We are looking for one administrative officer to work within the Forestry Commissions Plant Health Forestry (PHF) team. The successful candidate will provide administration support in relation to the delivery of operational, legislative, and policy-led forest reproductive material activities.
Forest Services as part of Forestry Commission are the Governments 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 Englands valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.
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 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. This role supports the implementation of the Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations which provide a system of control for seed cuttings and planting stock that is used for forestry purposes in Great Britain. This ensures that planting stock is traceable throughout the collection and production process to a registered source of Basic Material. In addition, it provides information on the genetic quality of the stock.
This Administrative Officer post focuses primarily on the provision of support to the FRM Operations Manager, to ensure Forest Reproductive Material statutory actions are processed and progressed efficiently and precisely.
Work is varied and fast-paced and the successful candidate must be able to adapt to seasonal peaks in workload across the year in a dynamic way, working to established protocols and procedures.
The role will also involve helping the FRM Operation Manager adapt to new ways of working using Office 365 and SharePoint technology, and the transition of sensitive case material from old to new systems.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
A 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.
Fixed Term Appointment until 30th March 2027 with possibility of extension or permanency, but no guarantee.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Delivering at pace.
At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Experience.
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.
Indicative timeline:
Shortlisting to take place w/c 29th June 2026
Interviews to be carried out w/c 6th July 2026
Dates may be subject to change.
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/Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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. This includes grade on return.
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.
Please note that this vacancy requires a minimum of 37 hours to be worked per week. applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply but your preferred working pattern may not be available.
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. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
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 youre 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.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
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