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 works to improve understanding of forest functions. These include the impact of climate change on forests and forestry and what role forestry can have in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. We also investigate how forestry practice can adapt to reduce the impact of climate change and to benefit from any opportunities. The research is across the spectrum from more fundamental measurements, through developing methods and tools, undertaking practical action and demonstration, and providing advice and evidence to underpin policy. We have many external collaborations in the UK and internationally.

This job will involve a varied mixture of desk, laboratory, and field work, primarily within the UK. The post-holder will support work at our eddy covariance peatland flux tower site, with responsibility for soil-based assessments of GHG dynamics and hydrological monitoring. They will also be responsible for other shorter-term experiments measuring GHG fluxes, tree growth dynamics, and ecophysiology. There is scope for the post-holder to develop their own work in these areas. Field work will involve taking measurements, installing, and maintaining instrumentation. Laboratory work will involve setting up, testing and calibrating equipment and ensuring equipment inventories, standard operating procedures and risk assessments are up to date. The post-holder will also be required to carry out data analysis, visualisation, summary, and report writing and communicating results to different audiences, on their own and with colleagues.

Key Work Areas

• Setting up, maintaining, and running a range of field experimental assessments in forest environments using meteorological, data-logging and GHG flux instrumentation.
• Conducting a range of field measurements, including hydrological assessments.
• Calibrating, troubleshooting, and maintaining complex instrumentation.
• Carrying out quality assurance and preliminary data analysis of complex data sets; summarising the main results of these analyses in both scientific and non-technical manner.
• Contributing to internal reports, trade, and scientific journal articles.
• Talking to a wide range of audiences, both at seminars and during field visits.
• Coordinating with other FR and local forest district staff to deliver key work, with oversight of health and safety for site visits and managing collaborator access to sites.

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
• Provide a 250-word statement for each of the following Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Changing and Improving, and Working Together.

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 19 and 20 October 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place on 27 October 2026 on MS Teams.

At the Interview stage, you will be assessed on your experience and the 3 following behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Changing and Improving, and Working Together.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and Lead Behaviour (Managing a Quality Service). Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all 3 behaviours at interview stage: Managing a Quality Service, Changing and Improving, and Working Together.

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.