Geology Adviser

Geology Adviser

NatureScot offices, home or hybrid
£40,161 (£41,567 from April 1 2026) pro rata
Part time, 21 hours

Job Purpose Summary

Working closely with other NatureScot staff, the post holder will provide specialist advice in respect of geology within our Geodiversity Team.

This Geological Adviser post is essential for the delivery of statutory functions, including several deliverables within the Nature Conservation Act, specialist advice for Development Casework, Site Condition Monitoring and site management (including maintaining the GCR site network), promotion of the Scottish Fossil Code and Scotland’s geoheritage including globally recognised sites, and review of the Skye Nature Conservation Order (2019).

Applicants must have a sound and broad understanding of Scottish geology, with detailed and specialist knowledge to lead NatureScot’s advice on Stratigraphy and Palaeontology. The post will provide a supporting role to the other Geological Adviser who leads advice on Metamorphic, Igneous and Mineralogy topics.

The postholder will liaise with colleagues across the organisation and wider partners including Scottish Government, local authorities, research institutions, geoconservation sector and community groups. The post holder will provide scientific advice to consider a wide range of development planning casework.

This work may often be high profile and fast-paced, and we are seeking an experienced and resilient individual with the confidence to manage and multitask across casework demands, contribute to strategic work and deliver high quality outputs.

The post holder will be an appropriately qualified and experienced specialist with a good understanding of Scotland’s geology, policy and legislation relating to its sustainable use and management. The post holder should have up-to-date knowledge and understanding of geo-heritage topics, conservation issues, and impacts and mitigation options related to human activities.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Provide geodiversity advise on protected areas case work (in consideration of planning applications etc) and site management. Including ongoing casework with advisory input to a range of development proposals, with a lead on stratigraphy and palaeontology interests, and a supporting role on other geological interests.
2. Maintaining the Geological Conservation Review network underpinning SSSI designation (statutory requirement). Including a constant commitment providing and better communicating a robust evidence-base. The role extends to proposing the addition of sites to the GCR and being part of the Interagency team assessing site proposals originating from the other nations.
3. Provide advice on Site Condition Monitoring, with a lead responsibility for stratigraphy and palaeontology interests, and a supporting role on other geological interests. Exploring opportunities for use of new technologies and efficiencies, including drone photogrammetry.
4. Exploiting the opportunities that geodiversity offers in tackling the effects of climate change and helping to combat biodiversity loss (based in statutory duty). Contribute to promoting and driving forward Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter (an action in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024–2030) highlighting the value of Scotland’s geodiversity and the range of geosystem services it provides and the role they have in delivering for biodiversity and helping to mitigate for the effects of climate change.
5. Being influential an connecting people with nature (based in statutory duty) in support of NatureScot’s corporate plan (2026 to 2030). Build stronger relationships with NGO sector and business encouraging involvement with geodiversity volunteering both in terms of conservation and promotion. This includes sharing knowledge and practitioner experience regarding geoconservation and geodiversity promotion. Working with the Scottish Geology Trust, UK Committee on UNESCO Geoparks and voluntary geoconservation Groups.

Skills required (please refer to these in your supporting statement)

1. A post graduate degree in a relevant subject (often geology or geo-sciences) plus relevant post-graduate experience or work experience or equivalent
2. A sound understanding of the geology of Scotland.
3. A clear understanding of the topic of geo-heritage conservation, the Nature Conservation Act and the Scottish planning system.
4. Ability to analyse, interpret and manage scientific information to provide informed, clear and solution focused advice.
5. Good interpersonal skills including excellent communications skills, both verbal and written, and excellent team working skills.
6. Experience of developing and maintaining positive working relationship with stakeholders, such as agencies, organisation, developers or government.
7. Knowledge of NatureScot’s priorities and processes, and an awareness of the political environment in which NatureScot operates.
   Ability to plan and manage workloads, work to deadlines and adapt to changing priorities while balancing high volume of reactive work.

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) https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/memberhub/joining-the-pension-scheme/
• 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

Closing date: Midnight 30 March 2026.

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.

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.