Plant Health Officer (Border Operations)

Forestry Commission; London; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Forestry Commission is looking for a Plant Health Officer (Border Operations) to conduct inspections of regulated wood products. This role involves ensuring compliance at ports and creating strong relationships in the forestry sector. Ideal candidates will have experience in forestry and management skills, supporting efforts to protect and improve England’s woodlands.

Benefits

Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Flexible working options

Professional development opportunities

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Wellbeing benefits including access to healthcare

Qualifications

• Experience in inspecting tree pests and diseases.
• Management or supervision experience with contractors.
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections at Border Control Posts.
• Manage and supervise contract inspectors.
• Gather data to review the inspection regime.

Skills

Communication

Data Management

Contract Management

Education

HND level or equivalent in Forestry/Plant Health/Arboriculture

Tools

MS Office

GIS applications

Job description

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East of England, London (region), South East England

Job Summary

Forest Services as part of Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy. The Plant Health Forestry team supports healthy trees, woods and forests, now and in the future. We work together to prevent entry, provide early detection, and minimise impacts of harmful tree pests and diseases, and to ensure traceability of forestry planting material. The unit is geographically dispersed with teams based in Edinburgh, Bristol and London, and individuals based in a variety of other locations. We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers including other units within the Forestry Commission, Forest Research, Devolved Governments of Wales and Scotland and other government agencies. Also trade and industry bodies and businesses within the sector including importers, processors, forest management companies and landowners.

Across the Southeast, London and East Anglia ports, we inspect around 60 containers per month of regulated wood and wood products. This is essential work to prevent the introduction of potentially damaging pests and diseases accidentally introduced through trade. We also carryout checks on wood packaging material and dunnage to ensure these meet with international standards, designed to reduce the risk of spreading pests and diseases from country to country.

Job Description

We are seeking a well-motivated individual with skills and experience relevant to inspecting for tree pests and diseases in a port environment. This will involve conducting inspections of regulated wood and wood products at Border Control Posts in conjunction with contract inspectors, managing and supervising contractors, supporting development of internal systems and promoting the work of the Plant Health Forestry Team. The working environment will involve visiting industrial areas, especially Border Control Posts (BCPs).

While there is flexibility on location of the post within the Southeast and East Anglia, regular travel to the Port of Felixstowe and London Gateway will be required.

At times, postholders will be expected to work outside of the geographic areas in which they are based.

Responsibilities

• Provide input into the review of the Forestry Commission’s current border inspection regime, which will include gathering data and making on the ground observations to inform comparisons of different delivery model options.
• Support the Southeast Area Lead with the management of contract inspection work at points of entry and inland premises and provide support and training to contract inspectors.
• Follow up on reports of non-compliant regulated and wood packaging material, including issuing Statutory Plant Health Notices.
• Engage with ports (both air and seaports) to build relationships and gather evidence on the scale of trade in unregulated wood and wood products at select locations and identify new or emerging trades in regulated or unregulated wood and wood products.
• Contribute to Plant Health project work and internal systems, which may include report writing, systems improvements and data management. Projects might include:
• Surveillance around ports and mapping the risk to the wider environment
• Exploring options to facilitate process improvement in relation to imports of regulated wood and wood products at Dover
• Working with Area Leads and Border Project Officer to develop and improve guidance documents
• Line management of one Plant Health Support Officer (Border Operations).
• Promote a safety-first culture delivering enhanced safety standards
  
  

We are seeking a well-motivated individual with skills and experience relevant to inspecting for tree pests and diseases in a port environment. This will involve conducting inspections of regulated wood and wood products at Border Control Posts in conjunction with contract inspectors, managing and supervising contractors, supporting development of internal systems and promoting the work of the Plant Health Forestry Team. The working environment will involve visiting industrial areas, especially Border Control Posts (BCPs).

While there is flexibility on location of the post within the Southeast and East Anglia, regular travel to the Port of Felixstowe and London Gateway will be required.

At times, postholders will be expected to work outside of the geographic areas in which they are based.

Responsibilities

• Provide input into the review of the Forestry Commission’s current border inspection regime, which will include gathering data and making on the ground observations to inform comparisons of different delivery model options.
• Support the Southeast Area Lead with the management of contract inspection work at points of entry and inland premises and provide support and training to contract inspectors.
• Follow up on reports of non-compliant regulated and wood packaging material, including issuing Statutory Plant Health Notices.
• Engage with ports (both air and seaports) to build relationships and gather evidence on the scale of trade in unregulated wood and wood products at select locations and identify new or emerging trades in regulated or unregulated wood and wood products.
• Contribute to Plant Health project work and internal systems, which may include report writing, systems improvements and data management. Projects might include:
• Surveillance around ports and mapping the risk to the wider environment
• Exploring options to facilitate process improvement in relation to imports of regulated wood and wood products at Dover
• Working with Area Leads and Border Project Officer to develop and improve guidance documents
• Line management of one Plant Health Support Officer (Border Operations).
• Promote a safety-first culture delivering enhanced safety standards
  
  

Person specification

Essential

• Significant experience in forestry or the timber industry, OR in import/export.
• Contractor/staff management or supervision experience.
• A track record of establishing successful working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Competent IT user with experience of the MS Office suite of applications.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, managing conflicting demands to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to work remotely, with minimum supervision, confident in taking appropriate decisions and recognising when and where to escalate issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to identify common UK tree species
  
  

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

DESIRABLE

• HND level or equivalent professional qualifications in either Forestry/Plant Health/Arboriculture or a related subject
• Experience using GIS applications
• Experience working in a port environment
• Understanding or experience of port manifest systems, particularly Destin8 and CNS
• Proven ability to work in a flexible way, demonstrating a positive approach towards change and cross team collaboration
• Ability to identify sawn timber species
  
  

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £35,580, Forestry Commission contributes £10,307 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
  
  

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 31 March 2026, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following online:

• A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
• A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
  
  

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours, Strength and Experience. You may be asked to prepare a presentation as part of this.

Sifting week commencing 30th June 2025. Interviews will be held on week commencing 7th July 2025. These dates are subject to change.

We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission 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 visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [e-mail] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.

This role is full time only: 44 hours a week. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km.

Travel Options Include:

• Use of private car: some Officers choose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. Vehicle emissions are measured in CO2 grams per kilometre (g/km). The cap is currently 115 gCO2/km and will be reduced to 100 gCO2/km on 1st April 2026. After that date, we expect private vehicles used for official travel to emit significantly less.
• Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation, they can opt for a CAPES car (the user pays a monthly rate for private use). All CAPES cars must emit less than 50gCO2/km
  
  

Reasonable Adjustment

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.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via [e-mail] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [e-mail] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : FS Recruitment
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: [e-mail]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Health Care Provider

• Industries

  Government Administration

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