Senior Pelagic Fisheries Advisor Aberdeen, Scotland
Job description
The Marine Scotland Directorate is delivering bold and ambitious change in terms of the use and protection of our marine environment. We are at the forefront of global efforts to help tackle the twin crises of climate change and fisheries sustainability, as well seeking to maximise the potential of marine assets and resources to support the prosperity of our people and communities.
The work of the Fisheries Advice Group (within the Fisheries Assessment and Advice Programme of Marine Scotland) is multi-disciplinary, cross-cutting and is a key part of a high-profile, fast-moving area that attracts significant Ministerial, stakeholder and media interest. The evidence base we provide is essential for the sustainable management of Scotland’s fish and shellfish resources.
The Senior Pelagic Fisheries Advisor role is wide and varied, and focuses on three main areas of responsibility:
- You will lead a team of two scientists, and work with both the Fisheries Advice Group Leader and the Fisheries Advice and Assessment Programme Manager, who you will assist with budgeting, workplan definition, and standing-in for programme leadership roles as required.
- You will provide both routine and ad hoc advice to policy colleagues, including providing scientific support to the Scottish and UK delegations at international negotiations for pelagic and widely-distributed stocks, and working with the Chief Fisheries Advisor for Scotland as required.
- You will be responsible for a number of further science delivery areas, including fisheries stock assessment, development of data analysis and collection programmes for stocks of interest, management and delivery against externally funded contracts, handling relationships with key industry stakeholders, and at-sea or onshore fieldwork.
In your advisory role, you will be required to interact with Fisheries Policy colleagues regularly and to represent Scottish Ministers and Marine Scotland in various fora to provide scientific advice on generating and maintaining sustainable pelagic fisheries for the people of Scotland.
This is a key leadership role and will require a resilient individual with outstanding communication and motivational qualities, and a commitment and drive to react to challenges as they arise, and to provide a responsive reporting service to Policy colleagues.
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the Strategic Objective: Wealthier and Fairer & Greener; and National Outcomes: “We have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy” and “We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our natural environment”. The post also provides the information needed (together with international data sources) to populate the National Indicator: “Sustainability of Fish Stocks”.
Responsibilities:
- Provide both routine and ad hoc advice to policy colleagues, including providing scientific support to the Scottish and UK delegations at international negotiations, for pelagic and widely-distributed stocks.
- Provide leadership and line management for one B3 and one B2 staff.
- Assist the Fisheries Advice Group Leader and Fisheries Assessment and Advice Programme Manager with corporate roles, assist the Chief Fisheries Advisor for Scotland as required, and stand in for programme leadership roles on an ad hoc basis.
- Carry out assessments of pelagic and widely distributed stocks at international working groups.
- Develop data collection programmes for new stocks of interest, including oversight of scientific uses of remote electronic monitoring.
- Develop and maintain of relationships with key industry stakeholders.
- Provide scientific analysis and support as required, including development of student project proposals and supervision of students.
Competencies:
Leading Others
Improving Performance
Analysis and Use of Evidence
Post-graduate qualification or equivalent in relevant field (Marine sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Mathematics or other science-based subject) combined with relevant experience.
Essential Criteria:
1. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of fisheries science, management and sustainability aspects at strategic and policy levels, with a particular focus on pelagic fisheries.
2. Proven record of delivering complex, time-bound projects simultaneously across a diverse workload whilst managing competing demands from internal and external stakeholders.
3. Good evidence of experience in the analysis and development of options to inform decision making around policy development or project delivery.
4. Demonstrable experience of building strong and credible relationships with a range of stakeholders, and experience in providing advice and support to senior management and Scottish Ministers.
Location: Marine Lab, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB
This post is based in Aberdeen, with virtual and hybrid working being the current arrangement. The post will be offered on a location-flexible basis, but occasional travel to Aberdeen will be required at the postholder’s own expense.
Interview and Assessment: Dates to be confirmed
Minimum time in post:
You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.
HOW TO APPLY & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
You must fully complete and submit an online application via the website before the closing date using evidence based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
Additional information:
The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
For information regarding this post please contact [email protected]
Important Information Regarding Interviews:
In recognition of ongoing measures and guidance in response to Covid-19, a decision has been taken that all interviews will be conducted in a virtual/remote setting.
All applicants must ensure that they have a suitable space to complete the virtual interview via MS Teams and ensure that Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity will be sufficient to carry both audio and video feeds to undertake the interview.
Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work. We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via [email protected]
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
