Ips typographus Support Officer
Government Recruitment Service
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Job summary
Government Recruitment Service is seeking an Ips typographus Support Officer in Tonbridge to assist with detecting, containing and eradicating Ips typographus outbreaks in the south-east of England. You will work under the Ips typographus Project Officer on fieldwork, data collection and surveillance operations.
The role offers varied environmental fieldwork with opportunities to develop expertise in pest surveillance, biosecurity and statutory notices, with a temporary contract and a salary of
Responsibilities
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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
Company: Government Recruitment Service
Salary: £36,046 to £36,046 a year
Hours: Full-time
Location: Tonbridge
Job type: Temporary
Posting date: 2 Nov 2026
Closing date: 22 Nov 2026
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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
Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
£39,039 to £41,050 per year
Government Recruitment Service
Tonbridge
Temporary Full time
£39,039 to £41,050 per year
Government Recruitment Service
Temporary Full time
£36,046 to £36,046 per year
Government Recruitment Service
Tonbridge
Temporary Full time
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