Marine Benthic and Database Adviser in Inverness

NatureScot is Scotland’s nature agency. We are committed to working with others to tackle both the climate emergency and biodiversity loss to ensure a nature-rich future for all. Part of our work includes improving awareness and understanding of Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network and of information relevant to the conservation of Scotland’s seas to a range of decision makers and audiences. This role will focus on ensuring marine sensitivity information is accessible to a wide range of audiences through our online Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool – FeAST.

FeAST has been developed using the Craft Content Management System (by an external contractor) and allows users to investigate the sensitivity of marine features in Scotland’s seas against pressures arising from human activities. The ambition for FeAST is to hold sensitivity information for all marine features of conservation importance in Scotland (e.g. Priority Marine Features and protected features of Marine Protected Areas) in a transparent and consistent manner. The successful candidate will project manage the ongoing development updates and bug fixes to the tool, update the data it holds, develop training resources and upload new feature sensitivity information to support a planned Scottish Government consultation on management measures for fishing activity for MPAs and PMFs. Producing new benthic feature sensitivity assessments and editing a range of existing assessments with specialist advisers is also required.

The post will sit within the Marine Ecosystems Team but will require working with our contracted digital developer alongside staff in NatureScot’s Sustainable Coast and Seas Team, our Information and Cyber Security Team, and with external partners such as JNCC. The post-holder may also need to contribute to the wider work of the Marine Ecosystems Team. Flexibility in working patterns and days can be provided to accommodate the suitable candidate.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Project manage the system development of FeAST with contracted software developers, to improve functionality and user experience.
• Coordinating and applying the content updates for FeAST using the Craft CMS software to import, edit and delete records, and provide quality assurance.
• Ensuring privacy, cyber security and accessibility compliance.
• Updating and producing new sensitivity assessments for benthic marine features, including reviewing relevant literature.
• Coordinate and support the completion of sensitivity assessments by other specialist advisers in NatureScot.
• Develop and provide training and materials to support FeAST users.
• Help promote FeAST, its purpose, benefits and use.
• Contribute to the wider work of the Marine Ecosystems team as required.

Skills:

• A degree in a relevant subject, ideally complemented by postgraduate research or professional experience or equivalent.
• A sound understanding of the marine benthic ecology, habitats and species of Scotland, the activities and pressures that affect them and issues relating to their conservation and recovery.
• Data and relational database management experience.
• Technical knowledge and/or experience of systems development processes and methods, including agile development.
• Project management experience, particularly useful if related to digital development projects.
• Competent in using Excel and meticulous with detail.
• Good interpersonal skills with a proven ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Effective written and verbal communications, especially the ability to convey complex information clearly and confidently to a variety of audiences.

Prerequisites Required:

• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract.
• To undertake a Disclosure Scotland application.
• 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:

• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 41.5 days of annual leave, including 5 fixed public holidays.
• 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.
• Access to an employee discounts scheme.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.