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Constitutional Policy and Business Support Officer: Scotland Office
Would you like the opportunity to play a core role in supporting Ministers shape the future of the UK and Scotland within it? Do you want to take a leading role in supporting Ministers respond to Covid19?
Overview
As Constitutional Policy and Business Support Officer, you will assist the Constitutional Policy Division on a day-to-day basis supporting Ministers in delivering the priorities of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (OSSS).
OSSS 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.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who has experience in a policy environment or equivalent and is keen to use their initiative, while collaborating and building trust in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will be expected to support on a wide variety of work including policy, strategy and relationship management. This role in the OSSS offers opportunities to develop key policy and business management skills in a fast-paced and changing environment that will be valuable for anyone seeking progression in the future.
Key responsibilities of the role:
- Policy support – Provide cross-team and cross-division policy support on legislation including: secretariat support, drafting briefings, and submissions for Ministers. Liaise closely with the other divisions in OSSS including Private Office and the Office of the Advocate General on key policy and constitutional issues.
- Business Support - Provide a high quality support service to the two Deputy Directors (job-share) in the Constitutional Policy Division, managing the mailbox and diary, preparing papers and relevant briefings for meetings and other secretariat tasks as required.
- Monitoring and reporting – Manage the project plans and documents for the Constitutional Policy team, updating and monitoring documents on a regular basis and identifying potential risks to escalate as appropriate.
- Parliamentary – Draft correspondence and Parliamentary questions. Also manage and engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- The post holder would be expected to be adaptable to the changing needs of the team and to suit their strengths and development needs.
- Occasional travel between London and Scotland will be expected once social distancing measures have ended. (No relocation / excess travel will be given)
Background
We are recruiting using Ministry of Justice terms and conditions. For substantive civil servants we are able to offer the MoJ terms or offer the option of a loan agreement with the home department. This role is open to non-civil servants. Interviews will be conducted via video conference facilities
This is an excellent opportunity to work closely with Ministers, senior leaders across Whitehall, in the Scottish Government and Scottish stakeholder groups, working at the heart of the OSSS.
The OSSS is part of the UK Governance Group, which brings together Cabinet Office’s Constitution Group, Wales Office, OSSS and the Office of the Advocate General, the UK Government’s Scottish legal advisers. We also work closely with the Northern Ireland Office. The skills the successful job-holder will develop the following skills in the role:
- Detailed knowledge of devolution and the constitutional structures of the United Kingdom;
- Project and business management skills
- Briefing and advising Ministers and working closely with Special Advisers
Skills & Qualifications
In addition to demonstrating the core competencies, it is expected the successful applicant will have:
- Diary management experience
- Very good written and verbal communication skills;
- Excellent organisational skills;
- Ability to build strong working relationships including at a senior level;
- Good IT and digital skills;
- Drive for their own personal development;
- Interest in the UK political landscape and devolution would also be an advantage
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