Operations Officer

Overview:
The Marine Directorate manages Scotland’s marine and freshwater environments, dealing with issues such as sea fisheries, marine litter, offshore renewables and aquaculture. We have more than 700 staff around Scotland including scientists, mariners, enforcement officers, policy specialists, finance specialists and economists.

Operations currently have our own fleet of two aircraft, three Marine Protection vessels, two inshore protection vessels and two Marine Research vessels making us an exciting, unique and dynamic working environment.

Marine Directorate Operations are responsible for deterring and detecting illegal activities through effective compliance and enforcement arrangements. We employ Marine staff that are responsible for the crewing of Marine Scotland Compliance's three Marine Protection vessels and Coastal Inspection staff, who make up the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate. The Coastal staff are located at 18 Fishery Offices around the coast of Scotland and at the Registration of Buyers and Sellers (RBS) Unit, which is based in Aberdeen. The UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre is based in Victoria Quay, Edinburgh.

As Operations Officer, you contribute to the effective delivery in the District of the enforcement, monitoring and surveillance task in relation to sea fisheries legislation and other marine related legislation under the powers given to British Sea-Fishery Officers, Marine Enforcement Officer and any other powers assigned to the post. You will also contribute to the team to monitor compliance under instruction from the Senior Operations officer.

You will ensure that full use is made of available analytical information, along with the organisation of data from a variety of sources to achieve the objectives of the Operating Model and local Business Plan.

A part of your responsibility as an Operation Officer will be to participate and, under the guidance of the Senior Operations officer, contribute to investigations arising from breaches of Marine Licencing legislation, working closely with MS LOT and ESOA. You will be working in a skilled and experienced team who will guide you through the processes to acquire the knowledge in Marine Licence Compliance.

Officers based at our coastal locations may conduct inspections onshore in factories and on board fishing vessels whilst in harbour. Inspections of fish and documentation are conducted at the premises of fish buyers and sellers as well as in vehicles used to transport fisheries products. Inspections are conducted 24/7 in-line with the operations of the industry and officers can expect to undertake some of their duties in unsocial hours and at weekends.

Coastal based Fishery Officers may also have the opportunity to undertake sea-going duties both in offshore and inshore operations.

Operations Officers are warranted British Sea Fishery Officers (BSFOs) working under the supervision of Senior Officers. As warranted officers (following satisfactory completion of the first 9 months' service and completion of our BSFO training programme) they will be required to carry out enforcement duties.

**Shift Allowance**:
**Peterhead is the only Coastal office in Scotland to operate a permanent night shift. Officers work a fixed shift pattern covering an average of 37 hours per week. (Sunday - Friday) Officers who partake in the permanent night **shift are **entitled to a 21% pensionable allowance.**

Additional information about the MS Compliance can be found on our website - MS Compliance

**Responsibilities**:

- the inspection of documentation, fishing gear and/or catches for compliance with conservation, quota management and marketing regulations,
- analysis of Master’s daily electronic logbook information,
- analysis of vessel’s transmissions via Vessel Monitoring Systems,
- providing guidance, advice and information to the fishing industry,
- Investigating offences against Scottish, UK, EU and International Fisheries Regulations, and being responsible for compiling and submitting prosecution reports to The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which may ultimately lead to the criminal prosecution of offenders.

**Competencies**:
Self Awareness

Analysis and Use of Evidence

Communication and Engagement

Improving Performance

Essential Criteria & Qualifications:
**Essential Criteria**:
1. A sound knowledge and understanding of the Scottish Fishing and Marine Industries, including the main fisheries and sectors.

2. Excellent organisational skills to manage a varied workload and to meet targets in a flexible manner so to progress tasks with mínimal supervision.

3. Ability to communicate effectively to colleagues and to a wide range of contacts, demonstrating sound judgement and reliability under pressure, and accepting responsibility for subsequent outcomes.

4. Ability to analyse, interpret and act upon evidence.

**Location**:Area Office, Caley Building, Peterhead, AB42 1DN

**Interview and Assessment**:Dates to be confirm