1012-398 Peatland Action - GIS & Database Officer - D Grade - August 2026 in Inverness

We are looking for a skilled technical person to play a key role in managing the flow of data and information created by Peatland ACTION. You must be excited to share your knowledge, be interested in the work of Peatland ACTION and keen to apply data management and analytics to the important issue of peatland restoration. You must be an expert in GIS, with a minimum Masters or equivalent experience. You will be comfortable using and adapting to a range of GIS applications and tools. Competency with databases, preferably PostgreSQL/PostGIS, for spatial data management and analysis is essential for this role. Communication and willingness to help are also key to supporting and training others. You will sit within the Peatland ACTION Data & Evidence Team and work closely with others using our data to restore degraded peatland across Scotland. We are looking for someone who is open to challenges, flexible enough to adapt within their post, enjoys supportive and collaborative working whilst also able to work independently. As part of the Data & Evidence Team, you will be encouraged to reflect and contribute to strategic development and innovation.

Data sources include: surveys and monitoring of hydrology, species surveys, water quality, vegetation and peat depth; aerial imagery; ground photography; and information about restoration activities and land management practices.

NatureScot’s Peatland programme delivers actions to care for Scotland’s peatlands. It is integral to the government’s determination for peatland protection, restoration and management to reduce carbon emissions and contribute wider benefits for biodiversity, water management and green growth. The Peatland Programme covers the requirements under the Scottish Government ring-fenced Peatland ACTION support for restoration and the wider NatureScot work on valuing, protecting and managing peatlands. NatureScot has dual role on Peatland ACTION: providing leadership on shared services/business solutions across all five Peatland ACTION delivery partners (NatureScot, the two National Parks, Forestry & Land Scotland and Scottish Water); and, increasing the pace/scale of peatland restoration projects on the ground. The NatureScot Peatland ACTION role is expanding in support of the government’s 10 year, £250m, commitment for restoration. It has an annual budget of ~ £20m and comprises over 60 posts employed/supported by NatureScot.

The main duties and responsibilities are:

• Contribute to the development of a PostGIS Peatland ACTION database.
• Work with the rest of the Data & Evidence team to collate, manage, analyse, report on and disseminate Peatland ACTION data.
• Provide expert advice, training and support for Peatland ACTION staff on issues related to data capture and best practice data management.
• Developing infrastructure to make spatial data accessible internally, the Scottish Government and to the public.
• Develop our online application portal for Peatland ACTION and the NatureScot online grant management system for Peatland ACTION restoration and monitoring grants.
• Prepare responses to data requests from a wide range of sources including the media and Scottish Government.
• Liaise and collaborate with NatureScot’s GIS, Cyber Security, Developer and Information Management teams.

Skills required (please address these in your Supporting Statement):

• Expert in use of desktop and field-based GIS tools (preferably QGIS) to support data collection.
• Excellent experience of administering databases, preferably PostgreSQL/PostGIS, for spatial data management and analysis, with some exposure to webmapping.
• Ability to process and analyse spatial data using any of R, Python or GDAL tools.
• Strong organisational skills, particularly to manage a reactive workload alongside driving forward existing and future long term projects using appropriate project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to translate technical concepts and deliver training to a range of audiences.
• Good interpersonal skills to support collaborative and team working, including working closely with remotely based colleagues.
• Background in Earth Science or ecology, or similar, with knowledge of/ interest in peatland.

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:

• 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.
• We support flexible working for all roles, including part-time, compressed hours, hybrid working and job share. All vacancies are considered suitable for flexible working unless there is a business reason not to. We encourage applicants to discuss potential flexible working arrangements with us.
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions).
• 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.

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 Sally Blyth, Peatland ACTION Data & Evidence Team Manager. Email: sally.blyth@nature.scot Tel: 01463 725013. For information regarding the recruitment process please contact: recruitment@nature.scot.

Nature is vital to us all, so it's important that NatureScot represents the people of Scotland. The more diverse our workforce is, the more effectively we can connect everyone with nature. We encourage applications from candidates of all ages and genders, people from ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.