Plant Health Forestry Area Lead

This post is based in Northwest England and includes responsibilities for specific operations in Scotland. Any appropriate Forestry Commission (FC) or Defra Office may be considered. Forest Services as part of FC are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in realising that, we want to hear from you.
By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward.
The Plant Health Forestry (PHF) team supports healthy trees, woods, and forests, now and in the future. We work together to prevent entry, provide early detection, and minimise impacts of harmful tree pests and diseases, and to ensure traceability of forestry planting material. These roles support maintaining and improving resilience, biosecurity and the interests of the forestry sector.
The unit is geographically dispersed with teams based in Edinburgh, Bristol and London, plus individuals based in a variety of other locations. We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other units within the FC including Forest Research, Devolved Administrations of Wales and Scotland and other government agencies. Also trade and industry bodies and businesses within the sector including importers, processors, forest management companies and landowners. This post reports to the PHF Operational Co-ordination Manager and works closely with other Area Lead colleagues. This role covers a substantial geographic area with a requirement for regular travel within this. Some responsibilities and specialisations will be functional rather than geographical. The priorities of Area Lead posts are guided by organisational, legislative, and policy changes, and the interception (or finding) of quarantine pests and pathogens. There is flexibility
on your location within the geographic area; the successful candidate will be operating primarily in North West England and will be based within reasonable distance (3 hours travel) of the Manchester conurbations., The purpose of these roles is to represent, co-ordinate and lead FC’s plant health service operations across defined Areas nationally (England, Scotland, and Wales), in supporting the Protection of England’s Trees, Woods and Forests. To manage inspections of controlled wood and wood packaging material, support the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) team with inland outbreak response and surveillance and to promote co-operation between individual countries and units across the wider Plant Health Service.
These posts are critical to delivery of regulatory work at the border, inland and in response to pest and disease outbreaks. The extent and complexity of this work continues to increase in response to legislative changes, changing trade patterns, outbreaks, and requests for data, review, and advice. The posts manage the delivery of quarantine pest report investigations, demarcated area inspections, export inspections, Phytophthora ramorum authorisation inspections and audits, and pest free area surveys.
Team working and Managing People
+ Provide support across the Plant Health Forestry team, and contractor management to ensure the effective delivery of inspections and plant health services.
+ Support the training and induction of new staff into the PHF team and support wider integration across the PHF operational delivery teams.
+ Line manage relevant Plant Health Officer(s) and act as confirming officer for PHF Operational Support Officer.
Area Lead Core Objectives
+ Manage targeted and reactive inspections of wood, wood products, isolated bark, and premises. This work is delivered by FC surveyors and contract plant health inspectors.
+ Manage effective delivery of monitoring, audit and survey programs including protected zone surveys and annual audits of processors authorised to receive material affected by pests and disease.
+ Monitor the standard and volume of contract inspection work and provide support and training to PHF support officers and contract inspectors.
+ Lead and oversee operational response of Plant Health Team to new incidences of pest and disease findings and outbreaks.
+ Oversee response to reports and enquiries received through Citizen Science projects & actively encourage good reporting practice within FC & the sector.
+ Maintain overview of national and regional pest and disease dynamics, advising on appropriate outbreak management action as required.
+ Collaborate with FS area teams, FR, APHA and other relevant bodies for rapid implementation of, and compliance with, relevant legislation.
Engaging with stakeholders and Partnership Working
+ Work with others to support provision of clear and accurate guidance and embrace new types of media for our internal and external communications.
+ Develop and maintain good working relationships with the wider UK Plant Health Service, trade bodies and stakeholders.
+ Maintain structures for liaison with different groups engaged in plant health activity to provide ongoing support, consistency and co-ordination disseminating information effectively.
+ Promote biosecurity best-practice.
Vision and Culture
+ Support the overall work of the PHF team to deliver a positive approach to wellbeing and inclusion, and to help lead on the development of a proactive H&S culture. Play an active role in the wider work of the team to raise the profile of the FCs plant health service., This is a Fixed Term Appointment with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
1. 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.
2. A personal statement – No more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the person specification evidence and your preferred location.
3. At interview you will be asked to deliver a timebound 5–10-minute presentation on the future of plant health inspections in a changing world, or operational considerations when responding to a new finding of a forestry quarantine organism not present in the UK.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, an 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.
Due to the dispersed nature of the team and potential applicants, we will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at the interview stage.
Shortlisting to take place w/c 18th November 2024.
Interviews to be carried out w/c 25th November 2024.
Please be aware dates may be subject to change for both shortlisting and interviews.
We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
At interview, you will be assessed against Behaviours, Strengths and Experience
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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on 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. This includes grade on return.
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.
This role is full time only. 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.
Successful candidates if using their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the Forestry Commission travel policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km from April.
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 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.

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).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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+ Knowledge and experience of inspections of regulated goods, or forest pest surveys.
+ Comprehensive knowledge of endemic and quarantine pests and diseases that impact on UK timber, trees, and forests.
+ Proven ability to work with minimum supervision, confident in taking appropriate decisions and recognising when and where to escalate issues.
+ Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications and GIS products.
+ Excellent communication skills and experience working remotely.
+ Experience of managing multiple work programmes under time pressure.
+ Experience of managing resource to respond to conflicting requirements.
DESIRABLE
+ Project management skills.
+ Track record of establishing successful working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
+ In-depth understanding of the UK forestry sector.
+ Plant Health Professional Registration or Institute of Chartered Foresters Professional Membership, or working towards either.
+ Experience in pest and disease outbreak management, + Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Communicating and Influencing

Alongside your salary of £37,485, Forestry Commission contributes £10,859 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Civil Service pension.
+ 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. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.