Project Officer – Engagement & Communications

Our three year project: Scotland’s Hidden Reefs: Saving Maerl, Herring and Underwater Ecosystems through Citizen Science, Advocacy and Storytelling.” is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to engage a community engagement project officer to support activity with local people, business and visitors.

Project Overview: 3-year fixed-term, full-time position. The Blue Hope Alliance is a cross-sector volunteer citizen science survey collaboration between marine stakeholders and community groups in the North West Highlands, built to support better management of the underwater ecosystems. Our three year project “Scotland’s Hidden Reefs: Saving Maerl, Herring and Underwater Ecosystems through Citizen Science, Advocacy and Storytelling.” is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to employ a community engagement project officer to manage our project to restore the region’s most important key species.

Initially centred around the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area (MPA) it now extends across the northwest Highlands. The Projects core aim is ecological as well as cultural restoration and to promote cross-sector cooperation across the Northwest to achieve this goal. This requires encouraging the sharing of knowledge, resources and expertise to survey the seabed and build community awareness and enable more participation – whilst building greater community care taking, to restore our once rich seas. BHA emerged out of an initiative started by members of the community, local fishermen and divers and is supported by volunteer marine scientists. It is now an established citizen science survey alliance, needing the development of a dedicated Project Officer to manage the 3 year project.

We work for an ecosystem approach to conservation, a restoration of fisheries and a more sustainable coastal economy with greater community participation. Recently we have published a BHA Maerl Survey Report designed to engage the wider community in delivering on the next steps to ecosystem restoration, whilst attracting more visibility, participation, custodianship, and scientific engagement.

Job Responsibilities Overview

The Project Officer will manage the day-to-day delivery of the three-year BHA project, with a particular focus on community engagement and communications. The role will coordinate project activities, support delivery within budget, develop and coordinate public engagement activities and events, strengthen links and capacity across community groups, communicate the Maerl Reports and other scientific findings to wider audiences, and develop the BHA website, social media and other public-facing communications. The role will also support and coordinate citizen science surveys and work with marine scientists, the Marine Archivist, Alliance groups and other partners. The successful candidate will need a sound understanding of marine ecology sufficient to engage credibly with marine scientists and stakeholders, but will not be expected to be a specialist marine scientist.

Practical requirements: The role involves attending community events and survey activities and may require the post holder to carry project equipment and materials, including diving/survey equipment and a film projector and associated event equipment. Diving itself is not a requirement of the role. A full driving licence is required because the role involves travel within the project area.

Location: North West Highlands
Reporting to: The Steering Committee for the Blue Hope Alliance.
Contract: 3-year fixed-term, full-time employment, subject to a 5-month probationary period.
Salary: £27,000 per annum, plus employer pension contribution and applicable employment benefits.

Closing Date for application: midnight October 8th 2026
Start Date: ASAP, subject to appointment and completion of pre-employment checks.

Location: The successful candidate will need to be based in the Northwest Highlands and/or able to travel within the project area as required by the role.
Pre-employment checks: Any offer of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory references, right-to-work checks and an occupational health assessment appropriate to the requirements of the role. Reasonable adjustments will be considered where appropriate.

Further details, job specifications and application form can be accessed and downloaded from our website or by request email to: [email protected]

Please ensure you return the completed form and application statement to: [email protected] by closing date midnight 8th October 2026

Please note: You must have the the right to work in the UK and be willing to start ASAP.