Operations Officer

The Company:

NatureScot is the lead public body responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on all matters relating to the natural heritage.

Our purpose is to:

• promote, care for and improve our natural heritage
• help people to enjoy nature responsibly
• enable greater understanding and awareness of nature
• promote the sustainable use of Scotland’s natural heritage.

We also advise local authorities and work with the Scottish Parliament and public, private and voluntary organisations towards shared aims. Working efficiently like this is part of our commitment to delivering a high-quality public service.

The Candidate:

• You should have a relevant higher education degree or equivalent qualification with transferable skills. Alternatively, you should be able to demonstrate qualification by relevant practical experience. 
• Familiarity with the main habitats, species and landscapes which contribute to Scotland’s key natural heritage assets, especially on the west coast, and understand how they can be affected by climate change, development and land management activities.
• Understanding of the measures needed for positive management of land and sea for the benefit of nature, climate and people. Including a working understanding of areas protected for their natural heritage value.  Experience with west coast habitats and species would be very helpful.
• Knowledge and experience of different types of nature based solutions and their benefits, with an ability to creatively vision and positively communicate how locally bespoke nature based solutions could be developed and delivered through partnership and place based working.
• Understanding of the broader political, economic and social context in which NatureScot operates, including a clear understanding of the approaches that might be used to engage with partners from different sectors and backgrounds.
• Creative and versatile approach to work, with a proven ability to adapt to changing situations, and embrace new areas of work.
• Good verbal communication and engagement skills, with a proven ability to take NatureScot’s aims and ambitions into external arenas, influencing partners and progressing projects towards the outcomes we seek.
• Clear written skills with an ability to succinctly communicate the messages that are of greatest importance for NatureScot.
• A team player with empathy and understanding of the views and positions of others, while also demonstrating commitment to overall team performance and the organisational outcomes we seek.
• Experience of IT systems including email, Word, Excel and GIS, and open approach to learning new systems.
• Driving licence or other means of transport.

The Package:

• 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.