Environment Advisor

These are two full-time vacancies, based on a 37-hour week.

We’re a flexible employer and encourage applicants who wish to work a flexible working pattern to apply, all requests will be considered.

Nationality Requirements

It’s essential you have the right to work in the UK before applying to work with us, as we’re currently unable to offer sponsorship.

You’ll also need to meet the requirements of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Disability Confident Scheme

If you apply under the Disability Confident Scheme, you’ll be invited for interview/assessment, so long as you meet any elements of ‘Experience’ or ‘Technical’ marked as essential and can demonstrate the relevant Behaviours set out in the Success Profile.

Further Information

If you have any questions about this post, please email christina.tracey@forestryandland.gov.scot

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, or require any adjustments, please email HR@forestryandland.gov.scot

About the team

Our Environment Advisors are a key part of the planning and environment team in West region.  Working alongside regional colleagues, we’re responsible for drawing up land management plans, programming future works in the forest area and advising on environmental matters, including the survey work necessary to help with this advice and input. It’s interesting and challenging work which focuses on achieving a balance between planning works and advising other teams how we can positively contribute to the climate change/biodiversity crisis and manage the forests and land for maximum environmental benefit while also helping support the timber producing aspects of the business.

Renewables developments, native woodland habitat restoration, peatland protection and restoration are also key drivers in the work of the planning and environment team and are essential elements of the plans we contribute to and collaborate on with regional colleagues.

What you will do

The Environment Advisors (EA’s) take the lead on co-ordinating operational site checks, organising major environmental work programmes and advising on how environmental benefits and gains can be built into other work being carried out in the region.

There are historic major programmes of invasive non-native species (INNS) removal, rhododendron control and works to enhance Scotland’s rainforest and other native woodland habitats – these programmes will continue to be key part of the environment team’s work over the coming years.

You’ll play an integral role in driving forward improvements to environmental programming. Much of this work forms part of substantial projects supporting Scottish Government key objectives on climate change such as peatland restoration, expanding native woodland and improving the biodiversity value of a wide range of woodland and open habitats – you’ll take the lead on managing and supporting these projects, working with the national team to draw up plans to ensure benefits are delivered and recorded and helping to manage the peatland team. You’ll also tap into and secure sources of additional funding and work alongside other non- governmental organisations to maximise funding and collaboration opportunities.

Main Duties

• Line manage and mentor a small environment team in your area of the region.
• Work with other regional and national teams to help them understand key environment and biodiversity drivers.
• Coordinate surveys and site visits to allow programmes of environment work such as rhododendron control, native woodland restoration etc. to be drawn up. Work with others to seek funding from outside sources and draw up the details of the projects that would be funded this way.
• Advise on operational forestry work to ensure protected habitats and species are taken account of and that forest operations deliver the maximum environmental benefits. Help ensure health and safety aspects of work you manage remains a priority.
• Build and develop environment projects to readiness (e.g., rainforest areas) to help seek additional funding opportunity.
• Act as a key contributor to land management plans to ensure they engage fully with biodiversity gain, habitat protection and enhancement.
• Mentor, develop and encourage your team to understand the work of other teams and the organisation and motivate them to contribute to this in a constructive and positive way.
• As part of the regional leadership team take responsibility for business sustainability and contribute to discussions and debate bringing environmental knowledge to this.

Success Profile

The Success Profile below set outs the essential and desirable elements that make up the vacant position - you’ll be expected to demonstrate these elements in your application and/or during your interview and/or assessment.

Experience

Essential:

• Leading, mentoring and inspiring a team.
• Good understanding of environment, biodiversity issues and legislation, gained through practical application.

Desirable:

• Preparation of plans for environment or land management matters.
• Good facilitation and engagement skills with an ability to develop strong working relationships within an organisation and with external stakeholders.

Technical

Essential:

• Qualification to HND or equivalent in a relevant environmental or land management-based subject.
• Member or looking to work towards membership of a relevant professional body such as MCIEEM (member of chartered institute of ecology and environmental management).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable:

• Competent user of geographical information systems.
• Competent user of It systems such as Word, Excel, etc.

Behaviours

On the application form you’ll find four free text boxes to provide your behaviour responses.

Behaviour 1 and Lead Criteria: Making Effective Decisions.

Behaviour 2: Seeing the Big Picture.

Behaviour 3: Working Together.

Behaviour 4: Communicating and Influencing.

Driving licence

This role requires you to have a full UK driving licence, however, we are willing to consider any proposals that would allow you to do the job by other means.

Travel

As this role involves working with colleagues across West region/Scotland, there will be regular travel involved which may include overnight stays away from home.

Travelling at times may also involve visits to remote locations, therefore there is a requirement for you to have a current driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK. However, we are willing to consider any proposals put forward from candidates that would allow you to travel between locations by other means.

What we offer you

If successful, you will be entitled to a wide range of benefits, the detail of which can be found here

Additional information

We believe it’s important to create an inclusive and supportive work culture, and we welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background.

It’s important you complete the entire application form (where relevant) in sufficient detail – this will give you the best chance of being invited for interview and/or assessment. Where a vacancy attracts a higher number of applications, only ‘Behaviour 1 - lead criteria’ will be assessed at sift stage. However, it is still important that you complete the entire application form in sufficient detail, as there is no way of knowing that a vacancy will have a high number of applications.

Concerns about our recruitment

If you believe the Civil Service Recruitment Principles have been breached, you can submit a complaint to the Head of People and Organisational Development - they will assess compliance with the Principles but will not review the decision(s) of the recruitment panel.

Closing date: 1 May 2022 at 11.55pm.

Apply here