Nature Recovery Officer

Background

Covering almost 10,000 sq km of land and sea in SW Scotland, the UNESCO Biosphere offers an opportunity to work in partnership with local land and sea managers, farmers, foresters and environmental bodies in implementing and encouraging nature recovery opportunities that will benefit biodiversity, provide adaption to climate change and support the local economy across our region.

Past initiatives have involved the development of a Natural Heritage Management Plan which identified high focus habitats and species within the Biosphere, the mapping of our ecosystem services and facilitating and contributing to discussions and policies related to land use and nature in Scotland.

We are currently involved in the delivery of some exciting and innovative projects to deliver nature-based solutions that can benefit business, the environment, and wider society. These include working with farmers to assess and deliver new natural capital opportunities on farms, leading on delivery of a small-scale tree planting grant in Ayrshire, delivering a program of engagement linked to red squirrel recovery and the development of landscape scale nature recovery plans at sites across the Biosphere.

This is an exciting time to join our UNESCO Biosphere and to make your mark as we develop our Nature Recovery program. You’ll be joining an experienced team of professionals with skills in ecology, land, fresh water, natural capital, facilitation, and engagement. You’ll be supported by a wider team covering skills in business development, communities and education, marketing and communications who together are responsible for embedding the sustainability ethos of the Biosphere, which is good for people and the environment.

The Role

We’re looking for a dynamic individual with a good knowledge and understanding of ecosystem function, biodiversity, and the land management challenges we face in SW Scotland. You should have good facilitation and communication skills and have some experience in project management.

The projects you’ll be involved with include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting the project management, relationship building and community engagement for two landscape scale restoration studies using nature-based solutions to address water quality and morphology issues in the Nith catchment.
• Leading on the continued delivery and reporting for our Ayrshire Tree planting grant scheme.
• Contributing to the program of community engagement work for the Red Squirrel Recovery Network in Ayrshire.
• Supporting further Nature Recovery project development and delivery as appropriate.

Skills

Specifically, we are looking for:

• Project Management experience
• Experience conducting field surveys and desk-based research,
• Familiarity with using GIS
• Experience in community engagement and/or consultation and facilitation,
• Experience in event planning and delivery.
• Knowledge and understanding of wildlife conservation and survey techniques.
• Habitat management experience would be ideal.