1016-424/443/456 - Nature Reserve Officer (3 positions) - B Grade - March 2024

Full Job Description

Job title: 1016-424/443/456 Nature Reserve Officer Officers (3 positions) | Grade: B | Vacancy type: Temporary, Seasonal – fixed term for 6 months | Hours: 35 hours | Salary £27,940 pro rata |Location: 1 x  North Highland (inc Loch Fleet NNR and Knockan Crag NNR) 1 x Beinn Eighe NNR, Kinlochewe  1 x Rum NNR, Isle of Rum Closing date: Midday, 19 March 2024 | Internal Interview date: 2/3 April 2024 | External interview date: 16 April 2024

Job Purpose Summary

There are a total of three seasonal positions available, which can be based at the following locations: 

• 1016-443 North Highland (inc Loch Fleet NNR and Knockan Crag NNR)
• 1016-456 Beinn Eighe NNR, Kinlochewe 
• 1016-424 Rum NNR, Isle of Rum

In your applications (supporting statements) please  state which location you are applying for on your application .  If you wish to apply for more than one location, then please list them in order of preference.

Please see Annex A below for a brief description of these NNRs, the type of work that we do on these sites, and specific tasks and opportunities for this role.  

This is an exceptional opportunity to be part of a team which manages our National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in the Scottish Highlands.

NatureScot’s National Nature Reserves showcase the best of Scottish nature, landscapes and geology.  Our aim is to protect, restore and value nature and our NNRs provide the opportunity for people to experience, enjoy and learn about nature.   This position will play an important role in ensuring our NNRs are safe, offer a quality visitor experience, and help to deliver our management plan objectives for a nature rich future. 

Post holders will also be expected to occasionally work at other NatureScot National Nature Reserves in the Highland area.  Tasks will be set by the Nature Reserve Manager for each site. 

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic people who can work in a team to get tasks done and are committed to a future career in nature conservation.  This post involves practical and often physically demanding outdoor work and so requires a good level of physical fitness and willingness to work outdoors in all conditions all year. 

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Ensure NNRs are safe and accessible for visitors and report any issues to the NNR manager. 
• Provide a welcome to, and engage positively with, visitors to the NNRs to enhance their visit, and encourage compliance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code recommending a ‘leave no trace’ ethic.
• Assist NNR staff with practical maintenance and management duties including clearing litter, path work, fencing, maintenance of visitor facilities and maintenance of reserve equipment and infrastructure. 
• To assist staff when required with the NNR events, education and walks programme.
• Habitat and species management – develop skills in practical habitat and species management. 
• Wildlife management – assist the NNR teams in practical deer management when required (Beinn Eighe and Rum). 
• Undertake species and habitat monitoring & recording.  
• Assist with volunteers including assisting with our residential volunteers. 
• Keep local information up to date in discussion with NNR manager, through signage, notice boards or through social media.
• Follow NatureScot’s Health and Safety procedures when carrying out the above tasks. This will include lone working, risk assessment, H&S reporting and other procedures as directed by the NNR Manager.

Skills (Please refer to these in your Supporting Statement)

• Full driving licence or other means of transport
• Willingness to work outdoors in all conditions, and to be safe when working alone in remote situations.
• Good understanding of access responsibilities in the Highlands, and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
• Demonstrated people skills and enthusiasm to work both as part of a small team and on your own.
• An interest in and a basic understanding of habitats & species in Scotland and their associated management.
• Be flexible, willing to tackle any task and be able to use your own initiative to complete practical outdoor tasks.

Benefits of working with us

• Flexible working
• Holiday Entitlement (41.5 days per year, pro rata)
• Civil Service Pension with employer contribution
• Disability Confident employer, Scottish Living Wage Employer
• Support your learning and development through training opportunities to build on existing skills and develop new skills relevant to the role.
• A paid Volunteering day for all employees
• Provision of branded weatherproof clothing for outdoor working
• Use of pool vehicles for work purposes

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

Annex A – Site Specific Information

Rum NNR

The NNR on the Isle of Rum is the largest of NatureScot’s nature reserves at over 10,000ha.  It has an incredible variety of habitats which supports a host of species from seabirds and divers, to breeding eagles, otters and native red deer.  The landscapes are spectacular, with steep mountain peaks, lochs, dramatic sea cliffs and sandy beaches.  Rented, shared accommodation may be available at this location on request. 

