Constitutional Policy Higher Executive Officer - Scotland Office (UKG)Ministry of Justice

21223

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Scotland Office is a UK Government department that supports the Secretary of State for Scotland in 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 the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in supporting UKG Ministers to deliver for Scotland and support its devolution settlement. Working across a range of constitutional policy areas this role would suit an enthusiastic individual who has experience in a policy environment or equivalent and is keen to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

This stretching and rewarding role offers the opportunity to be part of an established team to support the development and delivery of key government policies in respect of Scotland. There will also be opportunities to work collaboratively across the wider division and department on a range of policy areas, often delivering at pace to support Ministerial; priorities and Parliamentary activity. The successful candidate will also work with colleagues to support corporate activities across the three teams that comprise the Constitutional Policy Division, in areas such as information and risk management and corporate reporting.

The role may be based in our Edinburgh or London offices.

Role responsibilities:

Key responsibilities and duties will include but are not limited to:

Advising Ministers, special advisors and senior officials on constitutional policy issues related to the Scotland Act 1998 and the devolution settlement.

Delivering on ministerial  commitments and priorities in relation to devolution and the constitution.

Building and maintaining effective working relationships with key teams and divisions across the Scotland Office, across UKG and Scottish Government to influence key policies, projects and workstreams.

Working across UK Government departments whose work has policy implications in Scotland, ensuring effective SO input to cross UK Government policy work.

Drafting correspondence, responding to Freedom of Information requests, Oral Questions, debates in Parliament, and Parliamentary Questions.

With colleagues, leading corporate activities for the division in areas such as information management and risk.

Dealing with sensitive content; the successful candidate will need to be able to handle matters with discretion and awareness of security guidelines, as well as data protection functions for the office.

Skills

Essential:

Excellent policy skills, including the ability to analyse and use evidence to draft advice and briefing to Ministers or Senior Managers.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distil complex technical and policy information at pace into key messages either to Ministers or Senior Managers.

The ability to build strong collaborative working relationships with colleagues across multiple teams to deliver objectives.

Ability to prioritise and respond at pace to a variety of demands.

Possess excellent organisational skills and ability to progress multiple projects simultaneously.

Have excellent IT skills and enthusiasm to develop AI capability.

Be able to maintain productivity under pressure and shift priorities quickly and effectively.

Desirable:

Knowledge of and interest in Scottish politics, devolution and the constitutional structures of the United Kingdom.

Experience working in policy development or in policy delivery.

Have project or portfolio management experience.