1022-351 Wildlife Management Support Officer B Grade May 2026

Job Title: 1022-351 Wildlife Management Support Officer (maternity cover) Grade: B Hours: 35 (full-time) Vacancy type: Temporary for 6 months with possibility of extension Salary 30076 Location: Flexible (NatureScot office home and hybrid working will be considered) Closing date: Midnight 20 May 2026 Internal Interview date: week commencing 1 June 2026 External Interview date: week commencing 15 June 2026

Job Purpose Summary

NatureScot is the Scottish Governments lead adviser on wildlife management has many facets; it includes protecting species and habitats reintroducing and translocating species and licensing otherwise illegal activities. It is also about shooting and country sports protecting agriculture and human safety and promoting conflict resolution and collaboration.

Two significant areas of our wildlife management work concern licensing and our duty tofurther the conservation control and sustainable management of all wild deer species in Scotland.

The NatureScot Licensing Team issues about 2500 protected species licences per annum. Licenses cover certain activities such as disturbance to protected birds and animals and are issued for specific purposes for example preserving public health and safety or preventing serious damage to livestock and development.

The Licensing Team provides an efficient and responsive service that enables people to manage protected wildlife effectively and legally balancing legitimate needs of individuals and business with statutory responsibilities.

Wildlife Management Support Officers work closely with Licensing Officers to support the delivery of NatureScots statutory licensing functions.

Management of Scotlands wild deer is vital to enhancing biodiversity and achieving a net zero the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy objectives of halting nature loss by 2030 and delivering nature restoration across Scotland by 2045 as well as addressing public safety issues and impacts to agriculture requires a significant reduction in deer numbers. This necessitates working with a range of stakeholder interests to deliver large-scale changes quickly.

Wildlife Management Support Officers work with both the deer policy and operational deer teams to support the delivery of deer-related policy and projects covering a wide range of deer management issues.

Additionally Wildlife Management Support Officers may be required to supportthe wider Wildlife Management Team by assisting with tasks relating to aspects of wildlife management other than deer or licensing such as species reintroductions.

Areas of Responsibility

1. Coordinating receipt of licence applications and uploading them to the licensing database.
2. Assisting with processing licence applications in line with NatureScot policies and processes.
3. Running regular licence return reports following-up missing licence returns recording non-compliance and licence return information.
4. Gathering and checking data preparing documentation and coordinating responses to requests for data and information from stakeholders (both internal and external) including FOI requests and Parliamentary Questions.
5. Assisting with the processing of annual cull returns checking and storing Deer Authorisation and Fit and Competent Applications and other administrative tasks associated with Deer Authorisations and licensing within the Deer On-line Services database.
6. Assisting with the analysis of consultation responses drafting of consultation report material publication of consultation responses and development of any new or amended general licences.
7. Making arrangements and bookings associated with meetings and hospitality assisting with meeting agendas preparing and organising information and taking notes/ actions at meetings.
8. Using discretion to identify and resolve issues referring to the line manager for assistance as necessary.
9. Day-to-day operation of systems and equipment necessary for the successful completion of assigned tasks.

Skills required (please refer to these in your supporting statement)

1. An understanding of NatureScots work to address the climate and biodiversity crises and the role licensing and deer management plays in that.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
3. Experience gathering handling storing and disseminating information and data including running reports.
4. An effective and adaptable team player comfortable working within a small team and as part of a larger dispersed team.
5. Working knowledge of IT systems such as Outlook Word & Excel. Training for non-standard internal software will be given where required.
6. Effective planning organising and prioritising skills with ability to understand how own priorities fit with those of colleagues.
7. Can demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail when undertaking day to day tasks and meeting deadlines.
8. Ability to work using own initiative and to ask for help when required.

Pre-requisites:

• Right to work in the UK
• To undertake a disclosure Scotland Application
• Driving licence or other means of transport.
• 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.

Face to face interviews are planned for internal candidates in our Edinburgh office Tuesday 24th March and for external candidates on Tuesday 7^th April.

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:

Ryan Greenwood Senior Licensing Officer

Tel:

Email:

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.