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.

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 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 Forest Information and Statistics team is a multi-disciplinary team including statisticians, spatial analysts, data scientists and others. There are 3 teams within Forest Information and Statistics, covering National Forest Inventory scheduling and mapping, National Forest Inventory analysis and outputs, and Statistics. Together, they are responsible for overseeing data collection and providing analysis and support to a range of internal and external customers and for producing a range of analytical outputs, including official statistics and the National Forest Inventory.

Job description

The Research Statistics team provides an in-house consultancy service to researchers within FR and sometimes to external customers.  In your role as a research statistician you will provide statistical support to researchers throughout their projects from advice on data collection to analysis of the results.

The successful candidate’s key work areas will be:

• Providing a range of statistical analysis and advice to support FR scientists and others, including experimental design, sampling, data analysis, survey design and input to reports
• Supporting Statistics team lead in the management of a contract with external providers to provide statistical consultancy service
• Working with FR statisticians and others to develop statistical skills and promote best practice

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstrated application of statistical sciences within an applied research field
• Proven record of analysis of biological data including interpretation, presentation and dissemination of the results
• Proven record of using mixed effects modelling, standard regression techniques, power analysis, design and analysis of experiments
• Highly proficient in the use of R for data cleaning, analysis and presentation including flexdashboard and RShiny.

Desirable Criteria:

• A broad understanding of statistical science, particularly as they relate to environmental and forestry issues
• Experience of statistical consultancy, with an emphasis on explaining complex analysis solutions to a range of scientific clients
• Experience in multivariate analysis, survival analysis, time series analysis and design/analysis of survey data
• Experience with use of range of coding languages (C++/JavaScript/Python/SQL)
• Willingness to implement innovative statistical methods, including bespoke one-off solutions where required
• Membership of Royal Statistical Society or equivalent relevant professional body

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,485, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £10,859 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: will take place in the week commencing 5th August 2024
Interviews will take place in the week commencing 19th August 2024

Candidates invited to attend interview will be required to prepare a short presentation.  Details will be provided a time of interview confirmation.

If a large volume of applications is received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour,  Communicating & 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.

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.

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.