Policy Official

This opportunity is only open to internal Scottish Government applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

Do you have excellent attention to detail and the confidence to advise and engage with colleagues and stakeholders, including Ministers, at all levels?

The Directorate for Business and Better Regulation is a Directorate within DG Economy. We work with colleagues across the Scottish Government and its agencies to improve policy and project delivery and its impact upon the business environment in Scotland.

We recognise that business engagement is key to successful delivery of policy outcomes. And that improved business relationships are essential to the sustainable and purposeful economic growth that is required to deliver all public policy objectives. We support colleagues to deliver enduring culture change, for the benefit of Scotland as a whole.

We are a small directorate with a strong team ethos. We aspire to work as efficiently as possible, with clear purpose and priorities. We are productive, with a focus on outcomes. We are a great place to work, with opportunities to progress and support each other to develop our skills and deliver our objectives. We hold ourselves, and one another, to the highest standards in our work and in our conduct.

The Strategic Relationships Unit is part of the Business Relationships Division. The unit engages with business organisations, industry bodies and business leaders regularly on a cross-sectoral basis on the strategic priorities for Scotland. We work closely with our stakeholders to ensure ministerial or senior official engagement is meaningful and targeted to the right audience at the right time.

The Policy Officer role will specifically support the planning and delivery of Ministerial engagement with strategically important business partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the team in the planning and delivery of core programme of Ministerial engagement with business representative organisations and businesses of strategic importance to Scotland’s economy, in line with strategic engagement plan agreed with DFM.

  • Completion of routine correspondence and support for routine engagements.
  • Develop strong working relationships with Ministerial Private offices and Business Organisations.
  • Act as first point of contact for MiCase and FOI queries, ensuring timely triage, allocation and monitoring against statutory deadlines.
  • Ensure the effective management of the unit’s caseload and enquiries by maintaining oversight of live cases, proactively identifying and escalating risks, quality assuring responses for accuracy and consistency, and coordinating the timely allocation and prioritisation of work through the shared mailbox.
  • Produce analysis of event and Micase activity to better inform feedback on recurring themes/ overview of ministerial engagement.
  • Assist B3’s and B2’s by requesting contributions and preparing initial drafts of briefings and speaking notes for all business organisation engagements.
  • Support B3’s and B2’s to arrange events across the unit. Lead responsibility in issuing invitations and monitoring responses.
  • Support the secretariat function for meetings between officials and stakeholders, including drafting minutes to ensure an accurate record of the meetings as well as maintaining the meeting tracker and taking forward actions arising from the meeting.
  • Support the wider unit as needed, contributing to media monitoring and ensuring work trackers are accurate and up to date and offering support as an when required to cover other ad hoc duties.

Experience:

• Excellent communication and relationship skills, demonstrating the building of effective relationships with stakeholders and customers.
• Experience and/or knowledge of records management, data protection guidelines and both EIR and FOI legislation and best practice.

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B1 grade employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on Wednesday 30 September.

If you have questions about your application please contact laura.mckelvie@gov.scot

Selection Process

All applicants will be invited to an informal discussion with the hiring manager. There will be no formal testing or assessment.

Discussions are expected to be scheduled for w/c TBC.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.