Job Vacancy: Wild Salmon Inshore Policy Manager
Wild Salmon Inshore Policy Manager with Fisheries Management Scotland
Fisheries Management Scotland is seeking to appoint a dynamic and ambitious individual to support efforts to increase protection of wild salmon and sea trout in Scottish coastal waters. This project will be delivered in partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation, with funding raised through the Missing Salmon Alliance. This is a unique opportunity for someone who is passionate about conservation of habitat and species in both the marine and freshwater environment.
The Wild Salmon Inshore Policy Manager will work with the Scottish Government, public bodies and a range of relevant stakeholders to raise awareness of needs of wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout, and to support the delivery of relevant aspects of the Wild Salmon Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy and National Marine Planning. The post holder will work with the project partners and members of Fisheries Management Scotland, to improve the protection of wild salmon and sea trout during their marine phase and specifically when in coastal waters in Scotland. We want the project to create benefits for salmonids across Scotland, but we will also focus on the coastal zone in the Moray Firth, North East Scotland to explore new legal and policy mechanisms.
The post will attract a salary of £45-50k.
Location: Fisheries Management Scotland has an office location in central Edinburgh but remote/hybrid working will be supported. The post will require extensive travel throughout Scotland and access to a motor vehicle and a full driving licence will be essential.
Us: Fisheries Management Scotland is the representative body for Scotland’s District Salmon Fishery Boards, Rivers and Fisheries Trusts and the River Tweed Commission. We are a not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon, freshwater fish, and the protection and enhancement of river catchments and coastal environments.
Blue Marine Foundation works using a combination of top-down intervention to improve governance of our seas and bottom-up project delivery to help local communities who are at the front line of ocean conservation. Blue Marine Foundation’s key focus is to: secure marine protected areas to ensure the protection of at least 30% of the ocean by 2030; tackle overfishing and support sustainable and equitable use of the sea; and restore marine habitats to revive and protect vulnerable and threatened species and to sequester carbon.
The Missing Salmon Alliance (MSA) is a group of conservation focused organisations who have come together to drive action and save wild Atlantic salmon from extinction by combining expertise, coordinating activities and advocating effective management solutions. Our goal is to work together to help wild Atlantic salmon survive and thrive in our rivers and seas. Members of the Missing Salmon Alliance are working across the life cycle of Atlantic salmon to improve habitat, reduce pressures and create an environment in which wild Atlantic salmon can thrive. One of the five high level policy asks and strategic priorities of the Missing Salmon Alliance is to improve wild salmon survival at sea, through better understanding and minimising impacts on wild salmon in the marine environment.
You: You will be able to demonstrate excellent project management, planning and organisational skills and experience of working successfully with complex stakeholder groups. You will have excellent written and oral presentation skills and a strong understanding of policy development and advocacy. A good understanding of the freshwater fisheries management sector, and the inshore fishing sector in Scotland, would be an advantage.
Apply: To apply, please send your curriculum vitae along with a covering letter stating why you wish to apply for the post and the qualities that you would bring to the role. These should be either emailed to general@fms.scot or posted to Fisheries Management Scotland, 11 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH11 2AS.
Deadline: The deadline for applications to be received by Fisheries Management Scotland is midnight on 14 August 2026.
Interviews will be held in person, but a remote option using Microsoft Teams will be available. Please note we expect to hold interviews in the week commencing 24 August.
More details can be found on the Fisheries Management Scotland website here