Community & Business Manager

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (GSAB) was designated in July 2012 as
Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere and is now one of seven in the UK. Covering 9,800 km² across
Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, and East Ayrshire, the Biosphere encompasses rich
natural heritage, diverse habitats, and vibrant rural communities.

It’s governed by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership SCIO (SC044137), with
Trustees drawn from local representatives in the public sector, environmental NGOs, community
organisations, land managers and local businesses. 

Our vision is to demonstrate “a passion for living in a way that benefits people and nature”
and our mission is to promote a balanced relationship between people and the environment by
leading collaborative, place-based work across conservation, climate action, sustainable
enterprise, and learning.

With a population of over 100,000 people living in mainly small rural villages and a rural
economy largely based on over 3,500 micro businesses the interdependency between thriving
communities and sustainable businesses is very apparent. Over the last 13 years the team have
focused on delivering tangible change through a diverse portfolio of projects and initiatives
which have ranged from Sense of Place to community led tourism, from sustainable business
accreditation to carbon literacy training and development of a diverse portfolio of formal and
informal educational resources. GSAB hosts the Dumfries and Galloway Community Climate Action
Hub supporting 40+ grassroots groups in delivering community-based climate adaptation and is
part of SCAMP (Solway Coast and Marine Project) a £10M partnership initiative where we are
developing a programme of sustainable education, community-based tourism and youth
entrepreneurship along the coast.

As part of a global network of over 750 UNESCO Biospheres we strive to provide opportunities
for learning with other UNESCO Biospheres. This has included online international learning
exchanges with schools in Sweden, USA and South Africa as well as hosting best practice visits
with Biosphere representatives from Finland, Iceland and Norway, and taking businesses from
GSAB to meet with their counterparts in the Rhone Biosphere, Germany. We also have close links
with academia and have co-hosted a number of research projects over the years. Through those
connections we’re currently part of three international funding bids for projects that range
from participatory land use planning to freshwater and forest ecosystem restoration, to
“re-making” intangible cultural heritage. 

Running alongside Community and Business, we have a Nature Recovery team focussed on delivery
of a portfolio of key strategic projects including restoration and habitat enhancement
opportunities on the river Nith, the Borderlands On-farm Plans Integrated with Nature (OPIN)
project and Ayrshire Tree Planting programme. Whilst they primarily work in partnership with
land managers, fisheries groups, eNGOs and government agencies, community engagement is also
integral to the successful development and delivery of much of their work, leading to close
collaborations between the two teams.

The Role 

The postholder will be responsible for growing and developing the Community and Business Team
whilst overseeing delivery of our portfolio of key strategic projects including the D&G
Community Climate Action Hub, SCAMP, Biosphere Communities programme, Biosphere Business
Certification, Sustainable Tourism and youth engagement. The Community and Business team
currently comprises two permanent staff members and three project staff with potential for this
to increase subject to future funding bids. The successful candidate will work in partnership
with local businesses and communities alongside local environmental bodies and government
agencies to identify and develop new opportunities that support sustainable development in our
UNESCO Biosphere.

We want somebody who can lead a team and support the delivery of local action that delivers
against strategic policies related to rural development, community wealth building, education
for sustainability, climate change, health and well-being through meaningful and engaging
initiatives that will make life better for the people, the environment and the economy of our
UNESCO Biosphere.

With a good knowledge of community engagement or sustainable businesses, you’ll be the catalyst
in engaging partners in initiating and driving innovative solutions to help support the
development of more resilient communities and businesses in the Biosphere. 

You’ll be part of the senior management team for our UNESCO Biosphere working alongside the
Biosphere Nature Recovery Manager in supporting the Biosphere Director in delivery of the
Biosphere’s 2022-32 Strategic Plan. You will also offer specialist guidance and support to
other members of the Biosphere team in their work with land managers and eNGOs and will be able
to call on them for their specialist input when required.

The Community and Business Manager is supported with funding from South of Scotland
Enterprise.