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.

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.

This Policy Officer role will specifically support the unit in the relationship management of the main business organisations, including leading on producing briefing and supporting meetings/events on the day as and when appropriate. You will also be responsible for providing initial drafts of briefs for meetings and events, as well as draft replies to Ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary Questions.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing effective support for Ministerial engagements including drafting the briefing and speeches as well as supporting on the day when appropriate – Please note that travel may occasionally be required. In line with the Scottish Government’s Information Management Strategy, you will be responsible in drafting an appropriate record of any meetings and seek clearance via the private office and store in the relevant file in eRDM.
• Providing effective support to Ministers activities, including drafting responses to Ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary Questions (PQ’s), First Ministers Questions (FMQ’s) and FoIs.
• Leading the secretariat function for meetings between officials and stakeholders. This includes drafting agendas, commissioning meeting papers from relevant policy areas, including working with UK Government officials, and drafting minutes to ensure an accurate record and taking forward actions arising from the meeting.
• Support the wider unit as needed, contributing to intelligence gathering and ensuring work trackers are accurate and up to date and offering support as an when required to cover other ad hoc duties.

Experience

• Experience of drafting clear, concise and accurate briefing materials, speeches, correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, FOI responses and meeting records for senior stakeholders.
• Ability to build effective relationships and coordinate contributions from a range of internal and external stakeholders, including policy teams, private offices and partner organisations.
• Ability to understand and operate within a politically sensitive environment, exercising sound judgement when handling complex or high-profile issues.
• Experience of organising meetings, preparing agendas and papers, drafting minutes, tracking actions and managing competing priorities to tight deadlines.

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.

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 23:59pm on Friday 25 September

If you have questions about your application please contact Gillian.Brown2@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.