Job Description

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Job Title - Offshore Wind Policy Officer

Business Area/Directorate – Offshore Wind Directorate

Location – Glasgow or Edinburgh

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy

Grade - B2

Advert type – Lateral transfer

Duration - Permanent

Eligibility - Expressions of Interest are invited from substantive B2 colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only.

Sponsorship - Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Offshore Wind Directorate to be a Policy Officer in the Offshore Wind Policy and Skills Division. This is a varied and rewarding role and will give you the opportunity to gain experience working closely with ministers, senior officials and public and private sector stakeholders to support the development of Scotland’s offshore wind pipeline and marine energy sector.

The postholder will report to a B3 within the Policy Unit.

Overview 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

• Support the development of reliable and accurate policy advice to senior officials and Ministers on relevant issues, including briefing, speeches, MiCase correspondence, PQs, and core briefs.
• Support the maintenance and strengthening of stakeholder engagement with key public and private sector organisations.
• Support the development and delivery of future policy priorities and support for offshore renewables.
• Provide advice and guidance, and input into key policy and strategy documents from an offshore wind perspective when required by colleagues across SG.
• Work flexibly across the Offshore Wind Directorate to support priority work as and when it arises.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on. 

Skills:

• Good planning and organisational skills, with the ability to work to tight deadlines with limited supervision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to present and communicate ideas and information in a clear and concise way.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to organise and collate information from a variety of sources to support decision making.
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive and productive working relationships with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.

Behaviours (Level 3):

• Making effective decisions
• Communicating and influencing
• Working together
• Delivering at pace

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide

Working Pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

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 Michaela.Wilsonmartincova@gov.scot and Hannah.Chillingworth@gov.scot

How to Apply

Applications are invited from substantive B2 staff from Core SG for this vacancy.

Please submit your EOI (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on Tuesday 22 September.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. 

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by panel. Shortlisted candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to an informal interview with the hiring manager and another panel member. The panel will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the post.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an informal discussion.

Discussions are scheduled for w/c TBC.

For any questions relating to your expression of interest please contact Michaela.Wilsonmartincova@gov.scot and Hannah.Chillingworth@gov.scot

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.

About us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. 

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

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

Apply before: 22/09/2026. This role is open to substantive grade staff from core SG only.