Research Worker

Salary: £30,105. Appointments to Forest Research are made at the entry level of the salary quoted above except in exceptional circumstances where a candidate's experience and skills may justify a higher starting salary. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

Contract type: Fixed term. Length of employment: This is a Fixed Term Appointment of 2 years with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

Location: The role will be based at Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0TJ. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

About the job: 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. We need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

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.

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 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Literacy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Numeracy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable experience working outdoors in all weathers.
• Demonstrable work experience in forest and woodland management.
• Competent IT user with experience of the Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate both verbal and in writing.
• Ability to work flexibly across a wide geographical area, staying away and altering working day pattern where necessary.
• Full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK.

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.
• Experience of GIS applications.

Behaviours

We will 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. Your career includes excellent professional development opportunities tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all.

Your work/life balance includes 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. 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 leave.