Job Description

Job Category: Operational, Professional & Managerial
Degree Level: University
:
Job title: 1003-305 Property Officer South | Grade: D | Vacancy type: Permanent | Hours: 35 hours | Salary 38,616 to 42,906 (pay award pending) | Location: Battleby & Central Belt - role delivery is focused on South of Scotland, can work hybrid but needs to be able to travel to NatureScot sites across Scotland | Closing date: 28th July 2025 | Internal Interviews: TBC | External Interviews: TBC
Job Purpose Summary
NatureScot provides great places to work in offices and buildings across Scotland, including on our National Nature Reserves. This is an exciting time to join the Workplaces Team that delivers office services, building management and travel services. NatureScot has actively embraced the Single Scottish Estate (SSE) programme, and we are open to new ways of working for this work to be as successful as possible.
The main focus of the Property Team that work within the NatureScot Workplaces Team is to provide our customers with a high quality and customer focused service that maintains our properties to the standards our customers expect. This includes a range of functions such as reactive and planned maintenance work, in addition to providing technical knowledge and support to colleagues and other stakeholders. We are a highly motivated team committed to promoting the vision and values of NatureScot. The core skills of the department are administration, communication, problem solving, team working and project management.
The purpose of this role to lead on the cost-effective management of NatureScot's property portfolio in the South of Scotland containing a wide range of assets including offices, visitor centres, workshops, deer larders, operational buildings and related infrastructure. This will include managing planned and reactive maintenance works, management of capital works projects and ensuring that all buildings meet all statutory and legal requirements for Health, Safety and Welfare. The officer will provide technical and compliance support to colleagues and stakeholders. Overall responsibility of the functions and output of the Property Team is provided by the Property Services Manager who reports to the Head of Workplaces.
The core skills for this role are administration, including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages as well as a working knowledge of using a database. You must be an excellent communicator (written and verbal), which is key to interacting with our contractors, colleagues, stakeholders and other external agencies. Further, an overall technical competency relating to reactive and planned preventative maintenance and management is required, as is the understanding and implementing of all health and safety duties placed upon NatureScot in the management of contracts and repairs and maintenance. Working effectively and efficiently, both within a team setting and on your own and demonstrating an ability to make informed decisions is crucial to this role.
Key responsibilities
This role will report to: Property Services Manager
Through your professional approach and high-quality performance ensure that NatureScot benefits from your proactive management of NatureScot Estate. You will be assigned a portfolio of buildings to manage within the Southern part of Scotland [NC1] and further afield as required. You will also work as part of a customer focused team (1 Manager, 3 Officers and 1 Admin Support) responsible for the cost-effective management of NatureScot's property portfolio throughout Scotland containing a wide range of assets including offices, visitor centres, workshops, deer larders, operational buildings and related infrastructure.

• Assist in delivering on NatureScot's Net Zero Plan in reducing carbon through building use, building fabric, travel and behaviours.
• Run capital and maintenance works, including budgetary responsibility, from inception stage through design, statutory approval and tender action to supervision and completion on-site.
• Ensure that all buildings in the portfolio meets all statutory and legal requirements for Health, Safety and Welfare and managing contractors engaged in that delivery, including management of Asbestos, Water Hygiene, Electrical Testing and all other building related corporate compliance duties.
• Manage national service contracts.
• Provide professional advice and direction to colleagues throughout the organisation as required and proactively communicate with regards to property related projects and services.
• Analyse complex and unusual building related issues and develop solutions to give the best overall outcome, often working in partnership with others.
• Maintain regular contact with the Property Team through weekly Teams meetings and quarterly face to face meetings or when required.
• Use our Property Asset Management system - inputting and updating the system.

Building Surveying Services

• Manage Property Portfolio - including Offices and NNR buildings.
• Annual conditional surveys.
• Maintain renewables systems in offices and on NNRs.
• Managing Building Services through consultant framework.
• Planned Preventative maintenance programme and reactive maintenance.
• Manage standard building contracts.
• Capital projects in the preparation, design, pre-construction/tender action and construction/project management to manage works on site.
• Leadership and networking with local building managers and building contacts.

Deliver the Estates Strategy for NatureScot offices:

• Provide information for location-based reviews to support preparation of Business Cases by Property Services Manager.
• Facilitate office reconfigurations to house externals within NatureScot offices.
• Manage relocation projects.
• Show prospective tenants around the building and build relationships to promote collaborative use of space.

Design & Benchmarking

• Develop and prepare space for partner organisations relocating to NatureScot offices in liaison with consultants.
• Provide benchmarking data.

Financial services

• Budget management; procurement, processing orders and invoices.

Sustainability Services

• Update/procure EPC reports including calculation of property U-value through consultants.
• Roll out of EV charge points - advise and support Vehicles Team.
• Support in achieving NatureScot's Net Zero target of 2035 in line with our Net Zero Plan in property aspects and Sustainable Procurement.

Building Compliance Services

• Deliver comprehensive programme for buildings and infrastructure.

Civil Engineering services

• Inspections of our Infrastructure - bridges, paths, septic tanks, utility infrastructure - on our NNRs.
• Project management for civil engineering works.

Business Continuity Services

• Join the list of Duty Officers for Battleby (see more in Pre-requisites section)
• Advise local offices on preparing for winter/Office closure.
• Responding to property damage caused by bad weather.

Specialist

• Educated to HND level or equivalent in building, construction, or other relevant professional qualification or demonstrate an acceptable level of transferrable skills and experience.
• Previous experience of working within a Property/Estates Team.
• Project Management experience.
• Technical knowledge of buildings and services.
• Strong working knowledge and understanding of relevant Health & Safety legislation, relevant to the maintenance activities of NatureScot.
• CSCS Card - or willingness to work towards achieving this.
• Evidence of CPD.

General

• Ability to analyse complex issues with a wider perspective.
• Budget Management.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Effective oral and written communications and strong customer orientation.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft applications, including Teams.
• A driving licence is required to access sites not accessible by public transport.

Prerequisites Required
Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in and around the central belt of Scotland, with a willingness to travel.
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 - what we offer you
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. 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 2nd 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

NatureScot's Net Zero commitment
Whether working at home or in an office, or travelling to meetings and site visits, as a NatureScot you will contribute to our Net Zero plan, for example through positive carbon travel choices.
Application Process
Application is by CV and Supporting Statement. Please ensure you have attached these documents when submitting your application.
Before applying for this post.
Internal applicants should read the Self-Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575)
External applicants should read the Online Job Application Guide
If you have previously applied for a vacancy with NatureScot you must remove the supporting statement from your profile, before uploading a new version.
Interviews
For information regarding the vacancy please contact
Greig Cochrane, Property Services Manager, Workplaces
Tel: 07920 537062 | Email:
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.
About Us:
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.