Details
Reference number
431025
Salary
£32,547 - £33,711
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Administrative Officer
Pay Band 6a(Ops)
Contract type
Fixed term
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 31 March 2026, with possibility, but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
Business area
FC - Forest Services
Type of role
Environment and Sustainability
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Any FC office in the Northwest of England e.g. Penrith and Delamere.
About the job
Job summary
Forest Services as part of Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally 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 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 diseases, and to ensure traceability of forestry planting material. The unit is geographically dispersed with teams based in Edinburgh, Bristol and London, and individuals based in a variety of other locations. We work with wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other units within the Forestry Commission, Forest Research, Devolved Administrations of Wales and Scotland and other government agencies. Also trade and industry bodies businesses within the sector including importers, processors, forest management companies and landowners.
Job description
We are seeking a well-motivated individual to carryout surveillance and management of tree pests and diseases. The role will support the Plant Health Team by carrying out ground surveillance for regulated tree pests and diseases, conducting inspections of regulated wood and wood products at the border, supporting development of internal systems and promoting the work of the Plant Health Forestry Service. The working environments include at times physically demanding on site surveillance, visiting industrial areas such as ports and potentially working in helicopter surveillance.
While there is flexibility on location of the posts within the geographic areas:
* The Plant Health Support Officer will be expected to cover work operationally within the North West region, with a specific focus on supporting the response to the regulated pathogen Phytophthora ramorum.
* At times, postholders will be expected to work outside of the geographic areas in which they are based.
Responsibilities
* Deliver monitoring and survey programs such as protected zone surveys and outbreak response for regulated pest and diseases including Phytophthora ramorum and Ips typographus.
* Undertake targeted and reactive inspections of regulated wood, wood products and isolated bark at points of entry and inland premises.
* Represent the Plant Health team both within the organisation and externally.
* Contribute to Plant Health project work and internal systems, which may include report writing, systems improvements and data management.
* Promote a safety-first culture delivering enhanced safety standards.
Person specification
Essential:
* Experience in the forestry, plant health industry or a related sector.
* Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications.
* Experience of working with a range of stakeholders.
* Proven ability to work under pressure, across conflicting demands to meet deadlines.
* Proven ability to work remotely, with minimum supervision.
* Confident in taking appropriate decisions and recognising when and where to escalate issues.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Able to identify common UK tree species.
Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.
Desirable:
* HND level or equivalent professional qualifications in either Forestry/Plant Health/Arboriculture or a related subject; and/or significant experience in forestry or the timber industry, ecology or import/export.
* Awareness of pests and diseases that impact timber and trees in the UK.
* Experience using GIS applications.
* Experience in pest and disease outbreak management.
* Proven ability to work in a flexible way, demonstrating a positive approach towards change and cross team collaboration.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Delivering at Pace
* Managing a Quality Service
* Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* You will be tested on tree identification and technical knowledge.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £32,547, Forestry Commission contributes £9,428 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* 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
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following online:
A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
* A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
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 Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours, Experience, Strengths and Technical Skills. You may be asked to prepare a presentation as part of this. You will also be asked to complete a technical exercise at interview.
Interview will be held on week commencing 27th September. This date is subject to change.
We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
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 Commission 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.
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.
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. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
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.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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 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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 Team
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.