Community & Business Manager

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (GSAB) was designated in July 2012 as Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere and is now one of seven in the UK. Covering 9,800 km² across Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, and East Ayrshire, the Biosphere encompasses rich natural heritage, diverse habitats, and vibrant rural communities.

It’s governed by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership SCIO (SC044137), with Trustees drawn from local representatives in the public sector, environmental NGOs, community organisations, land managers and local businesses. 

Our vision is to demonstrate “a passion for living in a way that benefits people and nature” and our mission is to promote a balanced relationship between people and the environment by leading collaborative, place-based work across conservation, climate action, sustainable enterprise, and learning.

With a population of over 100,000 people living in mainly small rural villages and a rural economy largely based on over 3,500 micro businesses the interdependency between thriving communities and sustainable businesses is very apparent. Over the last 13 years the team have focused on delivering tangible change through a diverse portfolio of projects and initiatives which have ranged from Sense of Place to community led tourism, from sustainable business accreditation to carbon literacy training and development of a diverse portfolio of formal and informal educational resources. GSAB hosts the Dumfries and Galloway Community Climate Action Hub supporting 40+ grassroots groups in delivering community-based climate adaptation and is part of SCAMP (Solway Coast and Marine Project) a £10M partnership initiative where we are developing a programme of sustainable education, community-based tourism and youth entrepreneurship along the coast.

As part of a global network of over 750 UNESCO Biospheres we strive to provide opportunities for learning with other UNESCO Biospheres. This has included online international learning exchanges with schools in Sweden, USA and South Africa as well as hosting best practice visits with Biosphere representatives from Finland, Iceland and Norway, and taking businesses from GSAB to meet with their counterparts in the Rhone Biosphere, Germany. We also have close links with academia and have co-hosted a number of research projects over the years. Through those connections we’re currently part of three international funding bids for projects that range from participatory land use planning to freshwater and forest ecosystem restoration, to “re-making” intangible cultural heritage. 

Running alongside Community and Business, we have a Nature Recovery team focussed on delivery of a portfolio of key strategic projects including restoration and habitat enhancement opportunities on the river Nith, the Borderlands On-farm Plans Integrated with Nature (OPIN) project and Ayrshire Tree Planting programme. Whilst they primarily work in partnership with land managers, fisheries groups, eNGOs and government agencies, community engagement is also integral to the successful development and delivery of much of their work, leading to close collaborations between the two teams.

The Role 

The postholder will be responsible for growing and developing the Community and Business Team whilst overseeing delivery of our portfolio of key strategic projects including the D&G Community Climate Action Hub, SCAMP, Biosphere Communities programme, Biosphere Business Certification, Sustainable Tourism and youth engagement. The Community and Business team currently comprises two permanent staff members and three project staff with potential for this to increase subject to future funding bids. The successful candidate will work in partnership with local businesses and communities alongside local environmental bodies and government agencies to identify and develop new opportunities that support sustainable development in our UNESCO Biosphere.

We want somebody who can lead a team and support the delivery of local action that delivers against strategic policies related to rural development, community wealth building, education for sustainability, climate change, health and well-being through meaningful and engaging initiatives that will make life better for the people, the environment and the economy of our UNESCO Biosphere.

With a good knowledge of community engagement or sustainable businesses, you’ll be the catalyst in engaging partners in initiating and driving innovative solutions to help support the development of more resilient communities and businesses in the Biosphere. 

You’ll be part of the senior management team for our UNESCO Biosphere working alongside the Biosphere Nature Recovery Manager in supporting the Biosphere Director in delivery of the Biosphere’s 2022-32 Strategic Plan. You will also offer specialist guidance and support to other members of the Biosphere team in their work with land managers and eNGOs and will be able to call on them for their specialist input when required.

The Community and Business Manager is supported with funding from South of Scotland Enterprise.