Working at Forest Research

Variety of opportunities for working at Forest Research Forest Research is proud to be the employer of choice for many who want to work in forestry or in tree-related research.

Information about:

Our current staff

Forest Research has a permanent staff of 250 (full-time equivalents) and a total staff including fixed term appointments, casuals and sandwich students of 280–285 (full-time equivalents) depending on the season.

Some 120 research scientists and staff are engaged in research and technical development:

95 staff provide technical support and surveys
The balance provide administrative support and other specialist services such as library, photographic and information services.

Forest Research also offers a small number of work experience, undergraduate and post doctoral placements each year as well as industrial partnerships for Research Council CASE Ph.D. studentships.

Personnel management

All staff are employees of the Forestry Commission (FC) and Forest Research has common personnel management systems and policies with the rest of the FC, including:

Pay and grading
Non-pay benefits
Terms and conditions of service
Recruitment by fair and open competition on merit
Equal opportunities
Performance management procedures.

We also share the values of the Forestry Commission and expect staff to behave towards each other in a way that is helpful, respectful and considerate.

Equal opportunities

Forest Research is committed to encouraging a greater diversity of applicants for jobs, with the aim of increasing the number of women, disabled people and people from ethnic minorities at all levels of the organisation and avoiding unfair discrimination.

‘Family friendly’ policies

Forest Research continues to implement ‘family friendly’ policies including flexible working patterns and part-time employment.

Staff relations

Forest Research has a well-developed mechanism for collective discussion with the relevant trades unions and staff relations are generally good.