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 Tree Health research group’s role is to sustain the forestry and tree sector in Britain through three main activities:

•    Provision of rapid diagnosis of tree health problems and advice via FR’s Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS).
•    Undertaking relevant and topical research on the pest and pathogen threats that affect British trees to inform appropriate management and future proofing.
•    Conducting analyses and evaluations of specific tree health issues to underpin government policy.

Members of the group who carry out work on forest pathology typically undertake field and laboratory-based investigations and research into a range of tree pathogens including bacterial, fungal and Phytophthora species.

Job description

The role will encompass both the diagnosis and provision of advice in relation to tree diseases via the THDAS and support existing and emerging research projects into the biology of specific tree pathogens. The post-holder will contribute to the delivery of training and support for visiting students on placement within the group and for volunteers in the ongoing Observatree citizen science programme in which FR is a lead partner.

Key Work Areas: 

Diagnostician within the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service
•    Providing advice and examining samples submitted to the THDAS for diagnosis, applying classical morphological and molecular diagnostic techniques as required
•    Undertaking basic bio-informatic processing of sequence reads, BLAST analysis and producing phylogenetic trees of species and taxa
•    Communicating to stakeholders at a variety of events, explaining pathogen threats, good biosecurity practice and the diagnostic services that THDAS offers

Provision of assistance with projects researching specific tree pathogens
•    Contributing to the development and application of methodologies for detecting pathogens and investigating their biology including interactions with their hosts.
•    Undertaking interpretation of biological data and collaborating in the writing of scientific and technical publications as well as research proposals
•    Planning and carrying out field visits and sampling activities to achieve specific goals.
•    Participating in knowledge exchange by presenting results to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise.

General research group & centre responsibilities
•    Assisting in the continued smooth operation of the laboratory facilities at NRS
•    Writing and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures and contributing to the laboratory accreditation processes.
•    Contributing to public outreach activities of the Tree Health research group  

Person specification

Essential Criteria: 

• Degree in plant biological sciences, microbiology, or biochemistry
• Skilled in good laboratory practice with demonstrated experience identifying microorganisms
• Skills in general plant pathology methods, including microscopy and the isolation / culture of organisms from plants.
• Good standard of verbal and written communication
• Competent IT user with experience of MS Office packages
• 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.

Desirable Criteria:

• A broad understanding of plant pathology issues, particularly as they relate to emerging diseases of temperate woodlands, including Plant Health regulatory frameworks
• Experience in laboratory management, budget planning and monitoring of laboratory supplies
• Expertise in the accreditation of molecular diagnostic protocols and inter-laboratory proficiency testing
• An ability to identify broad leaved and conifer trees

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,863, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £8,651 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 week commencing 1 July 2024,  Interviews are planned to take place 17/18 July 2024 Applicants invited to attend interview will be required to prepare a short presentation. If a large volume of applications are received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Working Together.  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.