Job Purpose Summary

The purpose of this post is to lead and manage administration tasks that support successful operation of the Peatland ACTION Programme. It will support the PeatlandACTION Programme Management Group to effectively manage resources.

The post will also lead on aspects of governance and project management in the rapidly evolving/expanding PeatlandACTION Programme.

The post covers the whole of Scotland and will require the ability to travel independently, as public transport is not always available. The travel is primarily to meetings, workshops etc. On limited occasions, this may require travel that necessitates nights away from home.

Context

NatureScot’s Peatland programme delivers actions to care for Scotland’s peatlands. It is integral to the government’s determination for peatland protection, restoration and management to reduce carbon emissions and contribute wider benefits for biodiversity, water management and green growth. The Peatland Programme covers the requirements under the Scottish Government ring-fenced PeatlandACTION support for restoration and the wider NatureScot work on valuing, protecting and managing peatlands.

NatureScot has dual role on PeatlandACTION:

providing leadership on shared services/business solutions across all five PeatlandACTION delivery partners (NatureScot, the two National Park Authorities, Forestry & Land Scotland and Scottish Water); and,
increasing the pace/scale of peatland restoration projects on the ground.

The NatureScot PeatlandACTION role is expanding in support of the government’s 10 year, £250m, commitment for restoration. It has an annual budget of ~£20m and comprises over 60 posts employed/supported by NatureScot.

Job Purpose Summary:

The main purpose of this post is to lead and manage administration tasks that support delivery of the PeatlandACTION Programme. The post holder will support the Peatland ACTION programme with underpinning administrative tasks across the breadth of its functions.

The post sits within the Peatland ACTION Coordination & Governance Team. This team provide a central PeatlandACTION support service on programme development, monitoring & governance; project & risk management; heath, safety & wellbeing; and financial probity, monitoring and audit/accountability. It requires working within a fast-paced environment with multiple lines of responsibility from supporting Peatland ACTION Project Officers requirements to wider Peatland ACTION Programme needs such as financial planning and reporting.

The post holder should be able to work independently and manage and prioritise their workload. They will also need to liaise in a professional manner with a very wide range of stakeholders.

The main duties and responsibilities are:

Contribute to, and facilitate, the development and delivery of Governance and Co-ordination requirements for the expanded Peatland ACTION Programme. This includes supporting the Peatland Programme Officer with process improvement - mapping/analysing PeatlandACTION processes, designing process improvement and tracking/monitoring improvement undertaken.
Alongside the Peatland Programme Officer, support the review, and champion, the Programme Plan and coach staff is its successful use. This will include maintaining business planning platform data and ensuring alignment with the PeatlandACTION Programme Plan;
Financial management:
- Maintain financial housekeeping of the annual PA budget, ensuring it is coded and tracked monthly and reported appropriately. This will include close working with the Project Accountant and PeatlandACTION Assistant Accountant.
- Assist in issuing Memorandums of Agreements and contracts required to support delivery of PeatlandACTION projects across all eight PeatlandACTION teams.
- Make sure invoices are paid and liaise with transaction services were appropriate/required.
Support coordination of PeatlandACTION events logistics. Where appropriate, the post will support the Peatland ACTION managers by organising and noting action points at internal and external meetings.
Assist in the assessment, implementation and reporting on H&S requirements, e.g. managing quarterly conversations/task reports and arranging DSE assessments/training. Contribute to Health & Safety Committee where appropriate.
Keep PeatlandACTION Programme Administrative requirements, and tasks, under review and, where deemed appropriate, secure/recruit and manage the B Grade posts in these tasks.
Support the PeatlandACTION Programme to implement NatureScot administrative requirements. This includes matters such as financial and business planning support; information management, supporting business continuity, arranging and booking meetings and hospitality; preparing and monitor equipment and PPE inventory; check telephone bills and travel & subsistence claims; and provide general Governance and Coordination support to the PeatlandACTION Team Managers and their teams: Communication & Planning: Technical; Delivery; Funding; and Data and Evidence.
Helping to support the integration and alignment of PeatlandACTION within NatureScot. This includes cascading NatureScot information to PeatlandACTION staff; maintain the PeatlandACTION organogram, scheduling Team Briefs and whole PeatlandACTION meetings; developing and maintaining close working relationships with NatureScot Areas and Activities; and attending the Activity/Unit Administrator Forum.
Maintain an overview of organisational development and attend NatureScot Change Partner meetings and help apply any requirements within the PeatlandACTION programme.

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

Knowledge and awareness of project or programme administration, health & safety and business planning requirements and delivery processes.
Familiar with the general functions and statutory duties of NatureScot, and the Peatland ACTION Programme.
Competent with document management systems, MS Office suite, Oracle e-business suite, Fusion and the business planning systems.
Ability to manage budgets and use financial management information, including understanding of procurement processes and experience of dealing with financial transactions.
Good communication skills, including influencing, listening and demonstrating clear written and verbal presentation
Good interpersonal skills with an ability to work in a team, to foster good relations and to encourage actions by others.
Proven ability to work on own initiative, accurately and to deadlines.
Solution focused and innovative approach, with experience of contributing to change initiatives.
Aptitude to resolve problems, including the use of novel and innovative techniques, and comfort with operating in a dynamic work environment, with an ability to learn and adapt to new circumstances, and work collaboratively.
Driving licence or other means of transport.

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 the civil service pension scheme, a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time, and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScot website for further details including below:
An environment with flexible working options
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions) https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/joining-the-pension-scheme/benefits-of-the-pension-scheme/
41.5 days of annual leave, including 5 fixed public holidays on St Andrews Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s 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 the Online 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.

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.

For information regarding the vacancy please contact

Cerian Baldwin, Peatland Programme Officer – Governance and Coordination

Email: cerian.baldwin@nature.scot

For information regarding the recruitment 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.

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