Do you want to play an important role in tackling the climate change emergency by helping to enable the sustainable development of offshore wind in Scotland?
OCTOBER START DATE
The Scottish Government is preparing for the implementation of a new HR and Finance platform and, as a result, some job offers will be subject to an October 2024 start date at the earliest. This will be confirmed as your application progresses.
We are looking for someone who:
• Is excited to lead a team in developing new scientific project proposals that will support the evidence base for developing offshore wind in Scotland
• Has experience of successfully leading multi-partner projects and of seeking out new funding sources
• Is committed to the sustainable development of offshore wind
If you are the above, then this exciting opportunity to join the Marine Directorate could be for you.
In January 2022, Crown Estate Scotland announced the successful applicants to the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round to commence a new phase of offshore wind farm construction in Scottish waters helping Scotland meet its Net Zero targets, become carbon neutral by 2045 and tackle the climate emergency. The Scottish Government is responsible for determining where the ScotWind projects will be located, administering the related offshore planning consents, and ensuring that projects are delivered in an environmentally sustainable manner. The Renewables and Ecology Team (R&E) in the Marine Directorate provides specialist scientific advice to regulators and policy makers to support this.
The R&E team currently has around 25 staff who provide advice within government on the potential environmental impacts of marine energy on key receptors including birds, marine mammals, fish and fisheries, benthic habitats, and diadromous fish. Our specialists also provide advice on other Scottish Government policy priorities, such as marine protected area management and regulation of other marine activities. The team provides the science lead to the Scottish Marine Energy Research (ScotMER) Programme, which identifies and addresses key evidence gaps that may be barriers to the sustainable development of marine renewables in Scotland. Evidence gaps are addressed via collaborative, commissioned or in house research, which the R&E team provide the scientific leadership for.
This is a permanent post. The postholder will lead on the development and delivery of renewables science projects within R&E that address critical knowledge gaps relating to the sustainable delivery of offshore wind and other marine renewables. The areas of focus will include seabirds, marine mammals, benthic species and habitats, marine fish, fisheries, diadromous fish, underwater noise, oceanography, cumulative effects, ecosystem effects, compensatory measures, and nature positive outcomes. The post holder will manage the relationship with the ScotMER Programme located in the Offshore Wind Directorate, and work across Scottish Government to help ensure that critical knowledge gaps relating to offshore wind and approaches to addressing them are identified, and suitable funding is secured. This will require that the appropriate processes for costing, approval, and delivery of externally and internally funded research are followed. This role will involve close liaison with colleagues across the Marine Directorate and the Offshore Wind Directorate, and a collaborative approach with both internal and external stakeholders, and potential delivery partners. The post will maintain and enhance relationships with national and international partners to further enable collaborative working and accessing of external funding streams.
Whilst we anticipate the role will be focussed on issues related to offshore wind, we operate a flexible resourcing policy within the Marine Directorate and as such the post-holder may be required to work on other areas of high priority work as required.
• Manage the development of proposals, securing of funding, and delivery of a programme of projects across REEA that improve the knowledge base or assessment methodologies for marine renewable licensing.
• Lead on managing the relationship between R&E and the ScotMER team, and coordinate interactions between the two. This will include working with both teams to ensure that processes are fit for purpose and streamlined.
• Work with specialists within the R&E team to understand critical evidence gaps as well as areas where there are synergies between specialist areas both within the team and across other policy areas to enable strategic approaches to particular evidence gaps.
• Ensure that internal costing, approval, and budget management are followed for all projects, along with any additional processes for externally funded projects.
• Work with internal and external partners to identify future funding opportunities or other delivery mechanisms.
• The position may include people and delivery management
Competencies:
(Provide evidence at assessment / interview)
You will be assessed via the Science framework, please find out more below:
(Provide evidence in application form)
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
WORKING PATTERN
Our standard hours are 37 hours per week, reducing to 35 hours per week for all staff on 1 October 2024. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
EQUALITY STATEMENT
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.
Find out more about Net Zero recruitment at: Net Zero roles at Scottish Government - Scottish Government Jobs
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
CONTACT
For further information about this role contact: Kate.brookes@gov.scot
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