Ips typographus Support Officer

Government Recruitment Service; Corby; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service in Corby is seeking an Ips typographus Support Officer to assist in detecting, containing and eradicating outbreaks, with fieldwork, data collection and surveillance activities across England.

You will work with Forest Services teams to protect woodlands, supporting statutory pest surveillance and biosecurity efforts while coordinating with landowners and contractors on-site. This temporary role offers varied fieldwork and office duties throughout the UK.

Qualifications

• Experience in environmental fieldwork is desirable.
• Ability to collect and record field data accurately.
• Willingness to travel to field sites and work outdoors in varying conditions.

Responsibilities

• Assist with detecting, containing and eradicating Ips typographus outbreaks across south-east England.
• Carry out ground-level surveillance of vulnerable spruce stands with intensified fieldwork in spring and summer.
• Assist with deployment and checking of pheromone traps and ground inspections following trap catches.
• Record and validate surveillance findings and maintain audit-ready records.
• Support administrative inspections for tree felling, movement and processing authorisations.
• Coordinate communication with landowners and contractors regarding legal biosecurity requirements.
• Support contractors delivering surveillance, sanitation and control measures on site.
• Engage with landowners and forestry contacts to promote biosecurity practices on site visits.
• Input data into reporting systems and assist in timely reporting for decision-making.

Job description

Join the Plant Health Operations Team within Forest Services, part of the Forestry Commission, as an Ips typographus Support Officer. You will help protect England's trees and woodlands, while supporting wider plant health work across Great Britain, by assisting with surveillance, fieldwork and outbreak response activities.

These roles offer varied environmental fieldwork and opportunities to develop expertise in outbreak detection, pest surveillance and biosecurity practice. You will work with knowledgeable colleagues and contribute to coordinated ground-level operations, combining regular fieldwork and site visits with office-based activities.

About Forest Services and the Plant Health Forestry Team

Forest Services are the Government's forestry experts. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve, and expand England's woodlands through regulation, incentives, and expert advice.

Within Forest Services, the Plant Health Forestry (PHF) Team delivers technical policy advice, operational activities (border and inland), and the Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM) programme. Our work ensures that GB's treescape is protected from pests and diseases, and that we are prepared to respond to emerging threats.

The PHF Team operates with both England and GB-wide responsibilities:

• England: Inland surveillance, outbreak management, biosecurity promotion, and regulatory implementation, working with Defra and the Devolved Governments as part of the GB Plant Health Service.
• GB-wide: Statutory functions (including border inspections) and technical advice and support on plant health.

About the Ips typographus Project Team

The Ips typographus Project Team works with landowners, the forestry industry and partner agencies to prevent, detect and eradicate Ips typographus in England. Our work ranges from surveying vulnerable spruce and responding to outbreaks to arranging felling and control work with contractors. We also help landowners manage spruce in high-risk areas and authorise felling, timber movement and processing in line with biosecurity requirements.

Working alongside Forest Research and government partners, we use survey data and pheromone trapping to guide our response and explore new approaches, including remote sensing, debarking and canine detection. Sharing knowledge is an important part of the programme. Through training, practical guidance and conversations with landowners and forestry workers, we help others play their part in protecting woodlands.

About the roles

We are seeking one Ips typographus Support Officer to assist in detecting, containing and eradicating Ips typographus outbreaks across south-east England. Working under the direction of the Ips typographus Project Officer, you will play a vital hands‑on role in fieldwork, data collection and surveillance operations.

Key work areas

The purpose of the Ips typographus Support Officer is to:

• Support the Ips typographus Project Officer in delivering England's eradication response to Ips typographus.
• Carry out ground-level surveillance of vulnerable spruce stands, with intensified fieldwork activities during spring and summer seasons.
• Assist with the deployment and checking of pheromone traps and carry out targeted ground-inspection following trap catches, in collaboration with Forest Research.
• Collect, record and validate field data on surveillance findings, pest distributions and outbreak status, maintaining accurate and audit‑ready records.
• Support the administration of inspections for spruce felling, movement and processing authorisations, helping to maintain up‑to‑date records and ensuring documentation is complete.
• Assist with the coordination of Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHNs) by supporting communications with landowners, agents and contractors regarding legal requirements and biosecurity obligations.
• Support contractors delivering surveillance, sanitation and control measures on site, reporting progress and issues to Project Officers.
• Engage with local landowners and forestry sector contacts to support the proactive spruce removal objective in high‑risk areas, promoting good biosecurity practice at site visits.
• Input field data into reporting systems and assist in preparing timely reports on surveillance, eradication outcomes and operational activity to support Project Officer decision‑making.
• Assist with the delivery of training sessions and preparation of guidance materials for forestry workers, contractors and partner agencies.
• Support FC and government R&D initiatives including remote sensing, debarking‑equipment trials and canine detection studies.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Ips typographus Support Officer

Company: Government Recruitment Service
Salary: £36,046 to £36,046 a year
Hours: Full-time
Location: Corby
Job type: Temporary
Posting date: 2 Nov 2026
Closing date: 22 Nov 2026

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.