Apply Now
Details
Reference number
Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Contract type
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Science
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
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.
Were 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 its 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 FR Centre for Forest Management applies a wide range of expertise to important issues concerning the resilience and value of Britain’s trees, woods and forests. It aims to provide a world class forest economics research base.
A key area of FRs work involves providing evidence to underpin the development of incentive mechanisms that encourage landowners to plant new woodlands. An exciting project in this area, is developing a Woodland Water Code (WWC) to provide a quality assurance scheme to underpin incentives for landowners to provide woodland water services related to flood management, agricultural diffuse pollution attenuation and water temperature cooling (to reduce thermal stress of aquatic species). Along similar lines to the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) – a quality assurance scheme underpinning UK woodland creation for carbon sequestration benefits, the initiative aims to foster new Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes in the UK that help achieve water-related policy goals as well as the UKs climate change mitigation targets. We are now seeking a market development researcher to lead on the piloting of the code and to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement activities. The post will be part of an interdisciplinary team at FR led by economics and hydrology specialists. This role is funded through the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF), managed by Defra. The NCF supports a range of diverse research projects from climate to biodiversity, aimed at improved woodland protection, increasing the area of woodland in active management and to support ambitious targets for woodland creation. We would anticipate the successful candidate will take up the role at the beginning of March 2024. |
Job description
The post-holder will support the development of a draft WWC, focusing on engagement with potential buyers and sellers and selecting a range of pilot sites to test the code.
This work will build on advances made in a recent international project led by FR (PESFOR-W), which highlighted the poor condition of many water bodies and the ability of tree planting to tackle a range of water pressures. This project reflects a government commitment under the England Trees Action Plan to support the development of a WWC.
Person specification
The main role of the post will be to develop a market for the WWC. This will involve the following key work areas:
- Lead on stakeholder engagement and workshop delivery to support the development of a market for buying and selling woodland water services, including discussing methods, rules and anticipated levels of supply and demand with landowners, potential investors, regulators and independent validators
- Liaise with project developers/ landowners to identify a range of suitable pilot sites to test the draft WWC
- Oversee and report on Pilot Testing of the WWC
- Contribute to knowledge exchange activities including creation of WWC web pages
- Support the design of methods and rules for the application of the WWC and the governing market rules based on feedback from stakeholders
- Track other relating stakeholder engagement activities related to developing Nature Markets, including the British Standards Institutes Nature Investment Standards Programme
- Periodically update and consulate with the WWC Steering Group and Technical Group.
- Contributing to wider work by FR on development of ecosystem markets, green finance and forestry
Essential Criteria:
- Relevant degree with substantial economics, environmental or business studies component
- Strong organisational skills
- Good interpersonal and communication skills including written outputs and facilitating workshops.
- Evidence of good team and partnership working.
- Competent IT user with experience of MS Office packages.
- Willingness to travel, including occasional overnight stays as required for stakeholder engagement
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of working in environmental economics research, including valuing woodland and/ or water services
- Experience of developing Payments for Ecosystem Services, or associated monitoring, validation, accreditation or quality assurance schemes
- Experience in working as part of an interdisciplinary team
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
£9,684 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 where employer contributions starting at 26% of 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 theres 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/.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sift : Sift will take place 8/9th January 2024
Interview: Interviews are planned to take place 18th/19th January 2024
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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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
