Job Description

Are you an enthusiastic individual who is keen to use their initiative to conceive and manage projects while collaborating and building trust in a dynamic, fast-paced environment?

The Scotland Office supports the Secretary of State for Scotland, promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and that the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.

This role sits within the Policy Division of the Scotland Office and is based in Edinburgh. The Policy Division is made up of three teams: International Affairs and Security, Domestic Policy, and Local Growth and City Deals. This role sits within the International Affairs and Security Team (IAS), and is part of a sub-team that is responsible for International Trade and Business Policy relating to North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East. It plays a key role delivering the Brand Scotland agenda, which is a personal priority of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The role will also be responsible for the monitoring of Brand Scotland programme funds.

IAS covers a diverse range of high profile policy areas, within the context of our core function to support Ministerial priorities. As such, the post-holder will be required to work flexibly, collaborating within and across teams on new policy areas and priorities as they arise.

Responsibilities

Financial management and monitoring of the Brand Scotland Budget (Currently £750,000), including advising on procurement routes.
Planning the delivery of international trade missions.
Providing advice and support to the Secretary of State, Ministers and Special Advisors on international trade, and business policy areas.
Working closely with other Whitehall departments including the Department for Business and Trade to advise on policy developments, in particular devolution assessments and ensuring UK Government policy decisions are relevant, applicable and impactful in a Scottish context.
Represent the Scotland Office in Whitehall and externally at meetings, working groups, events and with key stakeholders.
Drafting Cabinet Committee, Ministerial and official correspondence on policy issues. In addition, preparing responses to correspondence, Parliamentary Questions and FOI requests as well as briefing for meetings, visits and events to the expected standard and within timeframes.
Providing cover to other parts of the IAS team during busy periods including in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and security policy.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills

Ability to prepare and clear succinct policy advice, recommendations and briefings to Government Ministers, Special Advisors and senior colleagues.
Project and financial management skills.

Experience

Experience of working on international trade and/or foreign affairs issues including working overseas or in an international environment.
Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, with high levels of personal autonomy.

Behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture - Level
Communicating and Influencing - Level

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

How To Apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 7th April however this may be subject to change.

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, 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.

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

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.

This content is to be included on all vacancies.

Any additional information which is essential to the job advert can be published here, but the majority of roles should only require the link to our careers website.

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.

The Scottish Government

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