Operations Officer - South - D Grade in Stirling

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.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• 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.