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National- Any FC or Defra office (subject to availability in relation to working pattern/blended working arrangements)
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 a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other units within the Forestry Commission, Forest Research, Devolved Governments of Wales and Scotland and other government agencies. Also trade and industry bodies and businesses within the sector including importers, processors, forest management companies and landowners.
Job Description
We are seeking a well-motivated individual with strong organisational skills to assess options for the future shape of border inspections by identifying key data needs, exploring how to gather that data - through real-time measurement or existing sources - and supporting evidence-based comparisons to inform long-term planning. This will inform the development and improvement of our border inspection work and will involve working with subject matter experts to scope and manage projects to achieve defined outcomes, analyse data and make recommendations based on findings, help create guidance for a range of border processes, and develop systems to improve the efficiency of our delivery.
The working environment will be mostly desk-based but you may be required to travel to meetings and occasionally visit select ports.
Responsibilities
* Support the wider review of border inspection delivery through evidence gathering, research and project management. This will involve defining, mapping, tracking, filing and reporting on the project and creating/ maintaining the project documents e.g. RAID log, project plan, project timeline and comms plans
* In collaboration with operational staff, subject matter experts and others in the team, create and improve guidance for a range of border activities including inspections, sampling and manifest system use to check the status of consignments and place holds/ releases
* Update documentation and administrative processes for border inspections following the review of current delivery, working alongside the Business Support, Operational and Policy Teams
* Use intelligence gathered from the Operational Team and published trade data to monitor trade patterns of regulated and unregulated wood and wood products.
* Work with wider team to help develop and implement elements of the wood packaging material monitoring plan
* Work closely with the Business Support Team to help improve and develop their systems and processes in relations to borders work
* Support the Operational Team with back-office functions to deliver their border inspection work, including helping to build relationships with other government agencies and port staff
* Contribute to Plant Health project work and internal systems development, which may include report writing, systems improvements and data management
* Exploring options to facilitate process improvement in relation to imports of regulated wood and wood products at Dover
* Reviewing how inspections are allocated through the firewood Statutory Notification Scheme
* Promote a safety-first culture delivering enhanced safety standards, this will involve reviewing current risk-assessments and working with the Operational Team to update these
We are seeking a well-motivated individual with strong organisational skills to assess options for the future shape of border inspections by identifying key data needs, exploring how to gather that data - through real-time measurement or existing sources - and supporting evidence-based comparisons to inform long-term planning. This will inform the development and improvement of our border inspection work and will involve working with subject matter experts to scope and manage projects to achieve defined outcomes, analyse data and make recommendations based on findings, help create guidance for a range of border processes, and develop systems to improve the efficiency of our delivery.
The working environment will be mostly desk-based but you may be required to travel to meetings and occasionally visit select ports.
Responsibilities
* Support the wider review of border inspection delivery through evidence gathering, research and project management. This will involve defining, mapping, tracking, filing and reporting on the project and creating/ maintaining the project documents e.g. RAID log, project plan, project timeline and comms plans
* In collaboration with operational staff, subject matter experts and others in the team, create and improve guidance for a range of border activities including inspections, sampling and manifest system use to check the status of consignments and place holds/ releases
* Update documentation and administrative processes for border inspections following the review of current delivery, working alongside the Business Support, Operational and Policy Teams
* Use intelligence gathered from the Operational Team and published trade data to monitor trade patterns of regulated and unregulated wood and wood products.
* Work with wider team to help develop and implement elements of the wood packaging material monitoring plan
* Work closely with the Business Support Team to help improve and develop their systems and processes in relations to borders work
* Support the Operational Team with back-office functions to deliver their border inspection work, including helping to build relationships with other government agencies and port staff
* Contribute to Plant Health project work and internal systems development, which may include report writing, systems improvements and data management
* Exploring options to facilitate process improvement in relation to imports of regulated wood and wood products at Dover
* Reviewing how inspections are allocated through the firewood Statutory Notification Scheme
* Promote a safety-first culture delivering enhanced safety standards, this will involve reviewing current risk-assessments and working with the Operational Team to update these
Person specification
Essential
* Strong organisational skills including previous involvement in projects or project management
* Confident in presenting data and evidence in digestible formats for a range of audiences
* A track record of establishing successful working relationships with a range of stakeholders
* Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications
* Proven ability to work under pressure, managing conflicting demands to meet deadlines
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, such as producing and maintaining project documentation, guidance writing, drafting papers and recommendations
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
* Experience using port manifest systems, particularly Destin8 and CNS
* Proven ability to work in a flexible way, demonstrating a positive approach towards change and cross team collaboration
* Project Management qualification (e.g. APM Introductory certificate or APM Qualification)
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Changing and Improving
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
Alongside your salary of £32,089, Forestry Commission contributes £9,296 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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 31 March 2026, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
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.
Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours, Strength and Experience. You may be asked to prepare a presentation as part of this.
Sifting week commencing 30th June 2025.
Interview will be held on week commencing 7th July 2025. These dates are 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.
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.
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. Determine your eligibility at 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 and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on 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. This includes grade on return.
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.
This role is full time only: 37 hours a week. 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.
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.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.
Travel Options Include:
* Use of private car: some Officers choose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. Vehicle emissions are measured in CO2 grams per kilometre (g/km). The cap is currently 115 gCO2/km and will be reduced to 100 gCO2/km on 1st April 2026. After that date, we expect private vehicles used for official travel to emit significantly less.
* Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation, they can opt for a CAPES car (the user pays a monthly rate for private use). All CAPES cars must emit less than 50gCO2/km
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.
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.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
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.
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.
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
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.
Seniority level
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