At this location the role will be involved in the following work (guidance and training will be provided):

• Speaking to visitors to ensure they have a responsible and quality experience on the NNR.  This will include welcoming ferries arriving on Rum and giving visitors guidance and information on arrival. 
• Be responsible for the Visitor Centre and otter hide, ensuring they are clean, tidy and up to date. 
• Promoting and collating information from our annual visitor survey.
• Regularly updating the Rum NNR Instagram account.
• Check and maintain the promoted footpaths on the NNR.
• Oversee residential volunteers for specific tasks (training will be provided).
• Assist NNR staff with practical maintenance and management duties including clearing litter, path work, INNS removal, fencing and maintenance of reserve equipment and infrastructure. 
• Opportunities to be involved with our annual bird monitoring of red-throated divers and Manx Shearwaters. 
• Assisting with livestock management of our herd of Highland Cattle and Highland ponies. 
• Assisting with deer management to manage herbivore impacts (when required).

North Highland

This post will primarily cover two NNRs; Knockan Crag NNR and Loch Fleet NNR, which creates a huge variety of species, habitats and interest.  Knockan Crag showcases 3 billion years of geological history and holds the key to an amazing story of colliding continents and scientific intrigue.  Set in the spectacular landscape of North-west Sutherland this is a popular tourist and motorhome stopping point.  Loch Fleet packs in a huge diversity of habitats creating a home for a wide range of species, many of which are nationally rare. 

• Assist NNR staff with practical maintenance and management duties including clearing litter, path work, INNS removal, fencing and maintenance of reserve equipment and infrastructure. 
• Speaking to visitors to ensure they have a responsible and quality experience on the NNR, 
• Engage with campervan users and encourage responsible overnight parking. 
• Check and maintain the promoted footpaths on the NNRs.
• Check and maintain visitor facilities at Knockan Crag including the rock room and public toilets. 
• Undertake bird surveys and surveillance, including in relation to HPAI if required.
• Assist with plant and habitat monitoring as required (Rare plant surveys, Woodland Herbivore Impact Assessments). 
• Scrub control on protected dune habitats & non-native tree removal (hand tools)
• Occasional work assisting Beinn Eighe NNR (see below), and other satellite sites in Caithness & Sutherland when required.

 Beinn Eighe & Loch Maree Islands NNR

Beinn Eighe was the first NNR in the UK and recently celebrated its 70^th anniversary.  It is home to the largest fragment of ancient Caledonian pinewood in NW Scotland, some unique uplands habitats and rugged mountain peaks.  The restoration and expansion of the ancient woodland drives a lot of our management. This takes the form of deer management to control herbivore impacts, woodland management to re-structure old plantations, and growing small numbers of trees in the tree nursery for enrichment planting.  Rented, shared accommodation may be available at this location on request.

At this location the role will be involved in the following work (guidance and training will be provided):

• Assist NNR staff with practical maintenance and management duties including clearing litter, path work, fencing and maintenance of reserve equipment and infrastructure. 
• Speaking to visitors to ensure they have a responsible and quality experience on the NNR,
• Be responsible for the Visitor Centre opening and closing mid-week and ensuring it is clean, tidy and up to date. 
• Assisting with deer management to manage herbivore impacts when required.
• Opportunities to assist with monitoring (black-throated dives, Woodland Herbivore Impact assessments (HIA), tree regeneration surveys). 
• Occasional work assisting the North Highland NNRs (see above). 
• Regularly updating the Beinn Eighe NNR Instagram account.

Working with NatureScot – What we offer you

Please visit for information regarding some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us.

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 post please contact: 

Please contact Ian Sargent, Nature Reserve Manager

Email:    Tel: 07726 957335

For information regarding the recruitment process please contact:

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.