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This role can be based in the Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY or in Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham GU10 4LH with blended working which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from the workplace. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
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 (FC), 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 www.forestresearch.gov.uk
The Valuing Our Information (VOI) Project Was Established Across The Whole Of The Forestry Commission In Recognition Of The Need To Significantly Improve The Management Of Information. The Project Has a Clear Mission:
‘to improve Forestry Commission’s effectiveness, trust, and compliance through increasing the level of knowledge and information management maturity.’
In addition, FR’s Digital strategy outlines the use of information is fundamental to FR meeting its aims of protecting, expanding, and promoting sustainable woodland; these aims will be met more successfully when accurate information can be identified and found quickly. Our Data Estate Modernisation Plan provides details of the projects which will help us meet these targets.
Job Description
FR have a requirement for an experienced and self-motivated information management professional. This role will be involved in implementing and supporting the new information management principles and helping to bring about change to both physical and digital records management, as outlined in our Digital and Data Strategies. This opportunity would suit applicants who wish to further develop their skills in data management and archiving, as FR progress plans to introduce new capabilities and technologies.
We are looking for someone who enjoys a challenge and has an interest in all things data related. You will enjoy working with colleagues across FR and have the vision to bring about change to our data estate.
Key Work Areas:
Helping to deliver FR’s Data and Digital Strategies
The postholder will work closely across all areas of FR to help deliver our Data and Digital strategies and outcomes. There are a range of activities including identifying and monitoring current data assets and managing the migration of our data away from traditional file shares to a cloud hosted solution. This will require you to work with staff to provide support and guidance throughout the migration process, to ensure understanding of the reasons and benefits of the new solution.
Supporting the FC VOI Programme
This post is part of the team delivering the FC Valuing our Information Programme to FR and improving knowledge and information management principles, policies, and practices. You will be expected to be a key member of this team and liaise with colleagues across the FC in a similar role.
Managing the FR Digital Archive
You will be responsible for the continual growth and management of our digital archive. This will include assisting information asset owners whilst they review and make decisions regarding their records, prior to any digitisation or transfer activity in line with our policies and procedures.
Given the nature of the work with physical records, there is a manual handling aspect to the role
Contacts and Communication
You will be expected to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to support development and delivery of the programme. These will include colleagues at all levels and in similar roles across the sector.
The post holder will work alongside members of the IT team and have autonomy to make decisions within established frameworks and take forward our technical capabilities in assigned work areas.
FR have a requirement for an experienced and self-motivated information management professional. This role will be involved in implementing and supporting the new information management principles and helping to bring about change to both physical and digital records management, as outlined in our Digital and Data Strategies. This opportunity would suit applicants who wish to further develop their skills in data management and archiving, as FR progress plans to introduce new capabilities and technologies.
We are looking for someone who enjoys a challenge and has an interest in all things data related. You will enjoy working with colleagues across FR and have the vision to bring about change to our data estate.
Key Work Areas:
Helping to deliver FR’s Data and Digital Strategies
The postholder will work closely across all areas of FR to help deliver our Data and Digital strategies and outcomes. There are a range of activities including identifying and monitoring current data assets and managing the migration of our data away from traditional file shares to a cloud hosted solution. This will require you to work with staff to provide support and guidance throughout the migration process, to ensure understanding of the reasons and benefits of the new solution.
Supporting the FC VOI Programme
This post is part of the team delivering the FC Valuing our Information Programme to FR and improving knowledge and information management principles, policies, and practices. You will be expected to be a key member of this team and liaise with colleagues across the FC in a similar role.
Managing the FR Digital Archive
You will be responsible for the continual growth and management of our digital archive. This will include assisting information asset owners whilst they review and make decisions regarding their records, prior to any digitisation or transfer activity in line with our policies and procedures.
Given the nature of the work with physical records, there is a manual handling aspect to the role
Contacts and Communication
You will be expected to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to support development and delivery of the programme. These will include colleagues at all levels and in similar roles across the sector.
The post holder will work alongside members of the IT team and have autonomy to make decisions within established frameworks and take forward our technical capabilities in assigned work areas.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
* Proven ability to effectively advise and communicate the benefits of Data and Digital strategies to a diverse range of stakeholders
* Experience of working independently under multiple time demands and deadlines, with sound judgement in time management.
* Expertise in the digitisation of archival materials
* Proficiency in using information and records management systems and processes that support governance and risk management
* Skilled in utilising SharePoint, including all document management functions within the platform.
* Ability to manage stakeholder expectations regarding team performance and deliverables
* Previous experience in line management.
* Comprehensive knowledge of legislation, standards, and procedures related to records management, including the Data Protection Act, GDPR, the Freedom of Information Act, and Environmental Information Regulations.
* Willingness to travel nationwide as required
Desirable Criteria:
* Previous experience in a public sector organisation, particularly with a research-oriented focus
* Proficiency in using software (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro) to create accessible documents.
* Experience of handling records in compliance with the Public Records Act
* Knowledge or experience in managing and digitising legacy media types, or wiliness to develop these skills
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Delivering at Pace
* Working Together
Alongside your salary of £39,135, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £11,337 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/.
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 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
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 8/9th July 2025
Interviews are planned to take place 14/15th July 2025
If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV 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.
Visa Sponsorship
FR Holds a Licence To Sponsor Skilled Workers Under The Home Office Points-based Immigration System. Candidates Wishing To Apply Should Note That The Likelihood Of Obtaining Sponsorship Would Depend On An Assessment Of This Role Against Defined Criteria, Which Include:
* Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or
* Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and
* Evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously
Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.
For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers on our website.
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 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 : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
* 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.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
* Employment type
Part-time
Job function
* Job function
Information Technology
* Industries
Government Administration
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