Laboratory Technician - Pathology

Forestry Commission - Forest Research -
Roslin

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Job details

Permanent | Full-time
£30,105 a year
1 day ago

Benefits

Free parking
Additional leave
Cycle to work scheme
Annual leave
Company pension
Discounted gym membership
Employee assistance programme
Employee discount
Paid volunteer time
Childcare

Qualifications

Laboratory housekeeping
COSHH assessments
Presentation skills
Bachelor's degree
Communication skills

Full job description

Details

Reference number

474516

Salary

£30,105

Appointments to Forest Research are made at the salary quoted above except in exceptional circumstances where a candidate's experience and skills may justify a higher starting salary. Normal pay on transfer/promotion rules apply for existing civil servants.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Administrative Officer

Pay Band 6a

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

FR - Forest Protection

Type of role

Environment and Sustainability
Science

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information

Location

This role will be based in Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

About the job

Job summary

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry practitioners, land managers and anyone with green space, UK-wide. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. Were identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and ways of safeguarding those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

The Northern Research Station (NRS) laboratories are used by multiple teams undertaking a wide range of forestry related research. These include entomology, soil analysis, timber properties, forest genetics and pathology. Forest Research (FR) are seeking to appoint a Laboratory Technician to work in a multi-disciplinary role across all work areas, adapting to changing requirements of both seasonal variations and operational priorities. The primary purpose of this role is to support the Laboratory Manager and users, ensuring that activities are carried out safely, efficiently, and in line with the quality and regulatory requirements.

Job description

This role offers an excellent opportunity to support the delivery of scientific work at Forest Research's Northern Research Station. The post-holder will play an important role in supporting the efficient operation of laboratories across all the disciplines using the facilities. The post requires a highly organised and adaptable individual who can provide support to our researchers, carrying out a wide variety of essential laboratory support tasks to enable our researchers to successfully deliver their research projects on time and to the required standard.

Key Work Areas:

Duties will be varied but will include:

Waste management in the laboratories
Supporting and contributing to the maintenance and calibration of equipment
General laboratory housekeeping. This will include ensuring the labs are kept clean and tidy, cleaning fridges and incubators and defrosting freezers as required
Collecting deliveries from reception and delivering them to the correct location on site
Replenishing laboratory consumables
Labelling reagents and chemicals and ensuring their correct storage in the laboratories
Supervising contractors and service engineers
Supporting and helping with logging in and preparation of samples to be tested
Contributing to the writing of COSHH assessments, Risk Assessments, and Standard Operating Procedures
Assisting with preparation of culture media

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, forestry or microbiology, or equivalent relevant experience
Demonstrable practical experience in a diagnostic or research environment
Experience with technical laboratory tasks such as making stock solutions, media preparation, and waste sterilisation and disposal
Good standard of verbal and written communication
Competent IT user with experience of MS office packages

Desirable Criteria:

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

Knowledge of plant pests and diseases
Knowledge of basic techniques used in mycology, bacteriology or identification of pests including culturing or preservation of specimens
Experience of working in a containment laboratory
Experience of working in an ISO17025:2017 accredited laboratory

Behaviours

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

Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,105, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £8,721 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

Your career

Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings

Your work/life balance

flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days paid bank/public holidays

Your wellbeing

A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time

Your benefits

a highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% of your salary
an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave theres the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.

Any move to Forest Research 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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 250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification
Submit a statement of up to 250 words on the following behaviour: Working Together.

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 week beginning 7 September 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 28 September 2026 in person at Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY.

At the Interview stage, you will be assessed on your experience and the 3 following behaviours: Working Together, Delivering at Pace, and Managing a Quality Service.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV (Experience) and Lead Behaviour (Working Together). Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

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 youre 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)
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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : [email protected]
Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

Email : [email protected]

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: [email protected] you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

Apply Now

Details

Reference number

Salary

Job grade

Contract type

Business area

Type of role

Working pattern

Number of jobs available

Contents

Location

About the job

Job summary

Job description

Person specification

Behaviours

Benefits

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Selection process details

Security

Nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

Diversity and Inclusion

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Recruitment team

Further information

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