1011-313 MPA Engagement & Communities Advisor D Grade November 2025

Inverness - UK

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 17 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Description

Job title: 1011-313 MPA Engagement & Communities Adviser Grade: D Hours: 28 Salary 38616 (Pay award pending effect from 01 April 2025) Vacancy type: Permanent Location: NatureScot offices home or hybrid Closing date: Midnight 09 December 2025 Internal Interview Date: 16 December 2025 External Interview Date: 07 January 2025

Job Purpose Summary:

NatureScot is Scotlands nature agency. We are looking for applications from people with a marine social sciences background to join a team working on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Priority Marine Features (PMFs). Focusing on guiding stakeholder engagement and the development of NatureScots work with key stakeholders including local communities and community groups that have an interest in marine protection the post will help achieve Scottish Governments vision of healthy productive and biologically diverse seas. The expectation is that over time the postholder will be confident in discussing most aspects of our work with stakeholders in the context of wider marine planning and conservation within which our engagement/dialogue sits. We are committed to working with others to achieve the transformation required to tackle both the climate emergency and biodiversity loss.

This post will initially support Marine Ecosystems managers and MPA advisors to deliver work relating to the consultation on MPA and PMF management measures for fishing activity with Scottish Government including consultation stakeholder engagement analysis. The post is a permanent appointment within the Marine Ecosystems Activity Team. The successful candidate will work closely with existing MPA technical staff as well as colleagues in Sustainable Coasts and Seas Activity Team and will also work other NatureScot Teams across the organisation. Wider contribution to the work of the Marine Ecosystems Activity Team may also be required.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Role key tasks:

Continue to develop NatureScots MPA stakeholder engagement strategy and support others in its implementation.
Work with Marine Directorate JNCC and others to support the development of an overall approach to engaging stakeholders in MPAs in Scotland as part of a broader adaptive management approach.
Take a lead role for NatureScot in preparation and planning for marine protection consultations including building online surveys consultation logistics staff briefings and event organisation.
Guide staff working on marine protection and related tasks in planning and delivering effective engagement with stakeholders.
Develop and run staff workshops and training relating to marine engagement and consultation.
Further develop NatureScots work with local communities and community groups with an interest in MPAs including through exploring co-production approaches.
Develop supporting materials for use by NatureScot staff and others in MPA engagement work including working closely with Communications staff.
Undertake monitoring and evaluation of our engagement (including related to consultations) to inform future work to increase the effectiveness of our engagement. This includes leading input to wider NatureScot and user surveys.
Manage the NatureScot MPA engagement project budget.
Attend NatureScot internal meetings and contributing to the wider work of the Activity Team as required
Contribute to the wider work of the Marine Ecosystems team is expected.

Skills: (Pleaserefer to these in your Supporting Statement)

Essential

Degree or postgraduate qualification in social sciences or a related discipline.
Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work in partnership to foster good relations and to encourage action by others including local communities.
Sound knowledge of public participation processes including experience in organising stakeholder events and in scoping and delivering related training.
Understanding of Scottish community empowerment and place-making policies.
Knowledge of co-design and production principles and processes.
Good written and verbal communication skills ability to convey complex or contentious information clearly and confidently.
Understanding of how managing Scotlands seas provides benefits to people and nature.
Ability to work flexibly as part of a team and to use own initiative developing creative approaches when appropriate with good organisational and time management skills.

Desirable

Experience of engaging with marine and coastal communities and a good understanding of the issues facing them.
Knowledge of the National Standards for Community Engagement and how to apply them
An interest in marine issues/some knowledge of marine conservation.
Some understanding of community-led planning

Prerequisites Required

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract
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 what we offer you

NatureScot offers some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us. Our benefits package includes thecivil service pension scheme a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScotwebsite for further detailsincluding below:
An environment with flexible working options
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions) days of annual leave including 5 fixed public holidays on St Andrews Day Christmas Day Boxing Day New Years Day and 2nd January
Equivalent of 2 days paid volunteering leave
A focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
Job satisfaction from contributing proactively to the twinned nature and climate crisis
Death in service benefits
Cycle to work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes
Access to an employee discounts scheme
Learning and development tailored to your role
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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 theOnline Job Application Guide

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.

NatureScots 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.

For information regarding the vacancy please contact

Laura Steel: email: @

For information regarding the recruitment process please contact:

recruitment@

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.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority

DescriptionJob title: 1011-313 MPA Engagement & Communities Adviser Grade: D Hours: 28 Salary 38616 (Pay award pending effect from 01 April 2025) Vacancy type: Permanent Location: NatureScot offices home or hybrid Closing date: Midnight 09 December 2025 Internal Interview Date: 16 December 2025...