The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is an ambitious and innovative initiative which harnesses private finance to support delivery of marine and coastal environmental enhancement activities in Scottish waters through grant-aided projects. Hosted by NatureScot, SMEEF administers funds raised in the form of grants and strategic spending on practical projects and research to support marine enhancement in Scotland. To date the programme has sourced and awarded more than £3.5m and has more than £4m in the budget for the next four years. The Marine Enhancement Grants Officer - Seabirds is a new and important role in the SMEEF team. We are seeking an ambitious, self-starter who can hit the ground running. The ideal candidate will have a sound understanding of seabird ecology and the relevant policy landscape and be ready to apply this to our developing programme. They will be an excellent communicator, ready to champion seabird conservation in Scotland. Supporting the SMEEF Grants Manager, the successful candidate will lead in developing the delivery strategy and monitoring success. This exciting role will manage a portfolio of grants within the NatureScot system. SMEEF aims to ensure we deliver a responsive, customer focussed service and support applicants to share learning from their projects so experience of the seabird conservation network, particularly in Scotland, is desirable. Embedded within the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan and the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan the SMEEF seabird resilience fund aims to undertake practical action which helps build the evidence base for enhancement and test novel approaches to compensation or nature positive measures for seabird conservation. This is a fast moving role. The successful candidate will be flexible in managing the busy workload as part of a small and dispersed team., Delivering an effective grants process
* Develop the SMEEF seabird grant strategy, in partnership with the SMEEF Grants Manager for consideration by the SMEEF Steering Group and Grants Panel.
* Work with the SMEEF team, and wider NatureScot teams, to ensure the effective delivery of the SMEEF grant programme including end to end management of grants.
* Manage all relevant Grants Panel related processes and reporting including preparing robust, timely and clearly articulated papers relating to seabird work for meetings, leading discussions, and reporting back recommendations to the Steering Group.
Monitoring and reporting
* Develop and manage an appropriate monitoring and reporting programme for SMEEF's seabirds work taking into account environmental, social, economic, and wellbeing impacts of the programme.
* Coordinate the monitoring of grant outputs and outcomes to report on the delivery of targets and achievements.
* Lead on the ecological monitoring and analysing project outcomes.
* Work closely with the SMEEF team to ensure effective reporting to donors and the public about SMEEF related outcomes.
* Prepare information for regular reporting and in response to information requests for example from Scottish Government and FOI process.
* Working in an environment of continuous learning and improvement, highlight opportunities for process improvement and change, and where appropriate, assist in the review, implementation and development of associated guidance.
Engagement and outreach
* Represent SMEEF at meetings e.g. with potential and existing grant recipients and stakeholders.
* Develop the capacity of grant recipients through coordinating monitoring of outputs, the identification and sharing of best practice, and the development of lessons learned reports to understand the outcomes especially of innovative approaches to enhancement.
* Be the liaison point for relevant NatureScot and Scottish Government marine and seabird specific enhancement teams as well as external advisors including the MASTS network., 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.
An excellent understanding of Scottish coastal and marine ecology, habitats, species and relevant policy with specific reference to seabirds.
* Ability to understand, interpret/challenge and manage ecological data and reporting.
* Knowledge and experience in the assessment and management of ecological/environmental/marine projects and/or grants.
* Ability to use sound judgement and analyse complex information, identifying key issues and undertaking active risk management.
* Good understanding of performance measurement and evaluation of benefits.
* Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate clearly to a variety of audiences; and to provide informed, clear and insightful reports and advice.
* Proven ability to plan and manage workloads, work to deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
* Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to work constructively and supportively with a wide range of sectors to foster good relations and encourage actions by others.
* A degree in a relevant subject or other equivalent relevant experience.
Prerequisites
* Proof of right to work in UK, and be living 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.
Nature is vital to us all, so it's important that NatureScot represents the people of Scotland. The more diverse our workforce is, the more effectively we can connect everyone with nature. We encourage applications from candidates of all ages and genders, people from ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
NatureScot offers some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us. Our benefits package includes the civil service pension scheme, a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time, and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScot website for further details.