Job Description

Job title: 1022-302 Head of Licensing | Grade: F | Vacancy type: Full time, permanent | Hours: 35 hours | Salary 59,219 | Location: Scotland, flexible (Home and hybrid working will be considered) | Closing date: Midnight, 30 July 2025 | Internal Interview date 15 August 2025 | External interview Date: 22 August 2025

Job Purpose Summary

This is an important new role, sitting within NatureScot's Wildlife Management Activity, but involving considerable cross-team and high level external work, and reporting directly to the Director of Green Economy. The post will play a leading role to support and drive efficiencies across our regulatory functions as they contribute towards public sector reform. The core accountability for the role is to lead oversight and delivery of Licensing Services. The postholder will work closely with the Head of Wildlife Management.


This work is high profile and fast-paced. We are seeking a highly experienced and resilient individual with proven leadership and influencing skills; a track record in managing and motivating teams; and experience in contributing to strategic work and delivering high quality outputs. The post-holder will lead and coordinate a large licensing team and will work strategically and at a senior level across different teams within NatureScot, Scottish Government and with other stakeholders, industry partners, land managers and eNGOs.

Key tasks:

Leadership and management

Lead the licensing team, including line management of licensing managers. Oversee recruitment of new staff, training and induction. Lead on team motivation, managing workloads and performance; and promoting wellbeing and development of staff. Work closely with the Head of Wildlife Management and other members of the Extended Leadership Team to deliver across NatureScot's Corporate Strategy.

Strategy and delivery

Lead the planning and delivery of NatureScot licensing functions in line with the Scottish Regulators Strategic Code of Practice and the Principles of Better Regulation. Lead on development of licensing policy, guidance and delivery Lead the development of our online licensing services. Oversee quality assurance for licensing decisions and advice to ensure this is clear, evidence based and solution-focused. Further develop the Service Level Agreement for licensing work and take forward agreed actions arising from the Species Licensing Review. Provide advice and support to Scottish Government Policy teams. Lead the reporting (internal and external) on our Licensing work, against metrics agreed internally and with Scottish Government.

Research and Guidance

Work alongside the Head of Wildlife Management to identify and resolve evidence gaps and science issues affecting our casework advice. Oversee the identification, prioritisation and commissioning of guidance for WM research work.

Engagement and representation

Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and other public bodies, including SG Natural Resource Directorate Represent NatureScot on key Scottish and UK Government, regulatory and industry groups, especially in relation to delivery of regulatory functions. Represent NatureScot at meetings of inter-agency and similar groups relevant to remit.

Role requirements: (Please refer to these in your Supporting Statement)

Excellent leadership skills with a proven ability to manage and motivate a team. Excellent interpersonal skills including demonstrable ability to negotiate, influence, network and forge strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Excellent communication skills - clear written and verbal presentation, experience of quality assurance, and ability to convey complex information clearly and confidently to varied audiences. Proven ability to plan and manage workloads, work to deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities. Experience of project and budget management, and preparing reports on progress and risk, to ensure delivery of outputs to required standard. Understanding of the Scottish land use sector, terrestrial habitats and associated species. Sound knowledge of the policy and legislative landscape on species conservation, wildlife and land management, and planning in Scotland. Knowledge of NatureScot's priorities and processes and an awareness of the political environment in which NatureScot operates.

Prerequisites Required

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK and resident in Scotland for the duration of the job contract 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. 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) https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/joining-the-pension-scheme/benefits-of-the-pension-scheme/ 41.5 days of annual leave, including 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 .

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.

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.

For information regarding the post please contact:

Donald Fraser, Head of Wildlife Management (Donald.Fraser@Nature.Scot) or Robbie Kernahan, Director Green Economy (Robbie.Kernahan@Nature.Scot)


Nature is vital to all of us, so it is vital that we are an organisation for all of Scotland. The more diverse NatureScot is, the better we will be in connecting everyone with nature. We particularly encourage applications from people from Minority Ethnic (ME) backgrounds and people with a disability.

Working with NatureScot - What we offer you

Please visit https://www.nature.scot/about-naturescot/working-and-volunteering-us/what-we-offer-you for information regarding some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us