Wilder Firths (Linneachan nas Fhiadhaiche) is a marine enhancement
initiative focusing on the firths around the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands. We’re
looking for a self-motivated, community-focused Seagrass Officer to help us continue to develop
and manage this exciting restoration initiative with the rest of the team.
Our vision is for the firths surrounding the Black Isle to be home to a resilient mosaic of
biogenic habitats that support diverse and thriving ecosystems. Central to achieving and
sustaining this vision are local communities that are connected to and invested in their
coastal environment.
This role will focus on the seagrass side of our work and work closely with our newly recruited
Community & Funding Officer, two seasonal field staff as well as the rest of the project
team. This role is supported by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF).
Role overview:
Technical specialist leading on seagrass planting, data collection and
analysis
Hybrid working with an office at the Life Sciences Innovation Centre, Inverness. The successful
candidate must live or be willing to move within an hours’ commute of the focal area (around
the Black Isle). There will be computer-based work in connection with the rest of the team at
Mossy Earth but much of the role will revolve around fieldwork.
- Coordinate and implement seagrass planting, associated data collection and reporting.
- Design and lead on seagrass restoration fieldwork within the project area whilst maintaining
field equipment. This will include but is not limited to: - Surveying the extent and density of meadows before and after planting
- Biodiversity surveys and monitoring
- Monitoring of abiotic factors such as water quality, temperature and light
- Complete government and landowner permission requests.
- Lead on producing high quality maps using QGIS software suitable for internal and external
communication. - Communicate findings effectively in a way that is suitable for external audiences.
- Undertake occasional laboratory work as required to analyse water samples.
- Keep Risk Assessments and Methods Statements up to date.
- Keep internal systems up to date and track tasks on Notion.
- Manage two seasonal field staff.
- Help with the coordination of volunteers, assist the Community & Funding Officer in
seeking new opportunities for outreach and lead on engagement events.
Communication and transparency
Being transparent and creating engaging content is crucial to us. Project staff must
communicate effectively with the rest of the team and make sure that written content and
imagery are made available in a timely manner.
- Keep the Wilder Firths Project Manager and wider Mossy Earth team up to date on activities,
including challenges as well as successes. - When doing fieldwork, film activities and, where possible, explain what is happening to the
camera. Provide written content on field activities as required. - Participate in communications with the press and supporting businesses about the
initiative (e.g.: presentations, webinars, live feeds, articles, and interviews).
Important qualities
- ‘All hands on deck’ attitude towards team working during busy periods.
- Ability to work independently for most of the working week whilst coordinating with multiple
people and prioritizing effectively across a wide range of tasks. - Assist the team in carrying out complex projects from idea to completion.
- Excellent speaking and writing in English and skilled at communicating science accurately and
in an engaging way. - Proactive at improving the way Mossy Earth runs and having the mindset and the vision to
question things and make suggestions. - Positive outlook in the face of challenges and uncertainty.
- Willingness and foresight to take ownership of tasks.
- Creative in coming up with solutions to complex challenges.
Skills overview:
Essential:
- Degree in marine biology, ecology, conservation science or similar.
- Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) like QGIS.
- Experience in biological surveys and data recording.
- Ability to work in challenging environments and undertake light physical labour.
- Have good attention to detail and be able to follow standardized survey methodologies.
- Good communication skills and confidence in building relationships with an array of local
stakeholders and external organisations. - Proven ability to work independently.
- Full UK driving license. There will be a work vehicle parked at our Headquarters at the Life
Sciences and Innovation Centre but personal transport will be required to get there. - Flexible working as some of the work will be limited by tide times and weather conditions.
Desirable:
- Relevant Master’s degree.
- Experience managing groups of volunteers.
- Appropriate marine training qualifications / tickets to work in Cat C waters.
- Experience managing conservation/rewilding projects.
Conditions:
- The successful candidate must live or be willing to move within an hours’ commute of the
project area (around the Black Isle). - Hybrid working, office at the Life Sciences Innovation Centre. A laptop will be provided.
- Full-time using 40 hours per week as a reference.
- Mandatory paid leave of 28 days per year in addition to bank holidays.
- Probation period: month-on-month performance assessment for the first 3 months.
- Notice period: One month.
- Starting gross annual salary: £30,000, increasing by £2,000 each year from the contract start
date. - Initial interviews will be held in person at the Life Sciences Innovation Centre, Inverness
between the 17th and 28th of March. - Starting earliest 1st April 2025 for a period of 36 months from that date. Continuation of
the role after this time will be considered based on funding availability.
Deadline for submission: midnight on Friday the 7th of March, 2025.