Environmental Research Officer

The research officer will be involved in supporting the team’s varied objectives, which sit under the SWA’s workplan, working with different topics and supporting different areas of our sustainability strategy.   

You will research and write briefings; help collate information for use by SWA colleagues supporting understanding of key topics positions, you will help in analysing and summarising different reports such as consultations, policy announcements and new research. Environmental policy across the UK and in Scotland will be the central focus for the day-to-day role, with opportunity to also work with colleagues around related international policy areas.  

You will help keep members informed by collating information and articles for our members HUB (our member communication platform) and by leading the publication of the SWA sustainability newsletter. Experience producing written briefings or articles, in your studies, a previous role or other activities would therefore be beneficial.   

As we are a small team, we all from time to time help each other out by supporting on tasks across different topics to help where need is the most. This helps the team and our members but also helps build wider understanding of the whisky industry.   

You will be given guidance and support from others in the team, increasing your autonomy on areas as you gain confidence and experience. An opportunity to lead on a topic or work areas developing your own expertise will be the aim for future development of the role, to support your own personal and career development.  
  

• Producing written or verbal briefings to support understanding within the SWA on environmental policy, research and industry activities  

• Collating and writing articles for the Sustainability Newsletter and the SWA’s member extranet, the HUB.  

• Support the development and delivery of the Association’s sustainability commitments, including on water stewardship, natural capital and climate change adaptation   

• Maintain and update CRM with contacts arising from your work  

• Maintain the SWA’s Bar code labelling system   

The Scotch Whisky Association works for and on behalf of our members to protect and secure a sustainable future for the Scotch Whisky industry.  We can offer the right candidate the opportunity to join a thriving industry of diverse opportunities, working collaboratively with passionate, knowledgeable colleagues.  

Our People and Culture Plan ensures employees are at the forefront of our minds. Some of our benefits are:  

• We review salaries regularly, working with external consultants to ensure our people are rewarded fairly.    

• We offer employer pension contributions matching employee contributions plus 3%, up to a maximum of 15%.  

• We have several engagement days throughout the year as well as activity days to take us away from the office to collaborate, communicate and strengthen our team.  

• We offer 25 days annual leave, as well as 3 additional days between Christmas and New Year and 9 public holidays.  

• Our people policies reflect our investment in both physical and mental wellbeing.  We provide a cycle to work scheme, BUPA healthcare (after two years’ service), life assurance and group income protection packages alongside retirement and financial planning training.   

• We offer personal and professional career development opportunities, with a focus on ensuring our people are equipped with the tools they need to do their job and progress their career.  

• Our flexitime and hybrid working policies support our people to find the best individual balance between work and life commitments. Our hybrid working policy requires 2 days per week in the office, we are open to considering flexible working requests.   

We strive to foster a workplace which has equal opportunities for all employees.  We want to ensure that each person is included, feels valued and is respected. Every SWA employee contributes to our shared success, and we welcome you no matter your background, how you look or how you identify.   

To help us meet the aims and commitments in our equality, inclusion and diversity policy we ask you to download and complete a monitoring form although this is voluntary.  Please send your completed form to hr@swa.org.uk, separately from your application. The form is used to help us build a picture of how diverse our applicants are.  It will be separated from the rest of your application and will not be seen by members of the shortlisting or interview panels.   

We want to prepare candidates for our recruitment process so you know what will happen next.  Our provisional timeframes will see our applications window close on the 17th January 2025 with a first round of interviews to be held on the week commencing 27th January 2025. 

To apply please download the full job description and application form here: https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/media/2392/scotch-whisky-association-environmental-research-officer-job-description-and-application.docx