1013-371 Operations Officer - North - D Grade - October 2025

Job title: 1013-371 Operations Officer - North | Grade: D | Vacancy type: Permanent | Hours: 35 hours | Salary £38,616 (Pay award pending effect from 01 April 2025) | Location: Elgin, Inverness or Aberdeen (home and hybrid working possible) | Closing date: Midnight 30 October 2025 | Internal Interview date: 17 November 2025; External Interview date: 10 December 2025 

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. We work to protect and restore nature, and to inspire others to value our natural world. You will contribute to NatureScot’s vision for a nature-rich future for Scotland as part of our National Operations team in North.

These are two permanent roles working as part of the National Operations (North) team.  The post holders will help deliver NatureScot’s priorities relating to nature recovery, climate change and the creation of nature rich places. This will include working with land managers, local authorities, other agencies and partners, to develop shared responses to the climate and nature emergencies. 

The posts cover a diverse range of tasks including provision of advice in relation to land management, protected areas and development proposals. The roles include:

• Acting as the lead contact for a number of protected areas, largely in Moray and north Aberdeenshire
• Providing advice on management of these and other protected areas. Encouraging applications for funding to support the positive management of these sites
• Carrying out monitoring of protected areas. Ensuring our monitoring database incorporates monitoring carried out by contractors
• Providing advice on applications to the Nature Restoration Fund and the Scottish Rural Development Programme’s Agri-Environment Climate Scheme
• Responding to casework, including planning, forestry, marine and other consultations
• Contributing to NatureScot’s input to Moray’s Local Development Plan and other strategic plans as required
• Providing advice and support to Moray Council on its Nature Networks programme
• Triaging and allocation of casework 

Role requirements (Please refer to these in your supporting statement)

• If based elsewhere, the successful candidates must be willing to regularly travel to Moray, as required
• An understanding of peatland restoration
• Knowledge of the main habitats, species and landscapes in north-east Scotland. An understanding of how these can be affected by climate change, development and land management activities
• An understanding of the measures needed for positive management of land for the benefit of nature, climate and people
• An understanding of protected areas and a knowledge of NatureScot’s role in regulatory regimes including planning, forestry and the water environment.
• Ability to critically assess information, identify issues and come up with solutions 
• High standard of written and verbal communication skills; the ability to write clearly and concisely, particularly when conveying complex information 
• An ability to effectively engage with others, including partners and stakeholders from a range of sectors and backgrounds
• Ability to work well as part of a dispersed team
• A resilient, creative and flexible approach to work, with an ability to adapt to changing situations, and embrace new areas of work
• Ability to undertake field work
• A relevant higher education degree or equivalent qualification with transferable skills or demonstrate qualification by relevant practical experience
• Driving licence or other means of transport

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.  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/joining-the-pension-scheme/benefits-of-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.

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 
• Isla Martin, Operations Manager - North 
• E-mail: Isla.Martin@nature.scot 
• For information regarding the recruitment process please contact:

Recruitment@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.