NatureScot is Scotland's Nature Agency. We are working with partners from across Scotland's public, private and environment sectors to address the climate and nature emergencies, by protecting and restoring nature and inspiring others to value our natural world.
This is a permanent, full-time role within NatureScot's Supporting Good Development (SGD) team. The SGD team works to:
Protect - influence business, development and regulation so that it safeguards nature, including protected areas and landscapes.
Restore - provide targeted and influential advice on proposals to enable good quality development that enhances biodiversity and place.
Value - engage with key business and community interests and industry sectors to help them maximise the advantages nature and high quality places bring them.
This position will help to deliver NatureScot's priorities relating to nature recovery, climate change and the creation of nature rich places with a particular focus on planning. This includes helping lead on our engagement with local authorities, key agencies and other partners, to develop shared responses to the climate and nature emergencies.
An important focus of the role will be advising on and assisting in the development of plans and strategies. With a focus on positive and proactive collaborative working, you will be able to help our partners to plan strategically, creating the policy and project context needed to scale up and deliver 'on the ground' results to improve nature and climate resilience. You will be expected to think creatively, act strategically, and react pragmatically. You will need to understand and advise on the practical steps that are available to secure and deliver successful outcomes for nature. You should be able to communicate and work effectively with partners from different sectors and professional backgrounds, developing a positive vision for 'nature rich' and 'climate resilient' places.
The post holder will be leading and contributing to development plan making, prioritising west and south-west Scotland around the Glasgow city region. This includes strategic planning related casework such as development frameworks, masterplans and environmental assessments (Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA)). The planning advisers principally input on development planning, planning policy and guidance. The team work closely together, and with other Supporting Good Development Activity Team members and Operations colleagues, to provide an efficient, consistent and quality service. The post needs to be flexible to respond to changing priorities and resource pressures faced by other team members.
They will have a key role in taking forward our work to influence and encourage developers and regulators on the delivery of NatureScot's priorities relating to nature recovery and nature rich places.
An important focus of the role will be advising on and assisting in the development of plans and strategies. With a focus on positive and proactive collaborative working, you will be able to help our partners to plan strategically, creating the policy and project context needed to scale up and deliver 'on the ground' results to improve nature and climate resilience. You will be expected to think creatively, act strategically, and react pragmatically., 1. Provide advice, coordinate and lead input from NatureScot staff to provide an effective contribution to development plans, marine plans, supplementary guidance, master-plans and associated SEA and HRA.
2. Provide input into NatureScot's engagement in the roll-out and delivery of the reformed planning system and supporting delivery of the ambitions of NPF4 such as biodiversity enhancement, blue-green infrastructure, nature networks and nature-based solutions.
3. Provide technical advice to operational and advisory staff on the Scottish Planning System and national planning policy as it relates to NatureScot responsibilities and priorities.
4. Provide support to the Environmental Assessment Manager in implementing NatureScot's SEA requirements.
5. Help build capacity in planning authorities through provision of advice, support and sharing good practice so they can deal more effectively with natural heritage issues.
6. Contribute to planning-related training for NatureScot staff and others.
7. Commission and manage planning-related research, demonstration and guidance projects.
8. Contribute to the work of Key Agency Group (KAG) sub-groups and projects focused on delivering a modernised planning system through collaborative, place-based approaches.
9. Make connections between the terrestrial planning system and related issues such as onshore delivery to support offshore infrastructure, coastal adaptation, and related issues., Although Gaelic language is not a prerequisite it is a desirable skill in support of our commitment to our Gaelic Language Plan, 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.
1. A relevant, accredited degree in environmental sciences, planning or closely related discipline with transferable knowledge.
2. A thorough understanding and knowledge of the Scottish Planning system and NatureScot's role within it.
3. Good project management and organisational skills that will support establishing virtual teams of specialists, managing multiple workstreams and meeting deadlines.
4. Effective interpersonal skills will ensure that the postholder influences others and forges good working relationships with colleagues and a range of stakeholders.
5. Ability to provide informed, clear and solution-focused advice on nature and planning to colleagues in NatureScot or partner organisations, conveying technical issues to a general audience when needed.
6. Creativity and versatility in approach to work, with a proven ability to be adaptive to changing situations, and embracing new areas of work.
7. Strong understanding of NatureScot's purpose and priorities, and of the political environment in which NatureScot operates.
8. The ability to work largely unsupervised and as part of a dispersed team.
9. The ability to use office software - in particular for remote and hybrid working, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and communicating.
10. Driving licence or other means of transport required.
Prerequisites Required
Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract