Job Description

Job title: 1020-375/229 Marine Ecology Adviser | Grade: D | Hours: 35 (full-time) | Salary £41,567 | Vacancy type: 1020-375 Temporary until 31 March 2029 and 1020-229 maternity cover for 6 months with possible extension| Location: NatureScot offices, home or hybrid | Closing date: 15 June 2026| Candidate interviews week beginning: 25 June 2026

Marine Ecology Adviser – Sustainable Coasts and Seas – 1 FTE – temporary to March 31st 2029

Marine Ecology Adviser – Sustainable Coasts and Seas – 1 FTE – maternity leave cover

Please confirm on your application which position you are applying for. Please also note on your application if you are applying for both positions.

Job Purpose Summary

These are full-time temporary roles within NatureScot’s Sustainable Coasts & Seas Activity based in our marine energy programme. Working closely with other NatureScot staff, the post holder will provide specialist advice in respect of marine mammal ecology to our marine energy team and other NatureScot staff on the marine mammal impacts from marine and coastal industries / activities, including but not limited to: marine energy (renewables / oil and gas), cables, ports & harbours and aquaculture. The successful post holder will engage with NatureScot case leads as well as industries, Crown Estate Scotland, Local Authorities, Port Authorities and relevant Directorates in Scottish Government. Advice will be required for all phases of development activity including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), as well as European Protected Species (EPS) Licencing for both development and research purposes.

These posts will provide a specialist role in delivering high priority work associated with the delivery of offshore wind projects and other marine industries projects in Scottish waters. The post holders will also lead or provide input on NatureScot work on research, policy and guidance in respect of marine mammals and their interactions with industries and support the delivery of UK and Scottish Government and Industry led projects.

The posts will also have specific responsibilities to lead and oversee NatureScot’s work on marine renewables research and monitoring through initiatives such as ScotMER and ORJIP. The post holders will be responsible for the delivery of guidance and advice - both internal and external - to help developers and their consultants through all stages of development from pre-application to decommissioning. There will also be requirement to represent NatureScot on Scottish and UK groups, reviewing the increasing demands on marine space to inform NatureScot’s advice on marine spatial planning policies relating to marine industries and the protection of marine mammals. The post holder will also contribute to evolving work to identify and prioritise specific site-based and wider seas conservation measures for marine mammals focusing on those that provide the most benefit in terms of biodiversity gain and facilitating climate change adaptation and resilience.

The post holder will also be required to contribute to the wider work of the marine energy team and both the Sustainable Coasts and Seas and Marine Ecosystem Activities, including the potential to work as a Duty Officer on a rota for responding to marine pollution incidents.

This work is high profile and fast-paced, and we are seeking an experienced and resilient individual with the confidence to manage and multitask across casework demands, contribute to strategic work and deliver high quality outputs.

The post holder will be an appropriately qualified and experienced specialist with a good understanding of Scotland’s marine environment, policy and legislation relating to its sustainable use and management. The post holder should have up-to-date knowledge and understanding or marine mammal populations (both for seals and cetaceans), conservation issues, and impacts and mitigation options related to human activities.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Provide constructive, solution-focused advice and support for NatureScot marine industries casework advice. This will include proposals arising from marine energy, ports and harbours, pipelines and cabling infrastructure fisheries, oil and gas, and aquaculture developments. This requires an understanding of marine ecology and the likely interactions and effects on marine mammals and their prey from infrastructure or activities in the marine environment.
2. Use of statistical packages and modelling including R and spatial modelling for marine mammals. In particular, the role will be required to advise on the use of tools and techniques associated with population modelling such as (iPCoD, DePONs, CRM and PBR) used in Environmental Impact Assessment, nature conservation Marine Protected Area and Habitats Regulations Appraisal processes.
3. Understanding of underwater noise propagation, modelling and monitoring across all marine industries.
4. Represent NatureScot on research project steering groups and external working groups relating to marine mammal ecology and development and refinement of tools.
5. Contribute to thinking and advice on marine ecosystems, including marine mammals and their prey species and opportunities for biodiversity net gain associated with development as well as compensation measures and or their equivalent in respect of both Habitats Regulation Appraisal and nature conservation MPA derogation processes.
6. Opportunity to act as a Duty Officer for marine pollution incidents, participating in the cover provided by NatureScot through an agreed rota system. (This can require work outside of normal working hours – weekends and evenings).
7. Contribution to wider communication around awareness of NatureScot and our marine mammal work through social media, press releases and the NatureScot website.

Skills: (Please refer to these in your Supporting Statement)

1. A degree in a relevant subject plus relevant post-graduate experience or work experience
2. A sound understanding of the marine ecology, habitats and species of Scotland
3. A clear understanding of nature conservation and planning legislation including Marine Scotland (2010) Act, EIA, EPS and HRA relevant to Scotland’s seas and marine species
4. Knowledge and experience of coastal and marine industries, relevant to Scotland, including offshore wind and ports / harbours and the potential interactions of these activities with marine mammals
5. Understanding of techniques & methods applicable to monitoring marine mobile species
6. Ability to analyse, interpret and manage scientific information to provide informed, clear and solution focused advice.
7. Good interpersonal skills including excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and excellent team working skills
8. Experience of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with stakeholders, such as agencies, organisations, developers or government
9. Knowledge of NatureScot’s priorities and processes and an awareness of the political environment in which NatureScot operates
10. Ability to plan and manage workloads, work to deadlines and adapt to changing priorities while balancing a high volume of reactive work

Prerequisites

• 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

Working for NatureScot

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.

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.

Application Process

Application is by CV and Supporting Statement. Please ensure you have attached these documents when submitting your application.

Before applying for this post;

• Internal applicants should read the Self Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575)
• External applicants should read the Online Job Application Guide – link below
• https://www.nature.scot/doc/online-job-application-guide-naturescot

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

Interviews

External candidates will be invited to interview if we are unable to recruit internally.

NatureScot is an inclusive workplace. We will share interview questions for this vacancy prior to interviews as a way of supporting neurodiversity at NatureScot.

For information regarding the vacancy, please contact:

Karen Hall, Vacancy Manager (Marine Sustainability Manager)

Email: karen.hall@nature.scot Tel: 01463 667601

In my absence you may contact Erica Knott, Head of Marine Energy. Email: erica.knott@nature.scot Tel: 01738 458674

For information regarding the application process please contact recruitment@nature.scot

Nature is vital to all of us, so it is vital that we are an organisation for all of Scotland. The more diverse NatureScot is, the better we will be in connecting everyone with nature. We particularly encourage applications from people from Minority Ethnic (ME) backgrounds and people with a disability.