Tree Health Pilot & Planning Officer

Job summary

Trees and woodlands provide significant environmental, social and economic benefits, from carbon sequestration and biodiversity to timber production, recreation and improving public wellbeing. Protecting these valuable assets from pests and diseases is a key priority for the Forestry Commission.

The increasing impacts of climate change, international trade and global travel have heightened the risk of introducing and spreading tree pests and diseases. Threats such as ash dieback, Oak Processionary Moth, Acute Oak Decline, Phytophthora species and Ips typographus continue to challenge the resilience of England's trees and forests.

We are looking for a motivated and organised individual to join the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) team in a unique dual-role position, supporting both outbreak preparedness and the delivery of tree health grant schemes.

The successful candidate will spend approximately half their time supporting contingency planning and incident preparedness activities and half supporting the delivery of the Tree Health Pilot (THP), helping landowners manage tree health threats and recover affected woodland.

Whilst the role is expected to support both preparedness planning and THP delivery, the balance of work will be determined by business need. The postholder should be prepared to work flexibly across both areas, recognising that priorities may shift over time and that weekly allocations may not always reflect an even split between responsibilities.

Job description

Key responsibilities

Preparedness, Planning and Outbreak Response

You will support the development of Forestry Commission preparedness arrangements, ensuring systems, plans and guidance are in place to enable an effective response to future tree health incidents.

Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the review and continuous improvement of incident management processes and procedures.
• Assisting with the development, maintenance and testing of preparedness documentation, templates and standard operating procedures.
• Supporting the development and review of pest and disease contingency plans.
• Coordinating updates, comments and version control for contingency planning documents.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure plans remain practical, accurate and aligned with wider government procedures.
• Supporting preparedness groups, workshops and exercises, including action tracking and follow-up activity.
• Developing and maintaining outbreak response resources, including communications materials, investigation tools and operational guidance.
• Assisting with lessons identified and continuous improvement activities following exercises and incidents.
• Supporting the Planning Manager during incident responses and contributing to Incident Management Teams when activated.
• Undertaking training and professional development relating to contingency planning and incident management.

Communications and Preparedness Resources

• You will help strengthen preparedness arrangements by:
• Supporting the development of communications tools and materials for potential outbreaks.
• Contributing to horizon scanning and awareness activities.
• Assisting with pest alerts and preparedness communications.
• Working with colleagues to clarify communications roles, responsibilities and escalation routes during incidents.
• Developing and maintaining outbreak response resources and supporting documentation.

Tree Health Pilot Delivery

You will support the delivery of the Tree Health Pilot grant scheme, helping landowners and land managers access support to manage tree health threats.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with administration and delivery of Tree Health Pilot grants.
• Supporting applicants through the application and claims process.
• Providing guidance on eligibility requirements and scheme processes.
• Monitoring and reporting on scheme delivery and performance.
• Supporting continuous improvement through lessons learned and evaluation activities.
• Providing advice and support to woodland owners and land managers on tree health management, eligible interventions and grant application requirements.
• Working closely with colleagues across the Tree Health Incentives Delivery Team and wider Forestry Commission.

Wider Team Responsibilities

You will also:

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Contribute to team projects and organisational priorities.
• Maintain accurate records and reporting information.
• Share knowledge and best practice across the Plant Health Forestry network.
• Support improvements to tree health preparedness, response capability and grant delivery.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience of planning, coordinating or administering projects or programmes.
• Experience of working in forestry, environmental land management, grant delivery or a related operational field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Good attention to detail and experience managing information and records accurately.
• The ability to analyse information and make practical recommendations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and Teams.
• A willingness to learn and develop knowledge of incident management, contingency planning and tree health.

Desirable Criteria

It would be beneficial if you have:

• Experience of contingency planning, emergency response or incident management.
• Knowledge of plant health, forestry, environmental management or biosecurity.
• Experience of grant administration or scheme delivery.
• Experience of managing woodland and tree health issues or advising woodland owners on woodland management and grant applications.
• Experience of developing guidance, procedures or standard operating processes.
• Knowledge of government or public sector operating environments.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,537, Forestry Commission contributes £10,874 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, plusmany 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)

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.

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

• A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A personal statement – in no more than 750 words please provide details of how you meet the criteria of the person specification.

Indicative timeline: Shortlisting to take place w/c 24th August. Interviews are planned for week commencing 7th September 2026. The dates are subject to change.

We will be conducting interviews online using MS teams. Candidates will need to have access to a suitable computer for an MS Teams meeting.

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.

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.

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

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.

The post is full time, 44 hours per week (operational). 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.

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

Travel options include: Some occasional travel may be required as part of the duties of this post. The FC is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any method of travel, subject to prior approval. Successful candidates wishing to use their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the FC Travel Policy on CO2 emissions.

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 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.