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.

You will be part of the South & West Area Team, which has direct responsibility for planning, managing, and delivering the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) across South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway.

The team oversees the strategic management of funding arrangements throughout the region and maintains day-to-day engagement with local authority officials, including the review of Local Housing Strategies and Strategic Housing Investment Plan.

The large and complex area covered by the team ensures a varied workload – issues across both urban and rural areas include both matters of supply imbalance and regeneration needs as well as the challenges associated with developing in remote rural and island locations.

The role will involve working closely with both internal and external stakeholders to deliver the local AHSP, ensuring that strong programme management and monitoring processes are consistently applied. You may also be asked to contribute to wider More Homes divisional work and, on occasion, provide support to other Area Teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assisting colleagues in managing the AHSP and individual projects to plan, monitor and deliver local and national targets.
• Working closely with and liaising with other SG colleagues, local authorities, Registered Social Landlords, community organisations and others, to carry out project appraisals for grant submissions against established procedures and guidance for current and future grant mechanisms.
• Preparing good quality briefing on aspects of the AHSP to senior managers and Ministers within agreed deadlines. The post holder will also have day to day responsibility for MiCase, as well as providing accurate responses to ministerial correspondence, FOI enquiries, PQs and general briefing in relation to your geographical areas of responsibility.
• Establishing and maintaining a network of contacts and build strong relationships across the Division and with the wider SG and external partners (including local authority and Registered Social Landlord contacts) to develop excellent working relationships to push forward delivery.

• Working closely with local authorities to enhance their strategic planning capabilities through the Strategic Housing Investment Planning processes and supporting the development, review and implementation of housing strategy at a national and local level.

Essential Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate:

1. Flexibility to travel within the South & West region when required.

Working Pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

The post will be based at one of the following locations: AIB Building, Kilwinning or Cadzow Court, Hamilton. Our stakeholders are located across the South and West region, and the post holder must therefore be able to travel to meetings within these areas

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B2 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 12:00pm on Thursday 9 April

Selection Process

All applicants will be invited to an informal discussion.

Informal discussion dates tbc.

Further information

For any questions relating to your expression of interest please contact Jim McGovern james.mcgovern@gov.scot

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