Outdoor Access Officer

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract – 16 months
Hours: Full time (35 hrs per week)

About Us:

The Cairngorms National Park (CNP) is the largest national park in the UK, covering 4500km2. It
is also a place of sheer abundance, having more high mountain ground than anywhere else in the
UK, the largest Caledonian forest, some of Scotland’s purest rivers and finest livestock
rearing farmland. It is home to 25 percent of the UK’s rare and endangered species. It is a
truly unique place to work, with the land being owned and managed by private, public and third
sector organisations with differing approaches and objectives, whilst also being enjoyed by
many residents and visitors, there’s real variety in the work of the Visitor Services team, of
which this post will be a part.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is a fantastic place to work and offers great
opportunities to grow your career. The Park Authority is listed in the UK’s top 100 best not-
for-profit companies to work for. We’re dedicated to both this amazing place and our employees.

We now have an exciting opportunity for an Outdoor Access Officer to join the CNPA to help us
fulfil our statutory access functions and plan, develop and implement policies and access
programmes and provide advice on a range of access issues.

Equalities:

CNPA is an inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone irrespective of
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity,
relationship status, disability, age and social class. We particularly welcome applications
from individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled and LGBTQ+
communities, as they are under-represented in the environment sector.

We are Disability Confident committed employer, if you are an applicant with disabilities who
meets the essential requirements of the post, we will interview you. In all circumstances CNPA
appoints on merit-based evidence the applicant supplies in meeting the essential criteria for
the post.

The Role: 

The Outdoor Access Officer will play a crucial role in enabling everyone to enjoy the outdoors
supporting health, wellbeing, economic development and vibrant communities. You will be at the
forefront of helping the organisation deliver its statutory access functions including
promoting the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, upholding access rights and developing the Local
Outdoor Access Forum (LOAF).

You will also help develop plans, policies and implement access programmes, meaning you will
help to shape the future of outdoor access in the Cairngorms National Park. Partnership working
is also required with both external and internal stakeholders, offering you the opportunity to
represent the organisation whilst networking, being involved in knowledge and information
exchange and providing advice on access issues.

So, if you are keen to be the Outdoor Access Officer and you can display the skills and
experience listed here – then this is the role you’ve been waiting for. 

CNPA Benefits:

• Civil service pension scheme – some of the benefits include:
  • member contribution rates among the lowest in the public sector
  • tax relief on your contributions
  • generous employer contributions
  • a secure, inflation-proof pension for life, with no investment uncertainty
  • the option of tax-free lump sum on retirement
  • potential access to ill health and injury benefits if you become too ill to work
  • life assurance cover
  • benefits for loved ones and dependants
  • options to increase your pension
  • keeping all your pensions in one place by transferring in a pension you have built up
    elsewhere
  • support from our trusted charity partners

• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus Public Holidays
• Professional development
• Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Use of pool cars

About You:

To be considered as our Outdoor Access Officer you’ll need:

• A detailed knowledge and understanding of the relevant outdoor access legislation within
  Scotland and in particular the provisions of Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the
  Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the implications of these for the work of the CNPA,
  landowners, user and interest groups, communities and others;
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding the integration of outdoor access
  with land management in the Cairngorms National Park, including an understanding of the main
  stakeholders involved in the delivery and management of outdoor access across Scotland;
• Ability to forge strong links and work in partnership with other organisations to
  facilitate effective delivery of the CNPA’s statutory responsibilities under the Land Reform
  (Scotland) Act.
• Project management skills including preparing briefs, letting contracts and managing
  contractors ideally in relation to path development, construction and maintenance
• Be creative and innovative and able to work on own initiative, with minimum supervision
• Excellent communication skills – verbal, written and presentational
• IT skills – word processing, spread-sheets, databases
• Permission to work in the UK

Closing Date: 23:59pm, Sunday 12 May 2024
Interview Date: Thursday 23 May 2024

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