Nature Reserve Officer - North

Job title: 1013-388 Nature Reserve Officer - North | Grade: B | Vacancy type: Permanent Rolling Seasonal | Hours: 35 | Salary: £27940 | Location: St Cyrus | Closing date: Midday, 14 March 2024 | Internal Interview date: 02 April 2024; External Interview date 16 April 2024

Job Purpose Summary:

The post holder will provide support to the day to day running of St Cyrus NNR as set out in the Reserve Management Plan. This is a dynamic and engaging role which requires a broad skill set.

NatureScot’s National Nature Reserves are at the heart of expressing new urgency about connecting people and nature.  St Cyrus NNR is a popular local visitor attraction with over 150,000 visitors a year.  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 volunteer groups, school groups, guided walks and continue to develop the outdoor education program. 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, non-native invasive control and other tasks required for the management of the NNR. 

The post holder will be required to carry out bird surveys, vegetation and invertebrate monitoring and undertake management to improve biodiversity as detailed in the reserve management plan. The post holder will be required to keep accurate records and produce an annual report summarising the seasons outcomes.

The post may occasionally involve travel to other reserves in Grampian to fulfil similar duties in support of Reserve staff there.

Areas of Responsibility: 

Monitoring

Carry out monthly WeBs surveys, Skylark and Meadow pipit surveys, Lepidoptera surveys, botanical surveys and Site Condition monitoring.

Monitoring visitor use and maintaining a presence on sites.

Habitat and Species Management  

Management of the habitats and species including site improvement and associated monitoring. 

To contribute to habitat management at St Cyrus in terms of progressing grassland, gorse and bracken management

Volunteering, events and participation

Run and develop volunteer groups, planning and leading weekly tasks.

Assisting with the beach wheel chair ‘hire’ scheme.

Provide a visible presence for NatureScot on the NNR day to day and through a series of planned events to cater for a wide and varied target audience.

Assistance with developing an events program. Leading events and managing associated media.

Communication

Promote the Reserve through appropriate social media pages and NNR website on a regular basis.

Encouraging responsible enjoyment and use of our NNRs and the wider countryside and working with and supporting partners and communities to help achieve this.

Outdoor education

Promote and develop the outdoor education program with catchment schools.   Leading school groups and developing lesson plans. 

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.

Role Specific Tasks:

• Occasionally dealing with difficult and challenging situations
• Undertake measures necessary to ensure personal health and safety at work.
• Undertake necessary training.

Skills (Please refer to these in your supporting statement)

• A good understanding of the natural heritage of St Cyrus NNR
• Experience of various field survey work techniques
• Experience of Botanical identification
• Experience of Invertebrate identification
• Experience of Ornithological identification
• Experience of managing volunteers 
• Experience of planning and leading outdoor learning activities, the national curriculum and facilitating visiting groups
• Experience of leading guided walks/events
• Experience working with people with complex needs
• Written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely for news releases, social media and other media relations activity
• Accurate recording of data, report writing and data submission
• A good understanding of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).
• Good interpersonal skills that contribute to collaborative/team working and customer orientated service provision
• Practical Estate and habitat management skills
• Strong and confident interpersonal skills that contribute to collaborative/team working and customer orientated service provision
• As this role will involve working in rough terrain and inclement weather conditions, the post holder must have a good level of physical fitness
• Driving licence
• Experience of driving 4x4 vehicles off road

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.
• Degree or HNC in conservation based discipline or similar

Application Process

Before applying for this post applicants should read the Self Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575)

If you have previously applied for a vacancy with NatureScot you must remove the supporting statement from your profile, before uploading a new version.

For information regarding the post please contact: 

Simon Ritchie (Simon.ritchie@nature.scot) from 21 February to 03 March and Therese Alampo from 04 March: (therese.alampo@nature.scot) 

For information regarding the recruitment process please contact:

recruitment@nature.scot 

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.