The Scotland Office supports the Secretary of State for Scotland in promoting the best interests of Scotland and fully representing Scottish interests at the heart of the UK Government.

We are seeking a highly motivated Grade 7 to join the busy Constitutional Policy Division. This is a central role in shaping UK Government policy, offering the opportunity to advise and support Ministers and other UK Government departments on a range of complex and high-profile constitutional matters, including legislation, policy, and the wider devolution settlement.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in delivering our constitutional responsibilities, supporting Ministers, and will develop a detailed understanding of the devolution settlement and the constitutional landscape in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Key Responsibilities include:

• Policy Leadership: Lead on a number of key policy priorities relating to Scotland, including constitutional policy, legislation, and intergovernmental relations.

• Ministerial Advice: Lead on providing expert advice and support to Ministers for the Office’s constitutional policy work.

• Intergovernmental Relations: Provide strategic leadership on the Office’s involvement in intergovernmental relations structures, and lead the team responsible for coordinating input to key intergovernmental fora.

• Cross-Government Collaboration: Maintain strong relations with other UK Government departments whose work has policy implications in Scotland, ensuring effective input into cross-UK Government policy work.

• Briefing: Work with colleagues on other key priorities, including preparing briefing for the Secretary of State, other Ministers, for debates in Parliament. This includes working closely and frequently with advisors and senior officials to support high-profile areas of policy development.

• Corporate and Team Leadership: Take on a corporate leadership role within the department and, with line management responsibilities, lead effective teams to deliver challenging objectives.

Essential Criteria

We are looking for a high performing individual who meets the following criteria:

• Policy Expertise: Excellent policy skills, including the proven ability to analyse and use evidence to draft compelling advice and briefing for Ministers or senior managers. Applicants should understand and have a keen interest in the contemporary political and constitutional landscape in Scotland and have experience in a policy environment or equivalent.

• Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to distil complex technical and policy information at pace into key messages for Ministers or senior officials.

• Stakeholder Management: The ability to build strong relationships with colleagues across organisational boundaries to deliver business objectives, collaborate effectively, and build trust.

• Leadership and Prioritisation: Proven ability to prioritise and balance competing demands whilst maintaining quality, and the capacity for leading, motivating, and setting direction for others.

Location and Development

The role can be based in either our London or Edinburgh office. The post offers opportunities for significant leadership, both within the department and across the UK Government. Roles in the Scotland Office may change over time to respond to departmental and Ministerial priorities and to support development opportunities for the successful candidate.

In the event of a high volume of applications candidates will be sifted on the lead behaviours: Communicating and Influencing.

The role is offered as a loan / fixed term appointment for two years and is open to substantive Grade 7s or on temporary promotion.