Wildlife Management Officer

Job title: 1022-449 Wildlife Management Officer | Grade: D | Hours: 35 | Vacancy type: Fixed Term 3 years | Location: North Based - Homeworking / Inverness / Golspie | Closing date: 5 April 2024 | Internal Interviews: 15 April 2024 | External Interviews: 29 April 2024 | Salary: £38,242

Job purpose summary

The purpose of the post is to help deliver our programme of work on deer management. These posts will be responsible for the operational delivery of NatureScot deer functions across North Scotland and supporting the delivery of Scottish Biodiversity outcomes.

This post will act as part of a wider team of Wildlife Management Officers to deliver the deer work programme under the strategic direction of the regional deer operational delivery managers. It will provide advice direct to stakeholders, support delivery of project work to support NatureScot’s approach and will be required to work closely with other public agency and key stakeholder interests.

The post will require flexible working across the north region of Scotland predominately around Caithness and Sutherland and will require the ability to travel independently, as public transport is not always available and sites are remote. On occasions, this will require travel that necessitates nights away from home.

Context

NatureScot has a statutory responsibility to further the conservation, control and sustainable management of all wild deer species in Scotland.

The sustainable management of Scotland’s deer is vital to enhance biodiversity and achieve a net zero future. The twin climate and biodiversity will see a much greater urgency to our efforts to ensure we realise our ambitious targets on vital issues such as forest regeneration, woodland creation, peatland restoration and habitat improvement.

There will be an increased focus on managing deer impacts to support biodiversity outcomes and delivering the transformational land use reform needed to deliver on climate as well as addressing public safety issues and impacts to agriculture. Delivering the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy objectives of halting loss by 2030 and delivering nature restoration at scale across Scotland by 2045 will require significant reductions in deer impacts and populations. This will require working with a range of stakeholder interests to deliver transformational change, at pace.

Requirements

The post holder will play a key role in delivering a programme of work focusing on managing deer populations and impacts to deliver a range of public benefits particularly for biodiversity and net zero outcomes. This work will include working with a range of land owners and managers developing landscape scale approaches to management – e.g. to support Atlantic rainforest restoration, peatland restoration priorities and enhancing native woodland condition and in supporting the establishment of new woodland.

The main duties and responsibilities are:

• Developing plans and monitoring actions to manage deer populations and impacts, developing collaborative approaches across public, private and third sector interests.
• Oversight of deer management within a geographic area including collating and analysing data on deer populations and impacts.
• To work with land owners, managers and community interests to develop and support collaborative approaches to deer management - delivering landscape scale outcomes.
• Supporting upland and lowland Deer Management Groups to effectively and sustainably manage deer populations.
• The application of NatureScot regulatory functions including monitoring the delivery of agreed deer culls.
• Supporting NatureScot’s operational delivery role across Scotland in monitoring impacts and helping deliver cull, habitat and population targets.

Prerequisites Required

• Proof of right to work in UK
• To undertake a Disclosure Scotland application.
• Although Gaelic language is not a prerequisite it is a desirable skill in support of our commitment to our Gaelic Language Plan

Skills required, ( Please refer to these in your Supporting Statement ):

NatureScot’s Net Zero commitment

Whether working at home or in an office, or travelling to meetings and site visits, as a NatureScot you will contribute to our Net Zero plan, for example through positive carbon travel choices. You will aim to minimise travel in accordance with NatureScot’s low carbon operating procedures. However, you will, in some circumstances, be expected to work with colleagues and stakeholders from across Scotland, which will involve some travel and may involve overnight stays.

Application Process

Application is by CV and Supporting Statement. Please ensure you have attached these documents when submitting your application.

Before applying for this post;

• Internal applicants should read the Self Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575)
• External applicants should read the Online Job Application Guide

If you have previously applied for a vacancy with NatureScot you must remove the supporting statement from your profile, before uploading a new version.

Interviews

External candidates will be invited to interview if we are unable to recruit internally

For information regarding the vacancy please contact

Jamie Hammond, Regional Deer Operational Delivery Manager

Email: james.hammond@nature.scot

Phone 07795127706

Nature is vital to all of us, so it is vital that we are an organisation for all of Scotland. The more diverse NatureScot is, the better we will be in connecting everyone with nature. We particularly encourage applications from people from Minority Ethnic (ME) backgrounds and people with a disability.