Job Summary
Please refer to Job Description
Job Description
Job Description
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 London. 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 Asia, Europe and Australasia. It plays a key role delivering the Brand Scotland agenda, which is a personal priority of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The role is also responsible for providing policy advice on immigration matters as they relate to Scotland.
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.
The successful candidate will be expected to support and in some instances lead on a wide variety of work including policy, strategy and relationship management. This is a great opportunity for 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. Applicants should understand and have a keen interest in the contemporary political landscape, and be motivated by being involved in shaping the direction of the country.
Please note the following:
- We will operate a 12 month reserve list for similar HEO roles which may arise in the Scotland Office.
- We are recruiting using Ministry of Justice terms and conditions, this is not a MoJ role. For substantive civil servants we are able to offer the MoJ terms or offer the option of a loan agreement with the home department.
- The security clearance required for this role is SC.
Key Responsibilities
This is a fast paced, high output and varied role, including, but not limited to:
- Support delivery of “Brand Scotland”, a key ministerial priority.
- Supporting the delivery of international trade missions;
- Providing advice and support to the Secretary of State, Ministers and Special Advisors on international trade, business and immigration 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;
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Ability to prepare clear and succinct policy advice, recommendations and briefings to Government Ministers, Special Advisors and senior colleagues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills involving a wide range of stakeholders, both internally and externally, at all levels.
- Ability to think strategically, making links across organisational and subject boundaries to deliver shared outcomes.
- Strong planning and organisation skills including the ability to balance competing priorities to meet tight deadlines.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, with high levels of personal autonomy.
- Experience of working in one or more policy areas simultaneously, or a demonstrable ability to quickly develop a credible level of expertise and judgement.
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Alongside your salary of £38,661, Ministry of Justice contributes £11,200 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) . See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
- Telephone : 0345 241 5359
Recruitment team
- Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. I you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/2417?entityId=2417
