Details Reference number 348280 Salary £55,960 - £61,961 Appointments to Forest Research are made at the salary quoted above except in exceptional circumstances where a candidate's experience and skills may justify a higher starting salary. New entrants to the civil service will be expected to start on the minimum of the pay-band. Normal pay on transfer rules apply for existing civil servants. A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27% GBP Job grade Grade 7 Pay Band 2 Contract type Fixed term Length of employment This is a Fixed Term Appointment for 24 months with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee. Business area FR - Inventory, Forecasting and Operation Support Type of role Architecture and Data Environment and Sustainability Geography Working pattern Flexible working, Full-time Number of jobs available 1 Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location The role will be based at Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH or Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY with blended working which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from the workplace. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. About the job Job summary Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science research? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crises? Forest Research (FR) is a leading UK scientific research organisation that provides impactful scientific data, evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners. Internationally recognised, we want to work with people who have the skills and passion to deliver impactful science which informs practical solutions across the sector. Were small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, 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 natural environment. With locations across the UK, you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer who promotes agile working to help you manage your work life balance. If you want to be a part of a growing organisation that makes a difference, find out more at Homepage - Forest Research The Centre for Inventory, Forecasting and Operational Support (IFOS) provides practical software and data solutions to help our customers manage information about their woodland resource in a pragmatic and integrated way. We also provide information, evidence and official statistics on the woodland resource in GB. We do this by blending data collection, GIS, Data Science, Statistics, Mapping and Forestry skills providing analysis, modelling and data processing solutions to answer the questions and queries posed to us. We serve customers both internal to FR and across the devolved administrations as well as in the private sector. Reporting to the Head of Centre for IFOS this role will provide collaborative leadership and specialist knowledge for colleagues across FR and the devolved administrations, to manage and develop our Remote Sensing and Earth Observation service offering and to evolve FRs strategic approach in this area. With a current but growing budget of c. £0.5 million p.a. you will lead a small team of 5 spatial data scientists. The role requires a strong customer focus and will lead on the development of solutions to support FR customers with their business problems. Projects vary in their size and duration making agile approach to management suitable to ensure optimal methods and services are adopted. Remote sensing projects will cover a broad range of topics within forestry and require a deep understanding of both remote sensing theory, data science and product development for successful delivery. Key Work Areas: Lead and develop a team to innovate and develop ideas and techniques to both support colleagues across FR and to support customers with their business problems. Developing scientific techniques utilising a range of data sources as well as operationalising these techniques and overseeing and maintaining operational outputs. Develop and lead FRs strategy and direction for Remote Sensing/Earth Observation in collaboration with the FR Senior Management Team and FR board and our key customers. Prepare proposals for customers (time, cost, quality) and manage delivery of external contracts to agreed standards and delivery dates. Ensure high standards of communication and feedback through the delivery process. Work with others in IFOS to ensure appropriate validation of remote sensing products. Prepare and manage the budget and forecasts for the team and ensure adherence to FR timetables in this respect. Collaborate with the IFOS Senior Leadership team on Centre aims and goals and support colleagues in the delivery of their outputs. Person specification Essential Criteria: A degree or significant experience in Remote Sensing/Earth Observation techniques. Proven track record of handling large, time series datasets. Good communication skills with the ability to explain complex problems effectively and generate inclusion and focus to deliver work programmes. The ability to lead and develop a team fostering an inclusive ethos where staff can learn and grow their skills. The ability to think strategically and to influence strategic discussions collaboratively to pursue desired outcomes. Proven track record of delivering large complex datasets. Experience working with high performance computing architectures and software development. Excellent skills in data science programming languages such as Python, R and Java Script for Google Earth Engine. Advanced knowledge of spatial algorithms, statistical modelling, and machine learning. Desirable Criteria: A good working knowledge of the forest industry A good understanding of Project Management principles Familiarity with large government environmental programmes such as the NCF (Nature for Climate Fund) and NCEA (Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment) Licences We require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. We will consider any proposals that would allow applicants to do the job by other means. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Working Together Managing a Quality Service Benefits Alongside your salary of £55,960, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £15,109 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 where employer contributions starting at 26% of 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 theres 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/. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Sift is planned to take place on 2nd May 2024 Interviews are planned to take place 13th May 2024 Applicants who attend interview will be required to prepare a short presentation. If a large volume of applications is received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Leadership. However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all Behaviours 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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional. 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) (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