Administration Officer - Maternity Cover
Forestry Commission - Forest Research
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 20th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research (FR) is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.
We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet. And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. 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. To find out more about FR, visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk.
This role sits within the Forest Research Technical Services Unit (TSU) which through a network of field stations provides a capacity to conduct field work across Great Britain. TSU establishes, maintains and assesses field experiments for the science centres within Forest Research and on behalf of other customers, Forestry Commission, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and other external clients. It also provides local contact and liaison between Forest Research (FR) and networks of regional Forestry Commission (FC) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) staff, partner organisations and private woodland owners and managers.
Job description
To carry out all delegated administration and research work within TSU Fineshade field station and its satellites at Wykeham, Thetford and other Forest Research staff or departments.
The successful applicant will work as part of a small team of research staff based at Fineshade, carrying out a wide range of administrative and support tasks. The job involves working with several partners both internal and external to Forest Research across a wide geographical area and so will require flexibility in terms of occasional staying away and working day pattern.
Key Work Areas:
- Deal with calls, e-mails, texts and visitors in a professional manner
- Confidently handle challenging conversations
- Promote adherence to relevant policies, procedures, regulations and legislation, including equality & diversity and health & safety
- Manage and deliver delegated work programme to ensure that all work carried out complies with both the Forestry Commission’s Code of Office Procedures and Forest
- Research’s QA policy and systems
- Produce accurate and professional work, applying cross checking methods to ensure accuracy
- Deal with confidential information in a professional and discreet manner
- Improve systems and procedures to increase the efficiency of the field station
- Utilise a range of data sources (including GIS) to identify landowners for survey / experimental sites and negotiate access permissions to undertake fieldwork
- Manage and control the field station Health & Safety and training resumption diaries
- Produce relevant reports as required
- Manage routine maintenance and repair needs of buildings, tools and vehicles as required
- Manage the field stations business sustainability commitments
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
• Literacy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate level 5)*
• Numeracy Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. GCSE, NVQ, Key Skills, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate, Scottish National Certificate level 5)*
*The qualification examples provided is not an exhaustive list
• Demonstrable experience of working in an administrative position
• Competent IT user with experience of the Microsoft Office suite of applications
• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise work, make decisions and problem solve.
• Demonstrable ability to work independently with autonomy
• An ability to work flexibly across a wide geographical area, staying away and altering working day pattern where necessary
Desirable Criteria:
• Experience of Arc 10 GIS applications
• Experience of operating bespoke computer systems out with the Microsoft Office suite
• Knowledge and experience of financial reporting systems
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Your career
- Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
- access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings
Your work/life balance
- flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
- A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per year, rising to 30 days after 5 years (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays
Your wellbeing
- Wellbeing support and staff networks and including Mental Health First Aiders, Rainbow Canopy (LGBTQ+) and an Employee Assistance Programme
- We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
- Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time
Your benefits
- a highly competitive Civil Service Pension where employer contributions are 28.97% of your salary
- an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
- Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
- Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
- With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.
Any move to Forest Research 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/.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sift: 23rd October 2024 Interviews are planned to take place in person at Fineshade, Northants on 28th October 2024. If a large volume of applications are received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours at the interview stage. 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. |
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
- Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
Further information
