Job Title

Senior Policy Adviser, Local Growth Team - Scotland Office.

Grade

SEO.

Salary

The national salary range is £41,463 - £46,182; London salary range is £47, 657 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.

This is a full-time role based in Edinburgh or London.

Team, business area and location

This role is in the Local Growth Team in the Scotland Office; based in Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh or Dover House, London.

Deputy Director

Elma Durdevic (elma.durdevic@ukgovscotland.gov.uk)

Start date and length of posting

Start date: ASAP; permanent.

Vacancy manager

Craig Birrell (craig.birrell@ukgovscotland.gov.uk)

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.

The Local Growth Team is responsible for the delivery of twelve City Region and Growth Deals worth £1.5 billion across all parts of Scotland. The team also has responsibility for oversight of the £140 million Local Growth Fund which has been targeted at five of Scotland’s Regional Partnerships, and the Pride in Place Programme, a £280 million investment programme across a number of local communities. The team promotes UK Government policy interests across all of these programmes, including interactions with local government, partners and other key stakeholders.

The team includes a Grade 6 Head of Team role, three Grade 7’s another SEO and an EO. The team works closely with other Scotland Office Divisions and our external stakeholders, including the Scottish Government and local partners, to support UK Government objectives.

The successful candidate will be expected to 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 programme manage projects while collaborating and building trust in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Applicants should have a knowledge of the devolution settlement and a keen interest in contemporary politics in Scotland, and be motivated by having the opportunity to contribute to the prosperity and future wellbeing of the country.

Please note the following:

• We will operate a six month reserve list for similar SEO roles which may arise in the Scotland Office.

• We are recruiting using Ministry of Justice terms and conditions.

• The security clearance required for this role is BPSS.

Key responsibilities

This is a fast-paced, high-output and varied role, including, but not limited to:

• Providing advice, briefing and support to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials on local growth policy and delivery, including the City Region and Growth Deal Programme, Local Growth Fund and Pride in Place Programme.

• Portfolio oversight of the City Region and Growth Deal Programme delivery; Local Growth Fund implementation and delivery; and Pride in Place Programme delivery.

• Collaborating with team members as well as counterparts in other Government Departments, Scottish Government and local authorities to support the effective delivery of the Teams local growth objectives in Scotland.

• Representing the Scotland Office externally at events and meetings with key stakeholders, including private sector organisations, academia and the third sector, local government and the Scottish Government.  

• Representing the Scotland Office at events and meetings with other UK Government Departments including HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Person Specification (essential/desirable)

Essential criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communication, and confident working closely with senior leaders/ministers.  

• Experience of providing policy and/or strategy advice to government ministers or senior leaders and demonstrating ability to pick up new topics quickly. 

• Experience of Project or Programme management. Able to effectively communicate with and influence internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of the Scottish political landscape, the Devolution Settlement, and local growth policy in Scotland.

• Experience of project or programme management in the context of HMT Treasury’s Green Book Guidance

• Experience of financial analysis within the management of programmes and projects.

• Strong planning and organisational skills, the ability to respond quickly and flexibly to new demands and manage competing priorities and tasks.

• The ability to establish good working relationships with a wide range of both internal and external stakeholders

Assessment methods

We will assess against four behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions

• Leadership

• Communicating and Influencing (lead)

• Delivering at Pace.

Additional information

Interview dates - TBC.