NatureScot
Recreation, Access and Paths Officer
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1014-316 Recreation, Access and Paths Officer | Grade: D | Hours: 35 | Vacancy type: Permanent | Salary £41,567 | Location: NatureScot offices, home or hybrid | Closing date: Midnight 05 August 2026 | Interview Date: TBC
Job Purpose Summary
You will contribute to a broad programme of work led by NatureScot’s People and Places Activity aimed at supporting and encouraging access to, enjoyment of, and care for nature and including corporate plan priorities to support more people to reconnect and benefit from nature and to adopt and champion nature positive behaviours in the outdoors.
A key focus of the post will be to support our work in raising awareness, supporting behaviour changes and developing guidance and advice in respect to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the responsibilities associated with access rights in Scotland. It will also support the implementation of our outdoor access and recreation priorities included in the new Enjoying Nature and the Outdoors plan.
The post is based in our People and Places Activity whose work is at the heart of delivering NatureScot’s ambition to reconnect people with nature, encouraging people to enjoy, value and benefit from nature; to protect nature from the adverse impacts of visitors; and to realise the potential to restore nature through place-based approaches that create healthy, climate resilient and nature-rich communities and landscapes.
Key areas of work will include:
- Provision of specialist advice on access rights, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the integration of access and recreation with other land uses.
- Making the case for paths, outdoor access, recreation and nature connection benefits across multiple policy areas including planning, transport, land-use, tourism, health and economy.
- Managing the SOAC supporting guidance programme and reporting to the National Access Forum.
- Helping deliver priorities and actions identified in the Enjoying Nature and the Outdoors action plan and the SOAC Behaviour Change programme.
- Providing support and guidance to our National Nature Reserve staff and other teams within NatureScot who manage or have issues or queries associated with outdoor access and visitor management.
- Respond to requests from Scottish Government, access authorities, media and the public for outdoor access advice and visitor management.
Essential Skills (Please refer to this in your Supporting Statement)
- A relevant degree, or equivalent experience, relating to countryside/visitor/outdoor recreation management, the environment and the policy landscape in Scotland for increasing and managing enjoyment and participation in outdoor recreation for multiple benefits.
- A good understanding and some practical experience of the legal framework for outdoor access in Scotland and familiarity with access rights and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
- Strong policy analysis skills, with experience of effective project and time management across a busy and varied workload and delivery of quality, fit-for-purpose outputs, to time and budget.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey technical information and advice to different audiences with authority and tact in varied situations (in person, on-line, e-mail etc).
- Preparing clear and concise briefings, writing papers and supporting the development of guidance and policy.
- An ability to foster good working relationships and demonstrate strong skills and practical experience of partnership working, collaboration and mediation to build consensus and deliver outputs and outcomes.
- A flexible approach, outlook and people skills to be a good team worker, willing to get involved and support others in delivering the required outputs.
- An ability to work under their own initiative and within multi-discipline teams to drive forward tasks and projects at pace.
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Desirable Skills
- An understanding and insight into behaviour change theory and practice and/or the social and economic benefits of outdoor recreation.
- Experience of working as an Access Officer, Access Manager or in an equivalent Access and Recreation role in the public or voluntary sector in Scotland.
- Extensive working knowledge and experience of Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
- Experience of developing and the practical implementation of Scottish Outdoor Access Code related campaigns and behaviour change activities.
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:
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- 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/
- 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 recruitment process please contact:
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.
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