification (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate level 5)* or equivalent experience
• Numeracy Level 2 qualification (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate level 5)* or equivalent experience

*The qualification examples provided is not an exhaustive list.

• Demonstrable experience working outdoors in all weathers.
• Demonstrable work experience in forest and woodland management.
• 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 in writing.
• Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise work, make decisions and problem solve.
• Ability to work flexibly across a wide geographical area, staying away and altering working day pattern where necessary.

We require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. We will consider any proposals that would allow applicants to do the job by other means.

This role will require regular weekly travel, with overnight stays of up to4 nights a week.

Desirable Criteria

• Experienced chainsaw operator able to safely fell trees up to 760mm diameter.
• 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.
• 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 £30,105, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £8,721 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% 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 supply:

• A CV – setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
• A Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words). Please make specific reference to the essential criteria in the person specification
• Supply a 250 word response to each of the Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and 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 will take place on 20 January 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place in person at Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0TJ on 28 January 2026.

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 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 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
• 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

Success Profiles_ Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK Opens in new window (pdf, 502kB)