Job Description

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

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Offshore Wind Directorate to lead a small team to coordinate the development of policy work related to offshore wind and marine energy (wave and tidal), to contribute to Scotland’s net zero targets and maximise the economic opportunity and wider benefits to the people of Scotland. This is a high profile role that requires close working with Ministers and stakeholders across government, the wider public sector and industry.

Reporting to the Head of Offshore Wind Policy Unit (C2) you will influence national policy, lead collaborative delivery, and help position Scotland as a global leader in offshore wind. You will lead a team working across key areas of strategic policy development and implementation, working closely with colleagues in the Marine Directorate, Directorate for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and DG Economy, to ensure policy coherence and delivery of programme objectives.

of Directorate

The Offshore Wind Directorate leads on policy and programmes related to offshore renewables, marine energy and sectoral marine planning, to support the continued growth of the offshore wind sector.

The Directorate’s core aim is to maximise the significant economic benefits from the growth of offshore renewables for Scotland’s economy, citizens and environment as we transition to net zero. We also have a key role in ensuring the balance of economic and environmental objectives, with other users of the marine environment.

We support the development of Scotland’s offshore wind economy by:

• working across the public sector to deploy strategic investment in ports and supply chain that grows our manufacturing base, attracting capital, inward investment, driving economic growth and job creation;
• demonstrating the potential role for marine energy in Scotland’s low carbon energy system;
• delivering enabling programmes e.g. through the Energy Act to streamline consenting, improve regulatory certainty, and accelerate deployment;
• managing the constraints and opportunities of Scotland’s transition to net zero through the sustainable expansion of offshore renewables, enabled by sectoral marine planning that provides clarity, reduces risk, and supports balanced use of the marine space.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a strategic approach to policy development to enable deployment of the Scottish offshore wind pipeline, including tackling technical, regulatory and policy barriers to deployment, including issues such as Contracts for Difference.

• Ensuring alignment across all public sector partners, private sector partners and key industry groups with an interest in delivery.

• Oversee management and delivery of the work of the offshore wind and wave and tidal policy teams including financial and grant management.

• Make links with colleagues working across the offshore wind programme, DECC, marine and economy as required to deliver key pieces of policy work.

• Supporting Ministers in their engagement with the UKG, offshore wind developers, trade bodies, public sector partners and others to enable maximum deployment of the offshore wind pipeline.

• Line management responsibility for 3 x B3s and countersigning responsibility for 3 x B2s.

Experience

1. Able to communicate confidently and credibly both verbally and written, building and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through strong interpersonal skills.

2. Experience of policy development and delivery, working flexibly and collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve specific policy outcomes.

3. Experience of working autonomously to develop complex and high-profile policy across organisational boundaries.

4. Ability to draw together and interrogate technical, analytical and policy information to draw out key messages and findings to make recommendations.

5. A proven track record of leading a team in an agile way through a period of change, to establish well defined priorities, role and team culture.

Working Pattern

This role is a temporary promotion position with an end date of October 2027.

This post is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from Hannah.Chillingworth@gov.scot and Michaela.wilsonmartincova@gov.scot