1012-401 Natural Capital Tools Manager (Farming with Nature) - E-Grade - April 2024

Help us tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change by enabling a natural capital approach to land management across Scotland. This post will be instrumental in the development of a landscape-scale natural capital tool designed to help accelerate nature recovery and bring the benefits of nature closer to people. As part of NatureScot's transformative Farming with Nature Programme (FwN), previously known as the Natural Capital Pilot Programme, the post holder will work alongside our existing Natural Capital Manager to jointly manage and develop the landscape scale natural capital tool.

The tool will be the first of its kind in Scotland and is being developed in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. By quantifying the ecosystem services that nature provides, the tool will help decision makers identify opportunities and scenarios that maximize benefits for both people and nature.

Continuing with and expanding on our current co-design approach, the role will involve working closely with project partners and stakeholders to refine the design of the tool, manage the development and contribute to longer-term planning and legacy, and support its testing within a number of local landscapes across Scotland.

Context

NatureScot's Farming with Nature Programme (FwN) is a suite of projects to test natural capital approaches at field, farm and landscape scale, in order to inform future rural policy and land management support schemes.

As part of this programme, NatureScot is leading on the development of a new tool that will enable decision makers to take a natural capital approach to managing land at the landscape scale in Scotland.

A natural capital approach is when the full range of benefits that we receive from nature are taken into consideration within the decision-making process. In order for these benefits to be included within the decision-making process, we need the methodologies and tools to quantify them. By mapping and modelling how certain land use changes might impact the ecosystem services they provide, you can identify the opportunities and scenarios that provide the most benefits for both people and nature. Understanding the true value of nature is essential for tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, and it can help Scotland secure a resilient, inclusive, nature-rich and low-carbon economy for our future.

The tool is being developed in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, the authors of EcoServR, an existing tool in the coding language R for mapping natural capital assets and ecosystem services. The 'bones' of the tool are based on EcoServR but core functionality, the ecosystem services that are measured, and the end product will be bespoke for Scotland and developed using a co-design process.

Over the next few years, the tool will be co-designed with a wide-ranging group of land managers and stakeholders from across Scotland. So far, the co-design group comprises 100+ different individuals from across a range of organisations including public bodies, eNGOs, local authorities, natural capital consultants, research institutions and nature finance organisations. A prototype of the tool is currently being piloted with seven landscape scale partnerships, the results of which will further influence the design of the final tool.

Working Environment

The Natural Capital Tools Manager will be part of the Natural Capital Team within Natural Resource Management, working in collaboration with project partners and stakeholders. The role may involve occasional travel within Scotland to engage with stakeholders and participate in workshops and meetings. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a pioneering natural capital tool that can have a significant impact on future land management decisions in Scotland.

The post-holder will also work closely with the Natural Capital Team and others in the Farming with Nature Programme to contribute policy and technical expertise on natural capital, in particular to NatureScot colleagues and to the Scottish Government.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Leadership

• Jointly lead the design refinement, development and testing of NatureScot's Landscape-Scale Natural Capital Prioritisation Tool working in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University.


Engagement and liaison

• Facilitate the co-design process (both inside and outwith NatureScot) to inform future development of the tool.


• Engage with those working on landscape-scale natural capital projects in Scotland to understand potential uses and applications, and learn from existing tools or experience.


• Liaise with those leading on accessibility of datasets for a natural capital approach, within NatureScot and Scottish Government to promote integration and synergies.


• Engage with those working on other natural capital tools (existing or in development) to share and learn from experiences.


• Provide technical and policy advice on application of natural capital theory and practice to others to NatureScot colleagues and stakeholders when required.


Project Management and Delivery

• Plan the tasks and resources required to further refine and develop, and roll out the tool, ensuring effective use of NatureScot (and partner) resources and timely delivery of outputs in line with agreed outcomes.


• Manage a small team in NatureScot working on the piloting, testing, and development of the tool.


• Manage contracts (including writing or approving contract specifications) to support the development of the tool.


• Provide regular written and verbal progress reports to the Farming with Nature Programme Board


Quality Assurance

• Ensure the tool is produced to a high quality in terms of the underlying assumptions, and builds on current earning and state of the art, using innovation where appropriate.


Technical Advice

• Provide occasional technical advice on natural capital assessment to related projects within NatureScot and Scottish Government.


• Provide occasional technical advice on digital tool development to colleagues in Farming with Nature and more widely in NatureScot.


Other

• Contribute to the management and success of the wider Farming with Nature Programme and Natural Resource Management Activity


Prerequisites Required

• Right to work in the UK


• 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
  
  Knowledge of the design and use of natural capital assessment tools and/or ecological modelling tools


• Expertise in ecosystem services and/or ecological economics and economic valuation.


• Proven track record of co-design and/or running workshops with external stakeholders.


• Confidence in public speaking, with an ability to network, negotiate, and influence.


• Understanding of a natural capital approach and the benefits of its application at a range of scales and situations in informing decision-making.


• Awareness of how a natural capital approach can address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change across rural and urban landscapes, and NatureScot's role in facilitating this.


• Understanding of the development of software-based decision support tools - especially to support environmental management decisions.


• Proven project management skills, with ability to lead the planning and delivery of projects, manage multiple tasks within resource limits, and manage key risks and dependencies.


• Budget management, and the management of contracts.


• People Management, including team management and coaching others.


• Interpersonal and communication skills, including effective leadership, collaboration and engagement, listening, and the ability to explain complex information clearly.


• Ability to resolve problems, including the use of novel and innovative techniques.


• Comfort with operating in a dynamic work environment, with an ability to learn and adapt to new circumstances, and work collaboratively.


• The post covers the whole of Scotland and on occasions this will require travel that necessitates nights away from home.


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. You will aim to minimise travel in accordance with NatureScot's low carbon operating procedures. However, you will, in some circumstances, be expected to work with colleagues and stakeholders from across Scotland, which will involve some travel and may involve overnight stays.