Operations Support

NatureScot; Aberdeen City, Elgin; Hybrid; GBP 3,100 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil service pension

Hybrid working

Flexible working arrangements

Annual leave allowance

Volunteer leave

Job summary

NatureScot is seeking a 1013-406 Operations Support - North, a temporary position in Aberdeen, with hybrid working options. The role focuses on providing comprehensive administrative support across the organisation, including office facilities, records management and financial processing in a fast-paced environment.

The post covers the North team offices and National Nature Reserves, demanding versatility, teamwork, and good IT skills.

Qualifications

• Relevant administrative experience.
• Well-developed IT skills, competent with MS Office suite with an aptitude for learning and using Oracle based applications
• Experience of financial processing and purchasing
• Knowledge and experience of records management
• Good organisational and time management skills with ability to work independently with initiative and as part of a team
• Good communication skills, both written and spoken, including communicating with a variety of colleagues and external contacts
• Understanding of health and safety policies and procedures relevant to this role, and the quality outputs and standards required.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in response to changing priorities.
• Ability to work accurately and to deadlines.
• An enthusiastic, positive and conscientious approach to work.
• Full, clean driving licence, or be able to call on alternative means of transport.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the effective running of the Aberdeen office, ensuring it is well presented, well stocked and a customer focused service is provided to all staff based there.
• Manage first aid kits, the defibrillator and biosecurity kits.
• Act as the local Vehicle Liaison Officer; manage the pool vehicle based in the Aberdeen office, ensure monthly vehicles inspections and any repairs, servicing/MOT are carried out. Assist with the administration of the pool car Book-it system for the Area. Arrange hire cars when required. Assist with the management of local electric charging points.
• Support management of information and data across the organisation as a Records Liaison Officer (RLO). Maintain both the electronic & physical filing system, including file review. Arrange for the closure and off-site storage of files with Iron Mountain and also arrange for their retrieval when required.
• Assist with financial processing, letting contracts, procuring items as and when required through Government Procurement Card (GPC) or purchase order, particularly for National Nature Reserves. Liaise with our Finance, Planning and Performance team. Reconcile GPC purchases on a monthly basis.
• Arrange bookings for North team travel and accommodation.
• General administrative duties assisting operations staff with day-to-day requirements.
• Updating corporate systems including the database for protected areas (MIDAS) & Contacts Database.
• Carry out any work delegated by the Area Administrator.

Skills

MS Office suite

Oracle based applications

Financial processing

Records management

Organisation & time management

Communication skills

Health and safety awareness

Adaptability

Driving licence / transport access

Tools

Oracle

Job description

Job Title: 1013-406 Operations Support - North | Grade: B | Vacancy Type: Temporary until 31.03.2027 with possibility of extension | Hours: 35 | Salary: £30,076 | Location: NatureScot Offices (hybrid working to be considered) | Closing Date: Midnight 18 October 2026 | Interview Date: 02 November 2026

Role Profile

Job Purpose Summary

The North Administrative Support role is part of NatureScot’s National Operations North team.The purpose of this post is to provide effective administrative support across the organisation, with a focus on both the Aberdeen and Elgin offices, and National Nature Reserves. The post covers a full range of general administrative functions, as well as assisting with office facility management. We are looking for a versatile individual who wishes to utilise and develop their administrative skills. This role would suit someone who enjoys working with others, keen to learn & can adapt to a reactive work environment. The role is based in Aberdeen.

Key responsibilities

• Responsible for the effective running of the Aberdeen office, ensuring it is well presented, well stocked and a customer focused service is provided to all staff based there.
• Manage first aid kits, the defibrillator and biosecurity kits.
• Act as the local Vehicle Liaison Officer; manage the pool vehicle based in the Aberdeen office, ensure monthly vehicles inspections and any repairs, servicing/MOT are carried out. Assist with the administration of the pool car "Book-it" system for the Area. Arrange hire cars when required.Assist with the management of local electric charging points.
• Support management of information and data across the organisation as a Records Liaison Officer (RLO). Maintain both the electronic & physical filing system, including file review. Arrange for the closure and off-site storage of files with Iron Mountain and also arrange for their retrieval when required.
• Assist with financial processing, letting contracts, procuring items as and when required through Government Procurement Card (GPC) or purchase order, particularly for National Nature Reserves.Liaise with our Finance, Planning and Performance team. Reconcile GPC purchases on a monthly basis.
• Arrange bookings for North team travel and accommodation.
• General administrative duties assisting operations staff with day-to-day requirements.
• Updating corporate systems including the database for protected areas (MIDAS) & Contacts Database.
• Carry out any work delegated by the Area Administrator.

Essential Skills

1. Relevant administrative experience.
2. Well-developed IT skills, competent with MS Office suite with an aptitude for learning and using Oracle based applications
3. Experience of financial processing and purchasing
4. Knowledge and experience of records management
5. Good organisational and time management skills with ability to work independently with initiative and as part of a team
6. Good communication skills, both written and spoken, including communicating with a variety of colleagues and external contacts
7. Understanding of health and safety policies and procedures relevant to this role, and the quality outputs and standards required.
8. Ability to be flexible and adaptable in response to changing priorities.
9. Ability to work accurately and to deadlines.
10. An enthusiastic, positive and conscientious approach to work.
11. Full, clean driving licence, or be able to call on alternative means of transport.

Desirable Skills

• An interest in the natural heritage and the role of NatureScot

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:
• We support flexible working for all roles, including part-time, compressed hours, hybrid working and job share. All vacancies are considered suitable for flexible working unless there is a business reason not to. We encourage applicants to discuss potential flexible working arrangements with us
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions)https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/memberhub/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

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:

Isla Martin: [e-mail]

For information regarding the recruitment process please 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