Good Practice Adviser

The role

The Good Practice Adviser will support landowners, land managers and communities, to adopt the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS) principles by delivering a programme of good practice advice, support and guidance.

About us

The Scottish Land Commission stimulates fresh thinking in the ways we own and use land in Scotland. We are a public body, established by the Scottish Parliament in 2017, and our role is to advise on changes in policy and law, and to support good practice and change on the ground.

The Commission’s strategic plan 2020-23 sets out our delivery focus in three themes:

• Reforming land rights
• Reforming land markets
• Responsible land ownership and use

Scotland’s Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement sets out the overall framework for the relationship between people and land in Scotland through six principles. The Land Commission plays a key role to support the practical implementation of these principles. These posts will play a pivotal part in delivering this support and influencing practice on the ground through our Good Practice Programme.

The Good Practice Programme promotes and supports change and good practice in the way land is owned and used by all landownership sectors in both urban and rural Scotland. We work with stakeholders to create a range of protocols, tools and guidance to encourage and enable those with an interest in land to recognise and fulfil their rights and responsibilities. We promote greater diversity in ownership of land including more community ownership, high standards and transparency of land ownership and use, and better community engagement in decisions about land.

Key duties

• Deliver a proactive and effective programme of training and advice on land rights and responsibilities (LRR), tailored as appropriate to different sectors and circumstances.
• Provide individualised support and advice to landowners, managers and communities to identify and deliver actions to improve practice.
• Develop and disseminate written protocols, guidance and case studies to support implementation of the LRRS, working closely with stakeholders to encourage uptake and use.
• Seek to achieve positive outcomes for landowners and communities through good practice casework by providing information, advice and signposting.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to support culture change in practice emerging from Land Commission reviews and promote wider opportunities to develop a culture of responsible land ownership.
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards the LRRS to inform future guidance, policy and support.

The Person

The successful candidate will have experience in providing practical advice, guidance and support to others to facilitate meaningful change and an awareness of land reform and the land ownership / management sector.

They will possess a degree or equivalent experience in a relevant area. They will have an ability to build relationships and engage constructively with a wide variety of stakeholders to support change in practice and deliver coordinated programmes of activity. They will also have experience of representing an organisation with external stakeholders and have exemplary written and verbal communication skills.

The candidate will have strong project co-ordination / management skills, the proven ability to meet deadlines and experience in evaluation and monitoring of their own activities. They must have a willingness to learn and take on new areas of responsibility as well as the ability to quickly assimilate new information. They will also have willingness to travel to fulfil the requirements of the post.

Application Information

The standard working week is a 5-day week, Monday to Friday, of 37 hours. Flexible working is available and both part-time and full-time applications are welcomed. Applicants will be based at our office in Inverness but hybrid-working is welcomed.

Applications are invited by application form which can be found on our website www.landcommission.gov.scot/work-for-us/ along with a detailed job description, privacy statement and equality statement. Completed applications should be submitted to HR@landcommission.gov.scot prior to the closing date.

Closing date for applications is 5 pm on 25^th August 2022

Interviews will be held on 13^th September 2022