Nature Reserves Adviser

NatureScot manages National Nature Reserves and nature reserves across Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team delivering our ambition for our NNRs to be managed to high standards for nature and the enjoyment of nature.

We have set out our ambitions for them in a Strategic Plan to 2035 and will develop this further to support the priorities and strategic actions of the new NatureScot corporate plan. This post will contribute to a range of work supporting the successful planning and management of our reserves. Key areas of work include progressing a programme of management plans and coordination of NNR related outcomes in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS). This including developing approaches to demonstration, landscape scale restoration, partnership working and incomes streams.

You will help develop and implement the corporate priorities for our reserves, including producing policy, guidance and standards. You will provide advice and support on all aspects of nature reserve management to our operational NNR teams and other activities involved in managing our land and buildings. The role will be flexible to respond to changing priorities and resource pressures.

The post-holder will be part of our People and Places Activity, working in the National Nature Reserve team. Our team are responsible for coordinating and supporting work on our reserves across Scotland. With excellent project management and communication skills you will collaborate closely with NNR staff to deliver our ambitions for NNRs.

The post holder will be required to travel across Scotland to attend meetings, events and site visits, which will involve occasional overnight stays away from home. This will include travel to areas not easily covered by public transport. Home base of Great Glen House (Inverness) or Battleby (Perth) preferred but other locations will be considered.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• progressing the programme of management plans and oversight of our Site Management and Reporting Toolkit (SMaRT).
• supporting the delivery of new SBS outcomes including developing a demonstration programme, demonstration sites and our approach to partnership sites.
• provision of advice and guidance on management for nature (e.g. topics including Avian Flu, Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and biosecurity; species management).
• supporting employee/volunteer development (e.g. placements/skills/ training).
• providing a strategic overview of the contribution of our NNRs to research activity in and outside NatureScot.
• identifying and developing income streams.
• coordinating reporting on NNRs and preparing an annual report.
• Input to communication work including website, social media, external and media responses.

Skills and competencies (please refer to these in your supporting statement)

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the Scotland’s environment and the direct and indirect drivers that influence the management of reserves.
• Good understanding and experience of the measures needed for positive management of land for the benefit of nature, climate and people and how to balance the needs of nature conservation objectives with the promotion of equality of access to nature.
• Experience in project management role and/or a good understanding of project management.
• A creative and flexible approach to work, with a proven ability to adapt to changing situations, embrace new areas of work, find solutions to issues arising and work in teams with different colleagues.
• Excellent verbal communication and engagement skills, with a proven ability to take NatureScot’s aims and ambitions into external arenas with often difficult messages, influencing partners and developing shared vision and ambitions.
• Understanding and some practical experience of developing new income streams
• A relevant higher education degree in education or equivalent qualification with transferable skills or demonstrate qualification by relevant practical experience.
• Experience of IT systems including email, Word, Excel and GIS, website review and management and open approach to learning new systems.

Prerequisites required

• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract
• 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

Working for NatureScot – what we offer you

NatureScot offers some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us. Our benefits package includes the civil service pension scheme, a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time, and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScot website for further details including below:

• We support flexible working for all roles, including part-time, compressed hours, hybrid working and job share. All vacancies are considered suitable for flexible working unless there is a business reason not to. We encourage applicants to discuss potential flexible working arrangements with us
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions)
• 41.5 days of annual leave, including 5 fixed public holidays on St Andrews Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2nd January
• Equivalent of 2 days paid volunteering leave
• A focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• Job satisfaction from contributing proactively to the twinned nature and climate crisis
• Death in service benefits
• Cycle to work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes
• Access to an employee discounts scheme
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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.

Closing date: 12 January 2026.
Interview date: 21/22 January 2026.