Natural Heritage Officer - Development Plans & Heritage - SIC08220
| Posting date: | 21 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £46,974.58 to £48,885.93 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 14 September 2025 |
| Location: | Lerwick, ZE1 0LZ |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Shetland Islands Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SIC08220 |
Summary
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Are you passionate about biodiversity and the preservation of natural heritage? Ready for a new adventure in one of the UK’s most stunning landscapes? The Shetland Islands Council is looking for a committed and knowledgeable Natural Heritage Officer to join our Development Plans & Heritage Team.
This is a full-time opportunity to play a vital role in safeguarding and enhancing the unique terrestrial and marine environments of our islands. You’ll support both the terrestrial and marine planning teams within the Planning Service, contributing to environmental enhancement projects, shaping planning guidance, and carrying out environmental assessments linked to our strategic plans.
As a key member of the Council’s Natural Heritage Team, you’ll provide expert advice on environmental legislation and policy—particularly within the context of the Scottish Planning system—helping to ensure our decisions are informed, sustainable, and forward-thinking.
The Natural Heritage Officer is responsible, through the Team Leader – Development Plans and Heritage, for contributing to the delivery of a service providing robust policy relating to natural heritage matters (including terrestrial and marine biodiversity, landscape and earth heritage) in the public interest and in the interests of protecting the natural environment and assisting the Council in meeting its statutory duties and responsibilities under The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts.
The postholder will be required to exercise the necessary balanced judgement and expertise to formulate natural heritage policy and present recommendations to the Council. This will require the interpretation of information from a wide range of sources in order to balance the obligations of compliance with national legislation and guidance, Council policy and public aspirations and concerns.
More detail is provided in the Job Profile, Person Specification and Conditions of Service Summary attached to the bottom of this advert.
Additional Information
- The grade of this post is K
- Salary shown in the advert is inclusive of Distant Islands Allowance of £2,859 per annum (pro rata)
- Permanent Full Time post for 37.0 Hours per Week , 52.18 weeks per year
- A relocation package does apply to this post
- We will pay interview expenses from within the UK
- You must have the ability to travel throughout Shetland at short notice and where public transport is limited
- We are happy to talk flexible working
During the application process you are required to give the names of two persons not related to you, who we can contact to provide a reference to support your application.
This post is based at 8 North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland
For further details relating to this post, please contact: Suzanne Shearer, Team Leader, Tel - 01595 745858, Email - suzanne.shearer@shetland.gov.uk
If you have a disability which prevents you from applying online, please call 01595 744032.
Information about Shetland
Shetland is an archipelago in the north of the British Isles where you'll find freedom, wildlife and wild beauty, but also a rich culture and dynamic, forward-looking society. The Islands have a thriving and diverse economy full of opportunities and offer residents the ideal work/life balance. Shetland combines stunning coastal landscapes and wide open spaces with friendly, bustling island communities. Factor in Shetland's impressive modern amenities, highly regarded schools and the Islands offer a work life balance rarely found elsewhere.
Find out more about:
Living and working in Shetland: here
The Shetland Islands Council: here
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