Head of Society and Environment Research Group

The role can be based in Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY or in Alice Holt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH or Forestry Commission Office, Bristol BS16 1EJ with blended working which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from the workplace. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

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. 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 www.forestresearch.gov.uk

The Postholder Will Lead The Society And Environment Research Group (SERG). SERG Is a Dynamic, Agile Group Of Over Twenty Social Scientists From a Range Of Disciplines, Focusing On Four Broad Thematic Research Areas:

• Well-being and woodlands
• Land manager behaviours in relation to trees and woodlands
• Social dimensions of forest disturbance and tree health management
• Social dimensions of wildlife management

At any one time, the group’s portfolio of projects numbers between 30-80. The group works in an interdisciplinary, collaborative and applied context. It delivers quantitative and qualitative evidence direct to policy and other research commissioners, presents at national and international conferences, as well as publishing in a range of high impact journals.

Job Description

This is an important leadership role in Forest Research. The postholder will head the Society and Environment Research Group, leading the development and implementation of a scientific vision for the Group and combining this with their own applied research. They will encourage innovation, ensuring that the Group delivers high-quality applied research. As Group Lead, the individual will contribute to the delivery of organisational strategy through developing and implementing a business plan for the Group. They will also become a member of Forest Research’s wider leadership team, working collaboratively to shape our scientific work and culture.

The postholder will lead staff and team development for the Group and will plan and oversee the management of resources. Working with Group members to shape and deliver key research priorities, the postholder will oversee project management and budgeting for the research Group. They will proactively seek opportunities to develop the Group’s research portfolio and funding, alongside their own research activities. The postholder will represent the Group both within Forest Research and externally and will also contribute to development of Forest Research scientific strategy and outputs. The role will involve regular interaction and collaboration with the Chief Scientist’s team, Heads of Centre and other Science Group Leads within and across Centres. It is envisioned that the ratio of time spent on leadership and management activities compared to active research will be 50/50, however this will be regularly reviewed to take account of varying workloads through the year.

Key Work Areas:

• Lead the Science Group, including providing strategic direction and vision, coordinating its scientific work, communication and development
• Undertake scientific research, developing and deliver research in their area of expertise, ensuring that this research fits with Forest Research’s strategic priorities
• Lead resource planning, budgeting and management, ensuring that the Group’s work is of appropriate quality, and is delivered on time and to budget
• Provide expert advice on Society and Environment research to raise profile and increase impact
• Represent the Group and Forest Research internally and externally as required, building Forest Research reputation as a national and international leader in Society and Environment research
• Build and foster collaboration with external partners and across Forest Research’s Science Groups and Centres to bid for new work, catalyse new research and to enable staff development
• Act as line manager for key staff and ensure that all members of the Group have good line management support, training and development opportunities, and follow Forest Research business processes

This is an important leadership role in Forest Research. The postholder will head the Society and Environment Research Group, leading the development and implementation of a scientific vision for the Group and combining this with their own applied research. They will encourage innovation, ensuring that the Group delivers high-quality applied research. As Group Lead, the individual will contribute to the delivery of organisational strategy through developing and implementing a business plan for the Group. They will also become a member of Forest Research’s wider leadership team, working collaboratively to shape our scientific work and culture.

The postholder will lead staff and team development for the Group and will plan and oversee the management of resources. Working with Group members to shape and deliver key research priorities, the postholder will oversee project management and budgeting for the research Group. They will proactively seek opportunities to develop the Group’s research portfolio and funding, alongside their own research activities. The postholder will represent the Group both within Forest Research and externally and will also contribute to development of Forest Research scientific strategy and outputs. The role will involve regular interaction and collaboration with the Chief Scientist’s team, Heads of Centre and other Science Group Leads within and across Centres. It is envisioned that the ratio of time spent on leadership and management activities compared to active research will be 50/50, however this will be regularly reviewed to take account of varying workloads through the year.

Key Work Areas:

• Lead the Science Group, including providing strategic direction and vision, coordinating its scientific work, communication and development
• Undertake scientific research, developing and deliver research in their area of expertise, ensuring that this research fits with Forest Research’s strategic priorities
• Lead resource planning, budgeting and management, ensuring that the Group’s work is of appropriate quality, and is delivered on time and to budget
• Provide expert advice on Society and Environment research to raise profile and increase impact
• Represent the Group and Forest Research internally and externally as required, building Forest Research reputation as a national and international leader in Society and Environment research
• Build and foster collaboration with external partners and across Forest Research’s Science Groups and Centres to bid for new work, catalyse new research and to enable staff development
• Act as line manager for key staff and ensure that all members of the Group have good line management support, training and development opportunities, and follow Forest Research business processes

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a relevant subject area
• Proven expertise and reputation in Social/Forestry/Environmental Science or similar research area
• Significant Experience of managing research teams, budgeting, and delivering projects / contracts / programmes
• A history of significant research outputs (journal papers, reports, articles, conferences)
• Proven track-record in bidding for complex and high-value research contracts and building productive applied research collaborations
• Good understanding of national and international social science funding landscape and experience working with business support services (e.g. Research Office) to realise funding opportunities
• A clear and effective communicator, able to adjust style and content to different audiences (including stakeholders and customers)

Desirable Criteria:

• Professional qualifications or evidence of training in HR and/or business management
• Familiarity with organisational management procedures, processes and corporate systems
• Proven experience in research quality management
• Experience of working with environmental/land use stakeholder organisations and agencies

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others

Alongside your salary of £58,423, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £16,925 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 of 28.97% 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 there’s 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/.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK, you will be asked to supply:

• A CV - setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
• A Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification.

Shortlist

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift will take place on 13th Jun 2025

Interviews are planned to be held on 1st July 2025

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV and the lead behaviour, Leadership. 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.

Visa Sponsorship

FR Holds a Licence To Sponsor Skilled Workers Under The Home Office Points-based Immigration System. Candidates Wishing To Apply Should Note That The Likelihood Of Obtaining Sponsorship Would Depend On An Assessment Of This Role Against Defined Criteria, Which Include:

• Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or
• Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and
• Evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously

Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.

For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers on our website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. 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

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FR HR Services by email: hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.