This is an exciting time to join the Funding Team as it makes a key contribution in NatureScot's response to the dual challenges of biodiversity loss and the climate emergency. Our funding activity has us focus on an increasing number of targeted, time-limited challenge funds that deliver on our corporate priorities. The purpose of this post is to lead and manage the Peatland ACTION funding to assess and manage requests for funding for peatland restoration projects that support delivery of the Peatland ACTION Programme. As part of the funding team, Funding Officers work closely with the Peatland Action team, to assess and manage funding applications for a variety of peatland restoration projects across Scotland. NatureScot's Peatland ACTION programme restores damaged peatlands in Scotland. It is integral to the government's determination for peatland to reduce carbon emissions and contribute wider benefits for biodiversity, water management and green growth. NatureScot has dual roles in providing leadership on shared services/business solutions across all Peatland ACTION delivery partners and increasing the pace/scale of peatland restoration projects on the ground. The NatureScot Peatland ACTION Programme is expanding in support of the government's 10 year, £250m, commitment for restoration. It has an annual budget of >£15m and comprises over 50 posts employed/supported by NatureScot. The Funding Officer role is designed around excellent customer service, maximising delivery of project outcomes and ensuring the efficient use of public funds. This includes managing the assessment and decision making process for new applications, preparing funding offers, measuring the performance of projects, assessing financial claims, understanding private finance contributions, carbon contracts, releasing payments, supporting the delivery of projects and evaluating the success of projects. Key to the success of this approach is a commitment to work in continuous learning environment. This is an exciting, fast moving and responsive role. You should be flexible to support demand and committed to continuous learning and improvement. Depending on priorities, you may support the wider team to deliver other funding programmes, support activities to promote NatureScot funding and the further development and review of NatureScot policies through shared learning and demonstrating impact., Managing the decision making process for individual grants
* Coordinate the supply of necessary and appropriate information from customer to allow appropriate assessment to be made, in an efficient and timely manner, and to seek necessary approval for funds
* Engage with Peatland Action Officers and/or other specialist staff as required to support the decision making process e.g. to understand the wider context and any relationship management issues
* Work collaboratively with specialist staff providing technical expertise to support the assessment process and engage with Operations teams to understand the wider local context
* Develop appropriate/proportionate grant contract and authorise within agreed levels or seek authorisation (delegated financial authority).
* Communicate directly with customers and maintain contact to ensure delivery of expected outcomes
* Assess performance through progress reporting and claims to ensure satisfactory delivery of agreed activities, providing highlight reports and receipting payments
* Undertake evaluation of benefits and share learning
* Ensure full auditable record created of decision making and active grant management
Support the central funding team/funding manager in delivering a customer focussed service that is efficient and effective in maximising the delivery of corporate outcomes. Actively engage in shared learning sessions with peers to:
* improve consistency in grant decision making and management
* improve understanding of funding priorities
* highlight opportunities for further process improvement (and inform change)
* influence changes in policy direction e.g. working others to highlight what works and what doesn't in certain areas of activity or to provide a grant holder perspective on any proposed changes
* identify best practice for sharing with grant recipients to improve the contribution they are able to make to the outcomes we want to achieve
* Promote the availability of funds and provide clarity on benefits sought by Outcomes/Activities - to both customers and staff
* Promote NatureScot funding and demonstrate the contribution our funding of others makes to the delivery of NatureScot outcomes
* Engage with other external funders to better understand and be responsive to changes in the wider external funding environment
Clear understanding and demonstrable experience in the principles of value for money and additionality
* Ability to use sound judgement and analyse complex information, identifying key and relevant issues
* Sound judgement and reasoning and comfortable in the assessment and management of risk
* Ability to understand, interpret/challenge and explain financial data and information
* Willingness to accept ownership and responsibility; and to take decisions, within delegated financial authority
* Effective negotiator and ability to give unwanted messages clearly and confidently
* Good interpersonal skills with an ability to work in partnership, to foster good relations and to encourage actions by others
* Ability to be flexible and adaptable in response to changing priorities
* Problem solving
* A working knowledge of NatureScot Priorities and operating principles
* Good understanding of performance measurement and evaluation of benefits
* Knowledge of grants and external funding as a mechanism for securing outcome delivery
Prerequisites Required:
* 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.
* Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract
Nature is vital to us all, so it's important that NatureScot represents the people of Scotland. The more diverse our workforce is, the more effectively we can connect everyone with nature. We encourage applications from candidates of all ages and genders, people from ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
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:
* An environment with flexible working options
* A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% (7.35% employee contributions)
* 41.5 days of annual leave, with 5 fixed public holidays on St Andrews Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and 2^nd 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