Field Botanist/Ecologist

3 positions available!
Salary £30,684 to £32,563 (pro-rated for part year working)
Fieldwork Based
6 Months Fixed Term Appointments - with full time hours (37 hours per week), during survey season (Estimated Start Date: Mon, 7th April 2025 working until mid-October 2025). Work starts with a 2-week structured training programme at the Bangor, North Wales site, which is essential for all surveyors to attend.
Closing Date: Fri, 24th January 2025
Interviews: week commencing Mon, 27th January 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we find the right candidates. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

UKCEH is looking for experienced Field Botanists or Field Ecologists to join our team of talented individuals, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges. 

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.  

 
For those choosing to be employed via Hays, you will get:

• 27 days annual leave (prorated for part year working)

• 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues, plus access to our trained Welfare Officers 

• PAYE Pension provided by NEST (via Hays)

• Access to a discount portal

We are looking to recruit 3 Botanists or Field Ecologists to be part of UKCEH’s annual national field survey teams. The roles are full-time between April and October for the survey season in 2025. You may be self-employed, or employed through our recruitment agency, Hays. Please see guidance at the bottom of the advert regarding sole trader recruitment options. 

Your botanical / ecological expertise will be used to support the Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring and Modelling Programme (ERAMMP) which provides evidence to the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales for a range of national and international reporting requirements, such as the national indicators of the Well-being of Future Generations (2015) Act and State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR) and informs policy development which covers agriculture, land-use, climate and nature. 

Most of the work will be based across Wales and requires a flexible approach to travel and location. The survey is designed to reduce its environmental impact by deploying survey teams by region. The field survey office is based in Bangor, on the coast of North Wales.

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. 

Your main responsibilities will include:  

• Contributing to the delivery of UKCEH national field survey across Wales

• Contributing to Botanical or Ecological recording of high-quality field data and sample collection

• Liaising with landowners, other field surveyors, and the field survey management team

Essential Skills and Experience Required (in one or more of the following categories):

• Botanical surveying skills across a range of habitats (FISC level 4)

• Tree identification and mapping

• Recognising broad and priority habitats

For the role of Field Botanist/Field Ecologist, we’re looking for somebody who has: 

• A good level of physical fitness to work outdoors and carry field survey kit on uneven/rugged and varied terrain, in often remote locations

• An excellent sense of direction in remote areas

• Good understanding of UK Health & Safety, including lone working in remote locations

• Outdoor First Aid valid certificate

• Full, valid driving licence – please confirm on your CV

• Excellent communication, organisational and time management skills

• Able to work independently, show initiative, and manage own time effectively

• IT literate, able to learn new software skills for data recording in the field 

• A flexible approach to travel during the working week 

• Responsible for security of field and personal data

Desirable: 

• Experience of GIS software 

• Off-road (4x4) driving experience

• Welsh speaker

Interview Process:

If shortlisted, the interview will start with a 40-minute plant ID exercise, followed by a 45-minute interview.  Interviews can be in person or online (with the plant ID exercise invigilated), for those attending in person, a short tour of our facilities will take place after your interview.

If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet. Apply now.  

Please send us your CV, accompanied by a covering letter which highlights any relevant skills and experience, together with what excites you most about the role and working for UKCEH.    

**Important**

Please clarify your preference for the self-employed contractor route or being employed under a contract of services agreement via Hays PLC, see below for more details.

To be considered for the self-employed route, you'd need to be operating outside of IR35 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax)

If you wish to work for UKCEH under a contract of services agreement via Hays PLC (Company Number 02150950), you will be paid weekly by Hays PLC by submitting a timesheet to your UKCEH Line Manager.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.