Social Scientist (x2 posts)

The postholder will be a member of the Society and Environment Research Group (SERG). SERG is an agile group of twenty social scientists focusing on four broad thematic work areas:

• Well-being and woodlands
• Land manager behaviours in relation to trees and woodlands
• Social dimensions of forest disturbances including tree health
• Social dimensions of wildlife management and reintroduction

Cross-cutting issues include climate change, urban forestry and project, programme, and policy evaluation. The group delivers evidence direct to policy and other research commissioners, presents at national and international conferences, as well as publishing in a range of high impact journals.

SERG is seeking to appoint two Social Scientists to undertake and support the group’s research across a portfolio of projects. The post holder will carry out social science research across the core themes outlined above, that contributes to (i) improving understanding of the values, attitudes, behaviours of land managers and a range of publics and stakeholders, and (ii) assessing the impact and outcomes of policies, projects and actions related to forest and woodland management.
Key Work Areas:
1. Manage and support the management, of research projects in the group’s portfolio, including contracting and procurement
2. Undertake project team management, including staff scheduling, and ensure the delivery of milestones and outputs
3. Take an active role in supporting the management of SERG and other corporate tasks, such as line management of science group staff, or contributing to agency-wide committees and working groups
4. Work with members of SERG and other scientists across FR and its partners to develop innovative and interdisciplinary science
5. Develop research approaches, methods, and tools with members of project teams, including customers and stakeholders
6. Contribute to the collection of data and evidence using those methods and tools
7. Lead and contribute to the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
8. Contribute to the interpretation and reporting of research, including technical reports, research summaries, website and scientific publications
9. Take an active role in business development activities, working with the FR Business Development team and SERG colleagues to develop and submit proposals for new research projects

Essential Criteria:
• Postgraduate qualification in social or behavioural science in an environmental context
• Track record of leading or making a significant contribution to impactful social science research in a professional context
• Demonstrable ability and experience in social science data and evidence collection using quantitative and qualitative methods, and undertaking field-work
• Demonstrable ability and experience of using IT including data collection packages , data analysis packages, collaboration platforms and other research support tools
• A high standard of verbal and written communication and experience of knowledge exchange with a range of stakeholders
• The post holder will need to be able to travel across the UK to attend meetings, conferences, and undertake fieldwork

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