Operations director - north scotland

Operations Director - North Scotland
Reference: FEB20259974
Location: Inverness Office
Salary: £70,490.00 - £75,257.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)

What must be one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs in Nature Conservation in the UK is about to become vacant. Nature is in crisis, and we have a climate emergency. As Operational Director of this environmental conservation charity's delivery programme in North Scotland, you will be uniquely placed to make a positive contribution to these twin crises. Do you have the exceptional leadership skills to take action for nature and lead this charity's brilliant operational teams in North Scotland?

What's the role about?

As part of the Scotland Leadership Team, the North Scotland Operations Director leads this organisation's place-based delivery, primarily across their nature reserves and within their Priority Landscapes, where they are working to influence and support others to restore nature and inspire communities within some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes.

This is a role for an exceptional director, with a team of approximately 150 staff and 500 volunteers, significant budget (£5M+), land based commercial operations, major project and risk accountability, and responsibility for restoring some of Scotland’s most threatened species & habitats.

The role covers four large Operational Areas which comprise the organisation’s North Scotland Region, including the organisation's two largest nature reserves. The Operations Director line manages 4 Area Managers in the following operational areas:

1. Shetland & Northeast Scotland;
2. Orkney;
3. North Highland and Outer Hebrides;
4. South Highland.

Other line reports are the Senior Programme Manager for the Scotland Peatland Programme, and the Inverness Office Manager.

Alongside the Operational Director role, the post holder also has overall responsibility for some of this organisation’s largest and most high-profile projects and programmes, including the Orkney Native Wildlife project, the Scotland Peatland Programme, and Cairngorms Connect.

This charity is looking for a talented director with experience of managing a diverse and dispersed operational portfolio. You will be someone who can build strong collaborations (both internally & externally), and you’ll be comfortable representing the charity to a range of audiences, from community groups to public agency executives and leaders alongside politicians and Government Ministers.

You should be confident to make decisions and be able to balance risk and opportunity. An understanding of - and an ability to operate within - governance, finance and risk frameworks is also a key part of the role. A background in nature conservation isn’t necessary, but you will be passionate about the mission and joining the movement to end the nature & climate emergency.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

* Educated to degree level or relevant high-level experience to effectively communicate complex messages and use management information to undertake responsibilities.
* Knowledge of this charity and its mission.
* Visible, inspiring and effective leadership of own Operational Team, engaging and motivating staff and volunteers at all levels (reserves, sites, project, specialist and area teams).
* Proven leadership and people management skills, able to develop team members for high performance and build a positive culture across geographically dispersed teams.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present, influence and represent the organisation.
* Collaboration skills to build relationships, navigate politics and manage conflicts.
* Business management skills to understand strategy, business functions and decision-making.
* Financial acumen to manage budgets, forecasting, understand financial statements and understand and use business metrics.
* Proven ability to influence others, build partnerships and negotiate at a senior level.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

* Team management and development of geographically dispersed teams.
* Knowledge of the geography, socio-economic, organisational landscape and political context of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.
* Experience of land management/nature reserve management.

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 4th May 2025
This employer is looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 26th May 2025.

Interested?
Please click the job board apply button to be taken to the next stage where you can find out more information and complete your application by following the instructions (you may need to scroll down).

This charity is committed to developing an inclusive and diverse workplace, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve their vision of creating a world richer in nature, they need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, this employer is particularly interested in receiving your application.

This charity is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

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