Nature Reserve Officer - Scotland - NatureScot

Description

Stirling reserves (Loch Lomond NNR, Blawhorn NNR, Flanders Moss NNR and others)

£29,058

Job Purpose Summary

The post holder will provide support to the day to day running of the Stirling NNR teams reserves as set out in the Reserve Management Plans.

NatureScot's National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are at the heart of connecting people and nature. The NNRs are popular local and National visitor attractions. Many of these visitors look for face to face contact with staff and the post holder will provide a public face for NatureScot to help communicate key messages such as promoting responsible access and connecting people with nature. The post holder will be expected to lead the weekly volunteer group, assist with guided walks and group visits and develop outdoor education programmes. Social media is an increasingly important and valuable mechanism for communicating with the wider public and the post holder will be expected to use corporate social media platforms.

The post holder will be required to carry out practical habitat management tasks on the reserve such as strimming, fencing, control of invasive non-native species (INNS) as well as other tasks required for the management of the NNR. The postholder will lead on species surveys and implement site condition monitoring as required.

Weekend work would be required on occasion for the permanent role, and regular weekend working is required for the seasonal role. This is a fieldwork centric role and home working will in most instances not be an option.

Please state your preference for the permanent role or the seasonal role, otherwise you will be considered for both.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

The Reserve Officer is responsible for the day to day management of the Stirling NNRs through the delivery of the Reserve Management Plans. The main tasks and responsibilities for the post are:

Monitoring

• Carry out monthly WeBs surveys, goose counts, Hen harrier roost counts and Site Condition monitoring

Habitat and Species Management

• Management of INNS species
• Management of the habitats and species for which the Reserve is special to ensure favourable conservation status (peat bogs Woodlands, wintering and breeding birds, wetlands, freshwater).

Volunteering and participation

• Run the volunteer group, planning and leading weekly tasks.
• Provide a visible presence for NatureScot on the NNRs day to day and through a series of planned events to cater for a wide and varied target audience.

Communication

• Promote the NNRs through the NNR social media platforms and updating and NNR website on a regular basis.
• Build links and work in partnership with key stakeholders, landowners and tenants.

Outdoor education

• Promote and develop the outdoor education programme.

Property management

• Maintenance of the infrastructure of the reserve; paths, visitor facilities, carparks, signage and fences.
• Maintenance of reserve vehicles and equipment.
• Manage a range of projects and contracts identified in the approved Reserve Budgets

Person Specification (Please refer to these in your Supporting Statement)

• Good interpersonal skills that contribute to collaborative/team working and customer orientated service provision
• Written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely for news releases, social media and other media relations activity
• Experience of supervising volunteers and contractors
• Practical Estate and habitat management skills
• Knowledge and understanding of freshwater habitat management and water quality issues
• Good Ornithological skills
• Good Botany skills
• Experience of planning and leading outdoor learning activities and events
• Driving licence or other means of transport is essential

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 thecivil service pension scheme, a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time, and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScotwebsite for further detailsincluding below:

• An environment with flexible working options
• 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

Closing date: Midnight 1 March 2026.

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.

Apply Here