Job Description

The Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry, established under the Inquiries Act 2005, is an independent investigation into matters of significant national interest. Although independent of the Scottish Government, it is largely staffed by civil servants on assignment from SG, working under the direction of the Chair, Lord Scott.

The Inquiry team is responsible for the full range of administrative and operational functions, including policy development, strategic planning, finance, facilities, security, and communications. As a public and high-profile inquiry, it will address complex and sensitive issues, requiring robust risk management and careful stakeholder engagement.

You will be part of the Evidence Team within the Inquiry. This team is responsible for the collection, processing, cataloguing, and preservation of material submitted by providers. The team works closely with the Inquiry’s legal team to support the preparation and delivery of hearings. It is also responsible for the redaction of evidence which needs to be disclosed to Core Participants, the public and other stakeholders. You will also assist the B3 Evidence Systems Manager to liaise with external partners to develop and refine AI capability for processing and making available evidence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a rigorous and compliant approach to reviewing and redacting sensitive materials, ensuring adherence to legal and confidentiality standards prior to disclosure.
• Develop a methodology for the systematic quality assurance of redaction standards, correcting and reporting inconsistencies promptly to reduce the risk of disclosure of personal or sensitive information.
• Work as part of the Evidence Team to collate and process evidence, with thorough attention to detail, to enable appropriate access to evidence.
• Support the B3 Evidence Systems Manager to develop and implement our evidence processing software (which uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Large Language Model (LLM)) capability to improve the efficiency of processing and access to evidence.
• Provide in-person cover, when necessary, for the Hearings Officer when hearings are sitting in order to ensure access to evidence.
• Proactively identify and implement improvements to evidence processing, cataloguing methods, and redaction standards using technology and best practices where appropriate.
• Line manage two B1 Redaction Officers, ensuring they have access to the appropriate training and development.
• Working collaboratively and flexibly with colleagues across the wider team, proactively providing support and sharing knowledge to meet changing demands and achieve team objectives.
• Carry out administrative tasks efficiently, maintaining accurate records and supporting team operations as and when required.

The Inquiry aims to uphold the highest standards of independence and impartiality. Before applying, all candidates are asked to consider if their career history gives rise to any conflict of interest with the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference Terms of reference | The Emma Caldwell Inquiry Any queries regarding this should be sent to the recruiting manager.

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B2 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).

Selection Process

All candidates will be invited to an informal discussion with the Hiring Manager.

Informal discussion dates tbc.

Further Information

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact robert.fotheringham@gov.scot

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.