Ips typographus Support Officer
Description
- Job grade: Administrative Officer
- Contract type: Fixed term
- Length of employment: Fixed Term Appointment until 30th March 2028 with possibility of extension or permanency, but no guarantee.
- Business area: FC - Forest Services - The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and facilitate the protection, improvement and expansion of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector.
- Type of role: Environment and Sustainability
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
This role can be based at any Forestry Commission approved office, or on a home/office hybrid basis, provided you are located within the Ips typographus Demarcated Area - or within a reasonable commuting distance of it.
The Ips typographus Demarcated Area is a defined zone established for control purposes. You can view the current boundary on the latest map: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/665ed3bd16cf36f4d63ebda6/20240603_Demarcated_Area_Colour_June.pdf
About the job
Job summary
Join the Plant Health Operations Team within Forest Services, part of the Forestry Commission, as an Ips typographus Support Officer. You will help protect England's trees and woodlands, while supporting wider plant health work across Great Britain, by assisting with surveillance, fieldwork and outbreak response activities.
These roles offer varied environmental fieldwork and opportunities to develop expertise in outbreak detection, pest surveillance and biosecurity practice. You will work with knowledgeable colleagues and contribute to coordinated ground-level operations, combining regular fieldwork and site visits with office-based activities.
Job description
About Forest Services and the Plant Health Forestry Team
Forest Services are the Government's forestry experts. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve, and expand England's woodlands through regulation, incentives, and expert advice.
Within Forest Services, the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) Team delivers technical policy advice, operational activities (border and inland), and the Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM) programme. Our work ensures that GB's treescape is protected from pests and diseases, and that we are prepared to respond to emerging threats.
The PHF Team operates with both England and GB-wide responsibilities:
- England: Inland surveillance, outbreak management, biosecurity promotion, and regulatory implementation, working with Defra and the Devolved Governments as part of the GB Plant Health Service.
- GB-wide: Statutory functions (including border inspections) and technical advice and support on plant health.
About the Ips typographus Project Team
The Ips typographus Project Team works with landowners, the forestry industry and partner agencies to prevent, detect and eradicate Ips typographus in England. Our work ranges from surveying vulnerable spruce and responding to outbreaks to arranging felling and control work with contractors. We also help landowners manage spruce in high-risk areas and authorise felling, timber movement and processing in line with biosecurity requirements.
Working alongside Forest Research and government partners, we use survey data and pheromone trapping to guide our response and explore new approaches, including remote sensing, debarking and canine detection. Sharing knowledge is an important part of the programme. Through training, practical guidance and conversations with landowners and forestry workers, we help others play their part in protecting woodlands.
About the roles
We are seeking one Ips typographus Support Officer to assist in detecting, containing and eradicating Ips typographus outbreaks across south-east England. Working under the direction of the Ips typographus Project Officer, you will play a vital hands-on role in fieldwork, data collection and surveillance operations.
Key work areas
The purpose of the Ips typographus Support Officer is to:
- Support the Ips typographus Project Officer in delivering England's eradication response to Ips typographus.
- Carry out ground-level surveillance of vulnerable spruce stands, with intensified fieldwork activities during spring and summer seasons.
- Assist with the deployment and checking of pheromone traps and carry out targeted ground-inspection following trap catches, in collaboration with Forest Research.
- Collect, record and validate field data on surveillance findings, pest distributions and outbreak status, maintaining accurate and audit-ready records.
- Support the administration of inspections for spruce felling, movement and processing authorisations, helping to maintain up-to-date records and ensuring documentation is complete.
- Assist with the coordination of Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHNs) by supporting communications with landowners, agents and contractors regarding legal requirements and biosecurity obligations.
- Support contractors delivering surveillance, sanitation and control measures on site, reporting progress and issues to Project Officers.
- Engage with local landowners and forestry sector contacts to support the proactive spruce removal objective in high-risk areas, promoting good biosecurity practice at site visits.
- Input field data into reporting systems and assist in preparing timely reports on surveillance, eradication outcomes and operational activity to support Project Officer decision-making.
- Assist with the delivery of training sessions and preparation of guidance materials for forestry workers, contractors and partner agencies.
- Support FC and government R&D initiatives including remote sensing, debarking-equipment trials and canine detection studies.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- A qualification, training or practical background in forestry, arboriculture, ecology, land management or a related field, or demonstrable relevant experience in a similar operational or field-based role.
- Good communication skills with the ability to engage constructively with landowners, contractors and colleagues, and to exchange information clearly in fieldwork and office settings.
- Ability to manage your own time and tasks, prioritising workload to meet operational demands including seasonal peaks in fieldwork activity.
- Experience of carrying out fieldwork or site-based activities, with awareness of seasonal conditions and practical health and safety considerations in outdoor environments.
- Practical understanding of biosecurity, health and safety requirements in field operations.
- Ability to collect, record and input operational data accurately, supporting reporting and record-keeping requirements.
- Competent working knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications for communication, data entry and record management.
- Willingness and ability to undertake frequent travel and regular fieldwork in woodland environments and varying weather conditions, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
- High attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate, audit-ready records.
- Ability to identify common UK tree species.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of assisting or working alongside contractors delivering forestry operations, surveillance surveys or related field activities.
- Familiarity with UK forestry practices and basic plant health concepts.
- Experience of plant health surveillance, pest or disease monitoring, or ecological survey work.
- Basic understanding of plant health regulatory processes or the ability to follow operational instructions and regulatory guidance consistently.
- Experience of supporting the administration of statutory notices, licences, permissions or similar documentation.
- Experience of using geographic information systems (GIS) or mobile mapping and data collection tools such as ArcGIS, Field Maps or Survey123.
- Experience of assisting with training sessions or stakeholder engagement events.
- Experience of supporting research, operational trials or the introduction of new survey or detection methods.
Licences
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation for interview. Further details will be provided to those invited.
Benefits
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A range of family friendly benefits.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
- 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
- Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
- 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 30 March 2028, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
- A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, of no more than two pages. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience and Full Qualification Details.
- A personal statement – in no more than 500 words showing how you meet the criteria in the person specification and stating your preferred location within the area described under 'Location'.
Applications will be sifted week commencing 23 November. This date is subject to change.
Interviews will be held face to face at either Bucks Horn Oak South East and London Forest Services Office or Alice Holt Forest Research on w/c 30th November. These dates are subject to change.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skills. You will be asked to complete a short presentation. Further details will be provided to those invited.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.
Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
This role is full time only. 44 hours a week. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK.
The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.
Travel options include:
- Use of private car: some Officers choose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. Vehicle emissions are measured in CO2 grams per kilometre (g/km). The cap is currently 115 gCO2/km, however a revised travel policy will come into play from 1st April 2026.
- Use of Forestry Commission van: usually based from an FC office, though may be based at officer’s home if the candidate lives within their ‘area’ (NOTE: such vehicles can only be used for official business).
- Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation, they can opt for a CAPES car (the user pays a monthly rate for private use). All CAPES cars must emit less than 50gCO2/km
Reasonable Adjustment
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.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service
via fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : FS Recruitment
- Email : [email protected]
Recruitment team
- Email : [email protected]
Further information
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