Operations Officer

Job Purpose: Summary

NatureScot is Scotland’s Nature Agency. We work with partners from across Scotland’s public, private and environment sectors to address the climate and nature emergencies, by protecting and restoring nature and inspiring others to value our natural world.

This is a full-time maternity cover role working as part of the National Operations South team. The post holder will help deliver NatureScot’s priorities relating to nature restoration, climate change and the creation of nature rich places in and around the Firth of Forth.

Helping to deliver NatureScot’s Corporate Plan objectives of protecting, restoring and valuing nature, the postholder will be involved with a diverse range of tasks.

These will include:

Providing advice on management, monitoring and project development & delivery associated with the Firth of Forth protected areas to both internal and external customers.
Providing advice in relation to town and country planning, renewable energy proposals, marine licences and other regulatory casework across the Operations South Team
Working on a wide variety of projects and major initiatives within the Operations South area, including priority work to develop nature networks, deliver Nature30 sites, input to plans and strategies, and contribute to the development and delivery of new projects and partnerships relating to biodiversity, climate change and nature recovery.

Skills required (please refer to these in your supporting statement)

Good working knowledge of different types of coastal and marine habitats and species across Southern Scotland including their protection, enhancement and management.
An understanding of the main issues affecting coastal and marine environments.
Experience of the planning system and NatureScot’s statutory role in planning casework and other statutory regulatory regimes.
Fully conversant with our nature restoration and climate objectives
The ability to interpret complex or conflicting information and make decisions based on sound analysis and judgement.
Experience of working with a range of stakeholders representing the environment and land-use / marine sectors, and the ability to work collaboratively or as part of a dispersed team.
A creative and versatile team player who demonstrates empathy and understanding of the views and positions of others, while also showing commitment to overall team performance and the ability to progress independently with new areas of work.
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, including visualisation and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively between different audiences and adapt language accordingly.
Good IT skills and preferably experience of using GIS or spatial data management.
A relevant higher education degree or equivalent qualification with transferable skills. Alternatively, you should be able to demonstrate suitability for the post through relevant practical experience.

Pre-requisites:

Right to work in the UK
To undertake a disclosure Scotland Application
Driving licence or other means of transport.
Although Gaelic language is not a prerequisite it is a desirable skill in support of our commitment to our Gaelic Language Plan.

Working for NatureScot – what we offer you

NatureScot offers some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us. Our benefits package includes the civil service pension scheme, a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time, and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScot website for further details including below:
An environment with flexible working options
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions) https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/memberhub/joining-the-pension-scheme/
41.5 days of annual leave, including 5 fixed public holidays on St Andrews Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2nd January
Equivalent of 2 days paid volunteering leave
A focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
Job satisfaction from contributing proactively to the twinned nature and climate crisis
Death in service benefits
Cycle to work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes
Access to an employee discounts scheme
Learning and development tailored to your role
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Application Process

Application is by CV and Supporting Statement. Please ensure you have attached these documents when submitting your application.

Before applying for this post;

Internal applicants should read the Self Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575)
External applicants should read the Online Job Application Guide

If you have previously applied for a vacancy with NatureScot you must remove the supporting statement from your profile, before uploading a new version.

Interviews

External candidates will be invited to interview if we are unable to recruit internally.

Face to face interviews are planned for internal candidates in our Edinburgh office, Tuesday 24th March and for external candidates on Tuesday 7th April.

NatureScot’s Net Zero commitment

Whether working at home or in an office, or travelling to meetings and site visits, as a NatureScot you will contribute to our Net Zero plan, for example through positive carbon travel choices.

For information regarding the vacancy please contact:

Rhona McInroy, Operations Manager - South

Email: Rhona.mcinroy@nature.scot

Nature is vital to all of us, so it is vital that we are an organisation for all of Scotland. The more diverse NatureScot is, the better we will be in connecting everyone with nature. We particularly encourage applications from people from Minority Ethnic (ME) backgrounds and people with a disability.

Operations Officer

NatureScot

Cupar, United Kingdom