Marine Ornithologist

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 304971**Salary**:

- £33,520 - £38,329**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer- B2**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 3Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Aberdeen, Scotland, AB11 9DB : Leith, Scotland, EH6 6QQ : Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8LU : Inverness, Scotland, IV1 1SFAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Scottish Government has set a target to generate 50% of Scotland's overall energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030. Large-scale deployment of offshore wind farms (the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round) and other marine renewables are a key part of meeting this target so understanding the environmental effects of this essential.

Scientists within the Renewables and Ecology (RE) team of the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate provide scientific expertise and advice on the potential effects of marine renewables on key environmental receptors (marine birds, marine mammals, marine fish, fisheries, diadromous fish, benthic habitats and species, and oceanography).

This expertise and advice are underpinned by a scientific evidence base focusing on the environmental effects of marine renewables. RE scientists both identify evidence needs and develop and deliver research to address priority knowledge gaps. This evidence base is used to provide advice on marine energy developments, marine conservation, and climate change. This has included providing expertise on seabirds in relation to the recent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks, seabird ‘wrecks’, and the identification of potential management measures to improve seabird conservation prospects.

The evidence base is delivered through a combination of external commissioning, building collaborations with specialists and stakeholders, and in house science. We collaborate with science, policy and planning colleagues across the Marine Directorate, as well as universities, research institutes, NGOs, consultancies and industry to deliver high quality, relevant applied research that is used in real-world decision-making. Critical knowledge gaps that risk effective planning and consenting are addressed through Scottish Government’s Scottish Marine Energy Research (ScotMER) Programme. There will also be opportunities to take part in scientific cruises on the Marine Directorate’s research vessels.

A key environmental receptor for the Marine Directorate is seabirds, and we are looking to build our team of scientists by recruiting additional ornithologists

**Information about the Role**

We are in a global climate emergency. Would you like to play a critical role in producing scientific advice to help mitigate climate change while ensuring environmentally sustainable use of Scotland’s seas?

A key part of the role will be the provision of specialist advice and technical guidance on marine birds to Scottish Government’s Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) and policy and planning colleagues in relation to the assessment of environmental impacts of marine renewable developments. Critical to this will be the development of the scientific evidence base underpinning the advice via the ScotMER Programme and the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Ornithology Working Group.

You must ensure that you are familiar with the best available science through maintaining a comprehensive understanding of best practice and detailed up to date knowledge of marine bird ecology and assessment methodologies.

You will help to maintain and further develop good working relationships with relevant stakeholders, including NatureScot, JNCC, RSPB, academia, consultants, and industry. You will represent the Scottish Government at national and international forums. This is a varied and highly rewarding post in a technical field of scientific excellence, and the post holder must successfully manage a range of competing priorities often to very tight deadlines.

**Job description**:

- Support the Senior Marine Ornithologists in ensuring that advice within Government is based on the best available science and practice by identifying knowledge gaps that are key constraints to advice provision and initiating, scoping and delivering applied research (externally commissioned, in house or collaborative) that addresses these
- Help to identify and pursue opportunities for delivering relevant applied research, e.g. through external collaborations, securing external funding, PhD supervision, and other means
- Contribute to the preparation of scientific advice and guidance on seabirds to LOT and policy & planning colleagues within Scottish Government. This will principally be in relation to marine renewables but may also relate to other marine construction activities, marine conservation and other policy areas
- Represent MS at external meetings regarding these issues
- Maintain good commun