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https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
About the Department
The Scotland Office supports the Secretary of State for Scotland in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a strong United Kingdom, and fully representing Scottish interests at the heart of the UK government. It does this by providing direct access to the UK government for businesses and organisations, including the devolved public sector, across Scotland. This allows citizens and businesses based in Scotland to receive information and to understand, access and benefit from UK government policies and services. The Office also plays an important constitutional role, as custodians of the devolution settlement in Scotland.
The Team Leader, Trade, Immigration and Economy Policy Team, will have an integral and fascinating role in the work of the Office, providing advice and assurance to Ministers and other UK Government departments on a range of policy areas including Trade, Immigration, and Economy.
The role requires excellent communication and engagement skills as the successful postholder will work closely with a wide range of partners, including Department for International Trade, The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Home Office and the Scottish Government.
The Scotland Office acts as the custodian of the devolution settlement.
Our Priorities are:
● Support economic growth in Scotland
● Strengthen and sustain the union and Scotland’s role within it; and
● Increase the visibility of the UK Government’s commitment to Scotland
Further information can be found at
www.gov.uk office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-scotland
Role Purpose
The Trade and Business team is part of the Policy Division of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Division is mainly based in Edinburgh, but has a number of staff in London. This post could be based in either location.
The Trade and Business team responsibilities includes several particularly high-profile areas for Scotland, with trade a particularly significant issue from a policy perspective, and trade promotion offering important opportunities for collaboration between the UK Government and Scottish Government.
Policy division colleagues work closely with the lead UK departments on each of their policy areas: influencing policy development, working with the Scottish Government, the other Territorial Offices and stakeholders in Scotland to ensure positive outcomes for Scotland. Collaboration with other Whitehall departments, specifically the Department for International Trade (DIT), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BESI) and Home Office (HO) is an important part of this role.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who has experience in a policy environment or equivalent and is keen to lead on developing policy while collaborating and building trust in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The successful candidates will be expected to lead on a wide variety of work including policy, strategy and stakeholder management. The role will provide opportunities for significant career development in a number of areas.
The role is stretching and will suit someone who is enthusiastic and proactive, with some experience in a policy environment or equivalent, who wants to take the next step in their career. The role will have opportunities to directly support Ministers and you will develop a detailed understanding of trade, immigration and business policy and the devolution settlement, working closely with the senior leaders across Whitehall, the Scottish Government, Scottish stakeholders, and Special Advisors. 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.
Main Activities / Responsibilities
The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
- Advising Scotland Office ministers and senior officials on policy developments on trade, business, Immigration, and innovation issues, particularly highlighting opportunities, risks and potential solutions for implementation and presentational challenges.
- Developing strong working relationships with officials in other UK departments – in particular DIT, BEIS, HO, HMT, and other Territorial Offices – to ensure the development, delivery and announcement of Government policy on reserved areas is fully informed by an understanding of the impact in Scotland
- Providing briefing to support OSSS communications activity, supporting ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary activity to champion the benefits of the United Kingdom in Scotland.
- Lead on drafting briefing, correspondence, and PQs on trade, business, immigration and innovation.
- Leading on providing advice and support to OSSS Ministers for Committee appearances and in Parliament. This will include drafting written and oral briefing and advice in a clear, concise and timely fashion for Ministers
- Collaborative cross-team and cross-division working to inform policy work.
- Occasional travel between London and Scotland will be expected once social distancing measures have ended. (No relocation / excess travel will be given)
Essential criteria
- A proven track record of working closely with senior Government Ministers and Special Advisers, and the ability to get under the skin of political/policy priorities and translate that into concrete actions;
- Highly developed communication, networking and negotiation skills with the personal presence and credibility to secure confidence at the most senior levels across Scotland and Whitehall.
- Outstanding management and leadership skills with the proven ability to maintain a high-performing motivated team to deliver at pace on a challenging agenda;
- Demonstrable experience of working across more than one policy area and an ability to innovate and create new solutions and sell them in a compelling, inclusive manner
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the Scottish political landscape and the Devolution Settlement.
- Experience of working in a pressurised environment, involving high levels of personal autonomy and evidence-based decision making;
- Experience of programme or project management, including tools and techniques
- Experience of working collaboratively with, and delivering through, a large and diverse group of internal and external stakeholders.
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be based at the UK Government hub at Queen Elizabeth House, Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh, with regular travel across Scotland and to London.
For further information, please contact Beth Hall beth.hall@ukgovscotland.gov.uk
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Success Profiles
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
If you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Behaviours
Leadership - 250 word limit
Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Working Together - 250 word limit
Experience
CV
Statement of Suitability - 750 word limit
Interview stage assessments
There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
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