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Amanda Ophof

Peatland Action Delivery Manager
What employment sector do you work in?

Public Sector

How long have you had a green job for nature?

10 years

Salary Range

£40,000 – £50,000

Please describe the work that you do. 

I work for NatureScot on Peatland Action, which is a Scottish Government programme to deliver peatland restoration across Scotland. It is a partnership between NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Parks, and Scottish Water. I am part of the NatureScot Peatland Action Delivery team whereby my main focus is to support the design and delivery of restoration projects across Scotland.

What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes? 

I love being able to oversee the delivery of habitat restoration at a local and landscape scale. Being able to witness the recovery of a degraded peatland within a short amount of time, and seeing the flora and fauna change in response. I enjoy working with different teams in NatureScot as well as across the Peatland Action partnership and collaborating to achieve a common goal. It is a fast-paced and ever-expanding project, which brings opportunities and challenges. This, however, makes it an exciting field to be working and growing in professionally, which is what I really enjoy in my current role.

What inspired you into this career? 

During my studies, I was (and still am) fascinated by the field of ecology. The environment is a dynamic system and in this field, you can learn something new every day. The realisation that much of our natural world is in a degraded state, I wanted to be involved and help improve things. I found that land management fits me well as it allows me to see habitat restoration in action on the ground. 

Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far? 

After university, it was difficult to get my first job. Entry-level positions were very competitive and therefore difficult to obtain. Eventually, I was offered a graduate position in forestry and haven’t looked back since.

Personally, I found it hard to figure out what job role suited me best. Only by trying different jobs, each with its own challenges, did I discover that I enjoyed land management. I had to be open-minded and flexible in terms of locations. 

What education/training did you have? 

BSc (Hons.) Wildlife Management 
MSc Wildlife Biology and Conservation 

What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession? 

Do not restrict yourself to a specific field or job role. Even if your role isn’t what you imagined your dream job to be, you will learn something that will be invaluable towards achieving your desired role. It may take some time to get there, but if you show your motivation and willingness to learn, it will go a long way. Be open-minded, work with similar-minded people, and ask for help if you feel you are struggling. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management provides a great support network. 

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Tags: Scotland, Public sector, advisers, conservation, forestry

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