Scientist - Climate Change

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, UK wide. 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.

The Climate Change Research Group has 30 researchers working on a variety of climate change-related projects. These include measuring woodland carbon and greenhouse gas balances, assessing the role of forestry in emissions mitigation and net zero targets, quantifying risks and impacts and improving adaptation across the forestry sector, and economic appraisal and assessments. Our work involves field measurements (using the opportunity of close work with the public forest estate in the UK), reviews, empirical and process-based modelling. Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

Working within the Climate Change Research Group the primary tasks of this role will be to develop climate responsive modelling capabilities to assess climate risks (drought, fire), deploying bayesian calibration and model emulation techniques. Working alongside wind risk modellers, economists and decision support tool developers, the post-holder will work to deliver against DEFRA priorities for climate risk quantification to UK forests. In addition, part of the candidate’s portfolio will be working on modelling the climate benefits of forest-to-bog restoration.

The work delivers directly to policy and practitioner needs, enabling scenarios of the long-term impact of forest structural diversification to primary abiotic risks (drought and wildfire), and will contribute to a roadmap for the inclusion of biotic pests in risk proliferation for UK forestry under climate change.

The role will involve managing delivery of work packages, collaborating internally and contributing to new funding bids, whilst delivering to and liaising with key external clients and maintaining and growing collaborations with external research partners.

The role will contribute to our work on improving our understanding of the role of forestry in climate change mitigation and the impact of multiple risks to forest and woodland. It will play a key part in Forest Research’s input into collaborative projects, methods, models and tools to support policymakers and practitioners in taking action to protect and manage forest and woodland from climate change risks. The role will support the work of the group to minimise risks from climate change to ensure they can continue to deliver key ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation.

The post-holder will be expected to bid for and/or support new research projects to secure research income and pursue opportunities to develop new collaborations with external researchers including universities and with student research projects (subject to funding success). The role will have project management, delivery and budgetary responsibilities.

The post will contribute to developing research to better understand mitigation of climate change risks. The post-holder will work with colleagues across the Climate Change Research Group in Forest Research and project partners to:

• better understand and further analyse the risks (focus on drought and wildfire) from the changing climate on trees, woodlands and forests
• contribute to the continuing development of decision support tools and model integration framework delivery relating to the carbon sequestration and climate resilience of forests and woodland in a changing climate
• better manage risks in support of optimal forest management decision making.

The post-holder will be responsible for research, project management, science deliverables, and writing outputs (in a range of styles). These include research proposals, journal papers, internal and external reports and case studies. The role will include communications, knowledge exchange and research into climate change mitigation. The post-holder will encourage better awareness of and response to guidance changes in forestry practice and management to address future climate threats, land use and its change.

Key Work Areas

• Work with colleagues and project partners to further understand the relationships with climate change risks, adaptation measures, analysis methods and decision support tools. These will be relating to the carbon mitigation potential and resilience of forest and woodland in a changing climate.
• Analyse project results and develop ideas, plans and initial findings with collaborators, funders, and other experts.
• Manage work programmes across several projects, including carrying out work-package budget responsibilities, task prioritisation and progress reporting and monitoring.
• Lead and manage defined projects and areas of work in collaboration with project partners and funders, such as universities, government bodies and conservation charities.
• Contribute to external funding applications.
• Use R programming to carry out data analysis independently and as part of a team, with strong quality assurance approaches.
• Disseminate findings and publicise research activity by summarising and presenting work via scientific publications, conferences, workshops, and seminars, as opportunities arise.
• Build a strong network of connections with customers and collaborators within and outside the UK.

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 and Experience.

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

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 is planned to take place on 18 September 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place on 25 September 2026 in person at Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY.

Applicants invited to attend for interview will be required to prepare a short (5 minute) presentation: "Forest modelling: how to quantify climate impacts addressing species choice and management interventions." This will be assessed against the essential criteria for the role.

At the Interview stage, you will be assessed on your experience, presentation and the 3 following behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, and Delivering at Pace.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and the Personal Statement. Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all 3 behaviours at interview stage: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, and Delivering at Pace.

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

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.