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 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. So, whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit forestresearch.gov.uk.

The Tree Health group in FR provides scientific support and advice on tree pests and pathogens for the government, forest industry and a wide range of other land managers and stakeholders, including the general public. https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/services/tree-health-diagnostic-and-advisory-service/

Job description

We are seeking to appoint a full-time Woodland Mammal Ecologist to join our Forest Protection centre on a permanent basis. This post will ensure the agency can provide advice and conduct research in this area, and to respond to increasing stakeholder and funder concerns over the impact of mammal pests on woodland creation/expansion and policy options.

The issues of wildlife management (and particularly impacts of deer and grey squirrels) remains a major concern for stakeholders, a focus for policy (e.g. renewed focus on control of deer populations in Scotland; development of deer and squirrel action plans in England). There are already a number of small existing research projects underway using funding through the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF), managed by DEFRA, but also collaborative research project work using novel mammal monitoring and assessment techniques (eDNA, acoustics) within the Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment Programme which aims to integrate mammal monitoring in the National Forest Inventory.

The post holder will initially take on the existing mammal research projects that are funded and then look to evaluate where FR should be focusing its future research and funding opportunities. We consider the focus of the post would be on assessment and management of woodland mammal populations to enable wider policy benefits along with developments in monitoring of populations, and interpretation of damage/condition surveys. There may also be scope for future work to the One Health agenda, as tick-borne diseases remain a focus of concern for public health and are linked to mammal populations.   

The successful candidate’s key work areas will be:

• Provision of advice and guidance for policy makers, managers and practitioners involved in mammal and woodland management and conservation.
• Running existing NCF research projects, to budget and time.
• Reviewing FR strategy for Woodland Mammal research
• Developing Bids and securing future relevant research funding
• Responsible for all in year and annual reports required by FR and funders.
• Engagement with key stakeholders and funders and presentations where required.
• Contribute to the wider activities of FR, providing mammal expertise where necessary

This post will require the successful candidate to be able to travel to site-based research experiments, face-to-face meetings or events

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• A PhD or similar level of expertise in an appropriate area of study
• Extensive research experience, in Woodland Mammal Ecology and the management of squirrels and deer
• Experience of Bidding for and winning research funding
• Experience of project management in a scientific setting
• Experience of building and managing a budget and delivery to project KPI’s/SLAs.
• Experience of disseminating and adapting complex information to stakeholders at all levels (e.g. to government, landowners and the public)
• Experience of working under intense pressure with competing priorities and tight deadlines, and managing that pressure with appropriate support to avoid stress
• Experience of staff management and evidence of contribution to their long-term development.

Desirable Criteria

Familiarity with:

• The factors influencing damage by mammals and the consequences it has on trees and forest ecosystems.
• Methods of monitoring mammal populations (thermal imaging, camera traps, live traps, use of bait, DNA barcoding/eDNA in water/soil/air) and woodland impacts.
• Management methods for controlling mammal populations in wooded environments
• Conservation and management of endangered species.
• Competent IT user with experience of MS Office package
• Experience of handling animals for telemetry or feeding trials
• Experience with statistical packages

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:  29th April 2024

Interviews: 14th May 2024

Candidates attending interview will be required to prepare a short presentation, detail will be confirmed at time of confirmation.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Making Effective Decisions. However, 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.

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.