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 - Team Lead: Legislation & Ministerial Briefing
Business Area/Directorate - Social Security Directorate
Location - Atlantic Quay / Victoria Quay
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 - C1
Advert type - Level transfer
Duration - Permanent
Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive 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.
The Social Security Directorate is responsible for the largest and most complex transfer of powers since devolution, successfully delivering a radically different Scottish benefits system integral to eradicating child poverty, tackling root causes of inequality and creating a fairer Scotland.
Our devolved benefits now provide crucial help to two million people, and, as well as keeping 50,000 children out of relative poverty this year through the Scottish Child Payment, our benefits support disabled people and their carers and help pensioners to heat their homes.
We now have a rare vacancy to join our fast-moving, friendly and informal Parliamentary Unit, which writes and co-ordinates extensive Ministerial & SCS briefing on social security issues as well as overseeing the Directorate’s legislative programme.
The post holder will have strong opportunities for exposure to Ministers and will work with colleagues from across the Directorate, Social Security Scotland and beyond to work on high-profile Parliamentary set pieces with considerable scope for career development in a supportive and collegiate environment.
This role will suit someone with excellent communication and people skills and who can quickly establish successful strong relationships with a wide range of SG stakeholders.
The role requires considerable political acuity and strong analytical and strategic thinking in response to often complex policy scenarios to support the provision of timely and accurate briefing.
A key part of the role is the ability to confidently but collegiately challenge and/or re-word briefing lines or draft Ministerial speeches to ensure that every sentence is as jargon-free, clear and crisp as possible, as well as being immediately understandable at the first time of reading by anyone with no prior specialist knowledge of the subject in question.
The post-holder will need to liaise closely as well with Comms/News colleagues to ensure consistency between external and internal SG messaging on social security, which is particularly important in light of intensive (and often inaccurate) Parliamentary and media commentary around devolved benefits spending, where the Unit leads on co-ordination of rebuttal.
This post will therefore suit someone who is proactive, resourceful, thrives on the unexpected and can see the join-up in issues that might at first sight appear unrelated, as well as having the ability to balance rigorous attention to detail with always keeping the bigger picture in mind.
The post offers significant development opportunities for the right candidate, with members of the unit previously moving to a wide-range of high-profile or promoted posts, including in Ministerial private offices, strategic resilience and key SG policy roles – such as, in the case of the long-standing previous holder of this post, a move to Exchequer to lead SG’s relationship with the Scottish Fiscal Commission.
The unit consists of 1 x C2, 2 x C1 once this post is recruited), 2 x B3, 2 x B2 and 1 x B1
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.
Participation & Engagement - Level 2 (Practitioner)
Working with Ministers - Level 2 (Practitioner)
Parliament & Law - Level 2 (Practitioner)
You can find out more here - Policy Profession Standards
The unit is a fast-paced environment where political acuity and sound judgement go hand-in-hand and the ideal candidate would therefore be able to evidence demonstrable success in a similar setting or settings.
Seeing the Big Picture
Communication & Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide
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.
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. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Further information about this opportunity is available from SSD_WFP@gov.scot
Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 750 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.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an informal discussion.
Discussions are scheduled for w/c TBC.
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
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.
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.
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.
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 (23:59). This role is open to substantive C1 staff from core SG only.
The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for matters that are devolved from Westminster. Areas of responsibility include the economy, health, education, justice, rural affairs, environment, and transport.
