Scientist - Forest Ecology

The Forestry Commission is hiring a Scientist in Forest Ecology for a 12-month fixed-term role based in Alice Holt, UK, with blended working options. The position involves assessing tree recruitment success nationally and collaborating with partners on sustainable plant provenancing. The role focuses on using molecular tools to enhance biodiversity and forest resilience, contributing to impactful environmental science and policy.
This role is based in Alice Holt, Farnham, Surrey 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. 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.

This is a 12 month fixed-term opportunity to work in the Centre for Forest Protection (CFP) at Forest Research (FR), with project partners at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Kew and collaborators at the Future Trees Trust (FTT).

The Centre for Forest Protection combines the research strengths and expertise of FR and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Research priorities include horizon-scanning and risk analysis to identify new and unforeseen threats to our woodlands and trees.

The forest ecology team, which the postholder will be part of at FR, leads the forestry sector in applying molecular tools (DNA metabarcoding) as a direct measure of biodiversity. Forest diversification and tree functional trait effects on biodiversity and forest resilience are other key specialist research topic strengths. Collaborators at Kew are conservation biologists with expertise in molecular ecology and the FTT brings practical expertise in the establishment of resilient, self-sustaining populations of productive broadleaf tree species. With robust national and international connections, the team is highly active in publishing across peer-reviewed, applied, and trade journals.

Job Description

The successful applicant will play a central role as a forest ecologist in a new two-year CFP project entitled SUPPoRT: SUstainable Plant Provenancing for Resilient Trees. This project aims to improve tree seed collection choices and planting decisions guided by an adaptive genetic diversity landscape map of the UK. The job holders role will be to:

(i) assess tree species-specific recruitment success at the national scale using National Forest Inventory (NFI) datasets from 10,000+ one hectare sample plots, identifying with researchers at RBG Kew, regions of high recruitment success with self-sustaining populations and regions of poor regeneration, including possible causes (e.g. browsing pressure) and

(ii) work with the Future Trees Trust, undertaking explanatory data analysis using FTT field experimental trial datasets, to provide evidence for stakeholders on the effect of different nursery protocols (bare-root vs container-grown material), silvicultural interventions (application of fertilizer, weed control) and the value of using qualified/selected seed over source-identified seed.

Additional work will include identifying other relevant datasets that provide information on tree establishment success in new woodland creation sites. The final output will be novel analyses/reporting on the recruitment success of different tree species in GB considering a range of explanatory variables (e.g. browsing pressure, climate and source population attributes).

The successful applicant will play a central role as a forest ecologist in a new two-year CFP project entitled SUPPoRT: SUstainable Plant Provenancing for Resilient Trees. This project aims to improve tree seed collection choices and planting decisions guided by an adaptive genetic diversity landscape map of the UK. The job holders role will be to:

(i) assess tree species-specific recruitment success at the national scale using National Forest Inventory (NFI) datasets from 10,000+ one hectare sample plots, identifying with researchers at RBG Kew, regions of high recruitment success with self-sustaining populations and regions of poor regeneration, including possible causes (e.g. browsing pressure) and

(ii) work with the Future Trees Trust, undertaking explanatory data analysis using FTT field experimental trial datasets, to provide evidence for stakeholders on the effect of different nursery protocols (bare-root vs container-grown material), silvicultural interventions (application of fertilizer, weed control) and the value of using qualified/selected seed over source-identified seed.

Additional work will include identifying other relevant datasets that provide information on tree establishment success in new woodland creation sites. The final output will be novel analyses/reporting on the recruitment success of different tree species in GB considering a range of explanatory variables (e.g. browsing pressure, climate and source population attributes).

Person specification

Key Work Areas

The Successful Applicant Will Be Required To
• Facilitate clear and prompt communication of research findings to project collaborators and stakeholders; meticulously organize and oversee time management and budget allocation across various projects
• Work collaboratively with Forest Research and partner organisation scientists across disciplines (molecular ecologists, landscape ecologists, NFI team)
• Conduct multivariate data analysis and disseminate scientific findings through publications such as papers and reports. Actively pursue opportunities to showcase ongoing research by developing website content, delivering presentations
• Manage, share and archive code and data responsibly for quality assurance purposes and to facilitate collaboration
• Lead and/or contribute to project funding proposal formulation

Essential Criteria
• Post-graduate degree (PhD) in a relevant science discipline (Ecology, Forestry) or equivalent experience
• Ecology and fieldwork experience including sampling and monitoring techniques that help characterise environmental conditions (e.g. measurement of light levels, soil physical and chemical properties)
• Proof of outstanding communication and writing abilities tailored to diverse audiences, such as the general public, forestry professionals, and scientific peers
• Excellent organisational, data handling and record keeping skills
• Experience in experimental design and in analysing, modelling and interpreting quantitative and qualitative ecological data sets with statistical packages
• Competent user of R or equivalent for statistical analyses of multivariate and ecological datasets.

Desirable Criteria
• Project management experience
• Support staff management experience including budget management
• Practised in multivariate analyses of large-scale, complex ecological datasets.
• Proficient in the use of GIS systems for spatial analysis using both vector and raster data
• Experienced in forest science, forest ecology and biomonitoring
• Lead author or key contributor towards writing and analysis of a scientific publication

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

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 21st May 2025

Interviews will take place on 30th May 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

Role

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.