Job title: 1014-343 Outdoor Learning – People and Places Officer | Grade: D | Vacancy type: Permanent | Hours: 35 hours | Salary: £38,616 (pay award pending effective 01 April 2025) | Location: Hybrid. Home office location of Battleby or Great Glen House preferred | Closing date: Midnight 7 October 2025 | Internal Interview Date: 6 November 2025| External Interview Date: TBC

Job Purpose Summary

The Outdoor learning officer will be part of a small dynamic team working to encourage more people and communities to connect to nature through learning, volunteering, health and participation. Your work will focus on developing the policy and practice of outdoor learning in Scotland; the development of our approach and practice to our educational work on our National Nature Reserves; and the provision of support to other work in the activity and across NatureScot which has an educational component. You will work closely with the other outdoor learning officer in the team to deliver a joint programme of educational work.

You will be part of the People and Places Activity team which leads NatureScot’s exciting range of work to inspire more people and communities to experience, enjoy, connect and benefit from nature. In addition to your team, this includes a range of work on the provision of policy, advice and project work on landscape and greenspace; paths; green infrastructure and place-making; nature reserves, parks and other places managed for people and nature; recreation, access rights, visitor management and tourism. The Activity also develops and co-ordinates NatureScot’s approach to human rights to a health environment, just transition and nature-based solutions. We are also the national lead for NatureScot’s National Nature Reserves and Nature Reserves.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• To deliver the SBS actions in relation to educational reform and the implementation of the Learning for Sustainability Action Plan – this could include on-going input to curriculum review; development of CLPL for teachers; and supporting roll-out of the Nature Discovery Map Scotland to schools.
• Development of a strategic approach to educational work on our NNRs, working closely with NNR managers to build capacity and practice.
• Provision of educational advice to other work in the Activity and elsewhere in NatureScot
• Support for the STEM cohort and delivery of STEM activity across NatureScot
• Contributing to the development of thinking and practice on nature connection and evaluation

We are expecting additional areas of work will be identified as part of the new Corporate Plan, so a flexible approach will be required to the development of your role.

Skills and Competencies (Please refer to these in your Supporting Statement)

• A passion for, and practical experience of outdoor learning and engaging young people from all backgrounds in our work to protect, restore and value nature.
• Good knowledge, understanding and experience of working effectively with teachers, schools and wider education sector.
• Experience of developing a strategic approach to (educational) work
• Experience of and track record of providing educational advice to others
• Interest and understanding of the development of thinking and practice on nature connection and evaluation
• An understanding of the biological and climate crisis facing Scotland and the role that nature-based solutions can provide to help this situation.
• A creative and flexible approach to work, with a proven ability to adapt to changing situations, embrace new areas of work, find solutions to issues arising and work in teams with different colleagues.
• Good writing, verbal, engagement and analysis skills
• Experience of, and a track record in, effective project management.
• A relevant higher education degree in education or equivalent qualification with transferable skills or demonstrate qualification by relevant practical experience.
• Experience of IT systems including email, Word, Excel and GIS, website review and management and open approach to learning new systems.
• 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

Dougie Pollok – Biodiversity Engagement and Learning Manager; dougie.pollok @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.