About the job

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, 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.   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.  To find out more about FR, visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk.

The Centre for Inventory, Forecasting and Operational Support (IFOS) at Forest Research have been involved in mapping and field data collection solutions for over 20 years. 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 GIS, Data Science, Statistics, Mapping and Forestry skills providing analysis, modelling and data processing solutions to answer the questions and queries posed to us.

Job description

The UK Government is committed to protecting and enhancing our natural capital, halting the decline in our biodiversity, adapting to, and mitigating against climate change, and leaving the environment in a better state for future generations. As part of this commitment, Defra’s £140 million Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme is delivering a nationwide survey of England’s land, coast, and sea: mapping the location, extent and condition of our ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

This role will be responsible for supporting the NCEA Programme Manager in delivering the FR elements of the Defra backed Terrestrial (t)NCEA Programme and associated projects. This is a large programme, totalling £4.9 million per annum, where all forest and woodland ecosystem types are being monitored to enable the production of a set of Natural Capital Accounts and a broad environmental evidence base for all English ecosystems. The Programme Lead will support the Programme Manager to build and share the vision, strategy and plans for delivering Woodland and Tree NCEA. Our preferred start date for this post is 19th August 2024.

Key Work Areas: 

•    Monitor, evaluate and coordinate a range of projects across the NCEA programme
•    Track project deliverables and milestones, ensuring that they are on time and budget and report this information to Defra
•    Monitor performance across the NCEA programme, manage risks and issues when they occur
•    Lead the science quality assurance and digital data delivery products
•    Support and develop contacts and communication both internally and externally
•    Represent FR on a range of programme boards, working groups and external events.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who is motivated, with a proactive approach to tasks and the ability and enthusiasm to coordinate multiple strands of activity within tight and often challenging deadlines. Strong influencing skills are key as is experience of project delivery as well as building and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and colleagues. The post holder must have excellent project management, budgetary and communication skills, including writing and reporting.

Essential Criteria: 

• Significant and demonstrable project management skills and experience, a track record of delivering projects and reports in a timely, accurate manner on budget
• Demonstrable organisational skills, relationship management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including written reports and presentations
• Experience of working with and influencing a wide range of stakeholders and partners
• Expertise in the MS Office suite, especially Excel, Teams, PowerPoint and Word

Desirable Criteria:

• Formal project management training or accreditation
• Ability to provide constructive challenge to all levels of staff, including senior management
• An understanding of relevant civil service and commercial terms, concepts, policies and processes, including project approvals, assurance and delivery procedures
• An interest in science, ecological or environmental issue

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,260, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £13,111 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 10th June 2024 Interviews will take place week commencing 17th June 2024 If a large volume of applications are received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing.  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.

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

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.