Non Executive Director / Board Chair

Job summary

Forest Research is Great Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree related research and is internationally renowned for the provision of evidence and scientific services in support of sustainable forestry.

Forest Research works for and with Defra and other UK government departments, and the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales, forestry and land management stakeholders, environmental NGOs, the European Union and internationally.

Forest Research’s purpose:

To be a world leader in applied forest science and a trusted provider of expertise, data, products and services.

Forest Research’s objectives:

• To conduct timely, rigorous and independent, research to give our customers the quality science, evidence, data, products, and services they need to make informed decisions, support policy development, or develop and nurture their business
• To build resilience by investing in our staff, facilities and core systems to support our reputation as the UK’s leading provider of applied forest research.
• Through well-established connections across the forestry sector, we will continue to give the best research advice, information, and data to our customers to further understanding of the issues facing our trees, woods and forests.
• To expand our horizons by using and adapting existing technology, techniques and approaches to deliver quality research and data services.
• To work with a wide range of customers in the forestry sector and more broadly across Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services sectors.

Forest Research’s priorities are to provide the science and evidence to:

• Protect our trees and forests
• Enhance forest ecosystem resilience and service provision
• Ensure sustainable management and adaptation of our forests to climate change
• Effect knowledge exchange and grow Forest Research as a business.

Please explore www.forestresearch.gov.uk to find out more information about our organisation.

Job description

We are pleased to invite applications for one person to take up both of the following roles:

• Non-executive director and Chair of the Forest Research Board.

This is an exciting leadership opportunity to help FR develop its role as a key player in an area of high strategic relevance to growth, sustainability, climate, resilience and human health.

The Board normally meets quarterly on different dates. Meetings will be held at locations across the country, including Forest Research’s principal offices near Farnham, Surrey and Roslin, Midlothian. The total time commitment will be up to 20 days per year, which will include preparation and participation in Board meetings and travelling time between the member’s home and the place of the meeting. The fee is £409 per day. Reasonable travel expenses are also paid. The role is non-pensionable.

The appointment is for three years. It is anticipated that the non-executive will take up appointment in January 2027. Non-executives are not employees of Forest Research or the Forestry Commission. The role reports to the Chair of the Forestry Commission.

Responsibilities will include:

• Building and maintaining an effective, cohesive and focused Forest Research Board, including through annually assessing Board performance. Providing support and constructively challenging the senior executive team when necessary
• Helping to provide strategic direction and leadership to Forest Research and its activities across England, Scotland and Wales
• Helping to expand our customer base
• Helping to ensure our work represents good value for money
• W o r king collectively and collaboratively with other Board members, promoting good governance and sound decision making across the organisation, as part of a team which is engaged and ambitious for the future of forestry research in England, Scotland and Wales
• Co n t r ibuting effectively to group discussions involving a wide range of subject matter and people, including technical specialists and professionals
• Representing Forest Research and its values at relevant events
• Fo r mulating and discussing strategic subjects in a board room environment in a coherent and structured way
• E n g aging with Defra and the devolved Governments to support and promote the work of the organisation at a national and local level

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• An enthusiasm for and genuine interest in the work delivered by Forest Research and support of its purpose, values and strategic direction.
• S o un d knowledge and experience of good governance at senior levels in a complicated organisation in the governmental, academic or private sector, with an understanding of the research environment in the UK.
• E xceptional communication skills, high level of personal impact and the ability to provide constructive and independent challenge and support to the Board of a complicated organisation.
• Demonstrable ability to support an organisation through ongoing operational and cultural change.
• An ability to analyse issues at a strategic level in ways which are impartial, creative and focused on finding solutions.
• S t r o n g intellectual capacity and the ability to analyse complex information, reach practical decisions and apply strategic insight across wide-ranging strategy, delivery and organisational issues.
• Previous experience of a board-level position.
• Substantial experience at a strategic or senior level in the research environment, including the management and direction of research organisations and the research funding environment.

Desirable criteria:

• Kn o wledge and experience of forestry or commercial wood processing.
• Previous experience of analysing financial information and Audit & Risk Assurance committee work, or the responsibilities associated with managing public money.

Desirable criteria will be used in the selection process in the event that candidates have tied scores following evaluation against essential criteria

The successful candidate will need to abide by the Nolan principles of public service , the Code of Conduct for Board Members and demonstrate the 12 Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK, you will be asked to supply:

• A CV – setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role
• A Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words) explaining why you are interested in this opportunity and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification

We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification.

Shortlist

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift will take place on 18 September 2027

Interviews will be held in person in central London on 27 October 2026

At the Interview stage, you will be assessed on your experience in relation to the requirements of the role.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.

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) .

Apply and further information

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 : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

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 FR HR Services by email: hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

• Attachments
• FR Non Excecutive Job Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5402kB)
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