Economist

Economist

Job title: 1012-309 Economist Grade: D Vacancy type: Permanent Hours: 35 Salary £38242 Location: Scotland, flexible (Home and hybrid working will be considered) Closing date: Midday, 11 June 2024 Internal Interview Date: 03 July 2024 External Interview Date: 09 July 2024

Job Purpose Summary

The postholder will have a key role in supporting NatureScot s vision for a net zero, nature-positive Scottish economy. Addressing the climate and nature emergencies means ensuring that natural capital is a key focus in national policy and decision making to support Scotland s future prosperity and well-being. In addition the direct economic impacts of investing in nature and nature-based solutions are growing and need to be understood and accounted for. Economics advice is required across much of NatureScot s remit, in relation to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, understanding and advising on role of nature in meeting society s climate mitigation and adaptation challenges, transforming land and sea use to deliver nature and climate outcomes, securing public and private finance, incentivising and regulating development and infrastructure projects, and embedding natural capital approaches into government economic policy. We are looking for someone who enjoys working in a dynamic and demanding environment, working closely as part of a team, and who has a proven ability in ecological and environmental economics. The successful candidate will have opportunities to develop a range of skills, building on their existing knowledge and experience.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Provide economics advice within NatureScot, including undertaking and commissioning socio-economic assessments and working with partners to apply natural capital concepts in the public and private sector. •

Provide micro-economics advice to NatureScot

staff on topics across NatureScot s remit, including land use and management, wildlife management, biodiversity, rural development and marine issues. •

Contribute to the development of Scottish Government policy

on sustainability and natural capital, including gathering and communicating evidence. Emerging areas include promoting the concept of the nature-positive economy in Scotland, developing multi-capitals approaches, and contributing to ways of measuring societal well-being and community wealth. •

Work with colleagues and partners to support the application of natural capital

concepts in the public and private sector, including natural capital accounting in rural and urban contexts at different scales, and investment frameworks. •

Manage projects

to commission technical economic advice, e.g. local economic impact multipliers, and to contribute to projects with NatureScot s partners. •

Act as technical lead for the Natural Capital Asset Index

- provide annual updates of the Index for the National Performance Framework and develop the Index to update the method and underpinning datasets. •

Develop awareness and capacity

amongst NatureScot staff on natural capital approaches, and materials to promote natural capital approaches beyond NatureScot. This post will be part of the Natural Capital team within Natural Resource Management. This team leads on natural capital and socio-economic issues within NatureScot, with a particular emphasis on natural capital approaches in land use, economic development and public policy, rural development including nature-based jobs and skills, and securing investment in nature-based solutions (nature finance). The post holder will be expected to participate fully in team meetings, contributing ideas to the wider work of the group.

Specific Role Requirements

Essential Skills • Effective written and verbal communications, especially the ability to convey complex information clearly and confidently • Ability to source, understand, interpret/challenge and explain economic data and information • Ability to use economic methods including economic valuation techniques • Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and work on own initiative • Ability to work with others in teams and working groups within and out with NatureScot, and to coach colleagues and external partners in developing their confidence in natural capital concepts. • Knowledge of natural capital concepts and their application, including use of ecosystem services framework Desirable Skills • An understanding of NatureScot s role and objectives and appreciation of issues affecting Scotland s nature and climate outcomes • Project management experience or a willingness to learn

Pre-requisites:

• 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.

Working for NatureScot

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 .

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