Assistant Economist

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research (FR) is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry professionals, land managers and anyone with green space, across Great Britain. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and seeking ways to safeguard those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide robust data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this utilising the latest technology while working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

FR’s 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. As part of this centre, the Forestry Economics Research Unit within FR’s Climate Change Research Group aims to provide outstanding forestry economics research - developing the evidence base, recognised for scientific excellence, objective and authoritative advice, and valued for its effective contribution to addressing key issues of forest policy and management. We work with end users and the wider science community to ensure that research is directed to priority issues and helps inform government policy and sector practice.

The Unit currently has six team members and is involved in a wide range of interdisciplinary projects. These include forest sector modelling, agroforestry, policy nudges in forestry and agriculture, and development of a Woodland Water Code to encourage greater private sector investment in UK woodland creation for water-related benefits. We also support the core funded programmes under the Science and Innovation Strategy for GB forestry with projects such as optimal rotation length modelling and the economics of climate change adaptation and mitigation. We are looking to expand our team to be able to enhance our capacity and capability to deliver such a broad set of interesting projects. The unit is split in terms of location between Northern Research Station in Roslin and Alice Holt in Farnham.

The purpose of the role is to support the economics team on a variety of projects under the banner of economics of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Current topics are varied and therefore the preferences of the post holder can be taken into account when allocating work.

Key projects which require additional support currently ongoing in the team are:

• Development of a Forest Sector Model (FSM) – this project looks to combine the biophysical elements of forest dynamics to economic markets to run climate scenarios, for example, to understand how the forestry sector might respond under alternative scenarios
• Developing the timber evidence base - this project proposes the development of a novel Bayesian hierarchical structural time-series (BSTS) model to forecast softwood and hardwood utilisation in the UK economy. Outputs of which will directly support sustainable forest management by improving demand projections for domestic timber, informing afforestation strategies, and enhancing resilience to supply disruptions.
• Compound risks – this project uses Bayesian Decision Theory to translate a list of risks into decision-relevant insights through a scenario-based economic optimisation framework. This enables comparison of adaptation strategies in terms of costs and benefits analysis (CBA) under climate uncertainty.
• Economics of tree pests and disease – looking at the economic impact on GB forestry of pest and disease and cost effectiveness analysis of management options.

Across all projects the post holder will contribute directly to the economics evidence base, supporting policy making in forestry in Great Britain. Specifically, the role is looking for someone to undertake and be responsible for:

• Literature and evidence reviews – to summarise current understanding on a topic. This will either be used to develop a future research path or used for inputs into specific models (e.g. FSM)
• Data collection and quality assurance – for input into specific models (for example the ones mentioned above)
• Econometric and data analysis where relevant on specific projects under the leadership of a senior economist
• Contribute writing reports on economic research undertaken by themselves and the team, involving synthesising and clearly summarising the approach and results in plain English, to deliver Forest Research’s objectives for sustainable forest management – under the direction of a senior economist
• Engaging with stakeholders (for example Defra, devolved administrations and industry bodies like Confor) along with a senior economist to understand their research requirements and communicate research findings (for example through discussion or giving a presentation)

Additionally, the role will also progress

• New economic research under the direction of a senior economist – further to projects specifically mentioned above
• External income generation through supporting the writing of bids for funding research under the direction of a senior economist

The post requires a good understanding of core economic principles, and the ability to apply these to a variety of environmental economic topics.

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)

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

Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK. You will be asked to:

• Complete a CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
• Submit a Personal Statement (limited to 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification
• Provide a 250-word statement for each of the following Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service and Working Together

We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification. If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and personal statement. Candidates will be expected to answer technical questions and questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.

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 & Interview

Sift will take place on 21st and 22nd of October 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place in person between 4th and 12th of November 2026 at Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH and Northern Research Station, Roslin EH25 9SY.

Applicants invited to attend for interview will be required to prepare a presentation. The topic and further instructions will be provided to candidates shortlisted for interview.

At the Interview stage, you will be assessed on your experience, your technical skills, presentation and the 3 following behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service and Working Together. The presentation will be evaluated against both knowledge of economics and communication of economics.

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:

o Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or

o Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and

o 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.