Director of Nature and Climate Change

NatureScot; South Kesteven; Hybrid; GBP 86,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization is seeking a Director of Nature and Climate Change to drive biodiversity and climate strategies. The role involves managing significant teams and budgets, engaging with stakeholders, and leading transformational change for nature restoration in Scotland.

Qualifications

• Experience managing diverse financial portfolios.
• Strong interpersonal and engagement skills.
• Ability to drive transformational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of biodiversity and climate change strategies.
• Manage a team of c200 employees and a budget of c £7m.
• Engage with stakeholders including senior politicians and NGOs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Financial Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Job title: 1010-301 Director of Nature and Climate Change| Grade: H | Vacancy type: Permanent| Hours: 35 | Salary £85,419 |Location: Anywhere in Scotland in proximity to a NatureScot office; regular travel to NatureScot locations expected. Hybrid working is available| Closing date: Midnight, 27 May 2025 | Interview date: w/c 2nd June

Job Purpose Summary

This is an exciting time to join NatureScot. NatureScot is preparing a new Corporate Plan, and you will join the organisation at a pivotal time in this consideration as it seeks to drive forward transformational change to reverse the loss of biodiversity and respond to the challenge of climate change. You will be expected to play a role in shaping the future objectives for the organisation including implementation of change across your own directorate to ensure we can respond rapidly to our external environment and embrace new opportunities. You will be an enthusiastic advocate for transformation action to promote positive action for nature across the organisation as a whole and externally.

As director and member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be expected to make a significant impact on long-term direction, strategy and objectives of the organisation by leading, directing and managing the workforce across major activities of strategic importance to the organisation whilst influencing external stakeholders.

Specific role requirements:

We are looking for a Director of Nature and Climate Change to lead on the delivery of significant areas of work across NatureScot’s four key areas of focus:

• Drive nature positive change in agricultural practice, land use and the marine environment
• Achieve our 30x30 commitment to safeguard 30% of our land and sea by 2030
• Increase public and private sector investment in nature and ensure good development
• Promote nature positive land and wildlife management through strengthened regulation

The Director will lead the work of five activity teams, including c200 employees and a budget of c £7m

This role will make a major contribution to the delivery of biodiversity and climate change outcomes for Scotland. It will ensure that Scotland has an ambitious response to the new global targets for biodiversity for the decade ahead, will ensure Scotland has 30% of its land and sea protected for nature, target funds and increase action for nature restoration and ensure wider support for using nature-based solutions to tackle climate change.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead the implementation of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy 6-year Delivery Plan in conjunction with Scottish Government and partners. This will ensure Scotland has new statutory biodiversity targets, and an effective suite of indicators to monitor and drive forward progress.
• Steer NatureScot’s input to the Natural Environment Bill to enable it to bring in new progressive measures to tackle biodiversity loss and lead work to develop Scotland’s commitment to implementing global biodiversity targets, ensuring Scotland achieves the target of having 30x30 land and sea managed positively for nature by 2030.
• Lead NatureScot’s contribution to the climate change action. Playing an influential role in ensuring that nature-based solutions are developed as a key response to meeting international climate change targets, as well as supporting environmentally sensitive offshore renewable development.
• Lead the delivery of the ambitions of the Board for protected areas and ensure Scotland’s National Nature Reserves make a significant contribution to wider climate change and biodiversity goals and marine protected areas are managed to support healthy and productive ecosystems.
• Oversee NatureScot’s monitoring and evidence programmes to ensure that we can use the high-quality science and innovative technology solutions to underpin our advice and advocacy for nature recovery.
• Ensure that NatureScot continues to play a key role to assist with the delivery of Scottish Government ambitions for health, education and equality. Ensure the delivery of targeted interventions on place-making and green infrastructure to demonstrate the benefits of enhancing communities’ connection with nature.
• Be a bold and ambitious leader able to inspire staff and external stakeholders to work collectively to achieve nature restoration and climate resilience across built and rural Scotland.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge (Please refer to these in your supporting statement)

To deliver these objectives, you will:

• Contribute effectively to the leadership of NatureScot as a member of the Senior Leadership Team demonstrating a collective leadership approach as well as providing inspirational leadership to your own teams.
• Communicate a clear strategic vision for your areas of responsibility and ensure that this vision translates to delivery. You will review the performance of your areas of responsibility regularly and implement improvements as required.
• Drive transformational change, including in relation to digital delivery, both at the corporate level and for your own areas of responsibility.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal and engagement skills. You will be expected to engage at high level with a range of stakeholders, including senior politicians; officials in central and local government; public bodies; environmental NGOs; third sector; and private sector. You will be comfortable working in a board context.
• Demonstrate strong communication and representational skills.
• Have experience of managing a diverse financial portfolio and an understanding of financial management processes.
• Have experience and knowledge of the subject areas covered by this role.

Prerequisites

• To undertake a Disclosure Scotland application.
• Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract.
• Applicants must be able to travel across Scotland to attend meetings and site visits as required – this may involve occasional overnight stays away from home.

Gaelic language

• Although Gaelic language is not a prerequisite it is a desirable skill in support of our commitment to our Gaelic Language Plan.

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

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

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

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

For information regarding the vacancy please contact

Eileen Stuart, Director of Nature and Climate Change [e-mail]

For information regarding the application process contact [e-mail]

Nature is vital to us all, so it's important that NatureScot represents the people of Scotland. The more diverse our workforce is, the more effectively we can connect everyone with nature. We encourage applications from candidates of all ages and genders, people from ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.