Current Opportunities

Hours
35 per week – Hybrid working available (minimum 2 days a week in office)

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation.

The Environment Quality and Resilience (EQR) division sits within the Environment and Forestry Directorate, with an overarching aim to protect and improve Scotland’s environment for the resilience and wellbeing of Scotland’s people and places. The successful placements will work alongside policy colleagues across two teams within EQR who manage the delivery of a range of Scottish Government key policies.

The Environment Protection Team works on policy frameworks to:

• ensure that Scotland’s air is clean and healthy,
• reduce environmental noise experienced by our communities; and
• clean up historically contaminated land.

The Water Environment Team is responsible for developing and delivering policy for the protection and improvement of Scotland’s water environment. To do this, we:

• support the development and delivery of River Basin Management plans
• establish environmental standards for Scotland to support healthy aquatic ecosystems.
• develop policy interventions, such as funds and regulations to protect and improve the water environment, particularly for sensitive areas such as bathing waters and drinking water protected areas.

As members of the Environmental Quality and Resilience Division, the post holders will work closely with policy leads across Scottish Government to help develop and deliver the Scottish Government’s policies across these fast-paced policy areas. There will be opportunities to engage with stakeholders and provide advice to senior colleagues and Ministers. Two teams are seeking interns for a minimum of 12 weeks placement.

The Role

12 week Internship for an Environmental Quality Intern (Air and Land), working within the Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, EH6 6QQ. Hybrid working is available.

Hours Monday – Friday 35 hour week

Key Tasks

The Environment Protection Team has responsibility for policy development and delivery on air quality, contaminated land, and noise nuisance, with key objectives to:

• Achieve Scotland’s ambition to have the best air quality in Europe, through continuing to deliver improvements in Scotland’s air quality and meeting our statutory commitments;
• Provide the policy framework to effectively support local authorities and SEPA to clean up contaminated land where it poses unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.
• Support delivery of the Agglomeration Noise Action Plans and to review the implementation of Noise Management Areas and Quiet Areas;

As EPT intern, you will join the team in delivery of key priorities including:

1. Supporting implementation of the final year of Cleaner Air For Scotland 2, and development of a new air quality framework.
2. Improving baseline understanding of land contamination and impacts of the contaminated land policy regime through supporting stakeholder engagement activities.

The Candidate

Candidates should be qualified to HE graduate level or equivalent with a degree in a relevant scientific subject area such as environmental science, chemistry, or environmental policy.

The Scottish Government’s IT system is supported by Microsoft systems. Applicants should be experienced in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Training in internal systems and intranet will be provided.

We are looking for candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Ability to collate and analyse a wide range of sources, including scientific literature, to draw out key messages and findings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to clearly communicate often complex technical information to a range of audiences, including senior colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build good working relationships and to work positively and constructively with a range of people such as delivery bodies and stakeholders with different priorities and perspectives.
• Desirable: Proven knowledge and/or experience of environmental issues relevant to the work of the water environment or environmental protection policy teams as described above.

Application Procedure

Apply via the Bright Green Business web link provided and click on the APPLY button. You will need to register in order to upload your CV and Cover Letter as your application. Please note that CV and Cover letter will need to be uploaded as ONE document.

Note:

All communication is via EMAIL so always check your JUNK MAIL/SPAM folders for our responses.

Important

a) You must be eligible to work in the U.K. for the full length of your placement. Valid Visa will be sought.

b) You must available the full length of your placement and be able to travel to the location

c) We will hold your application on our systems for 6 months from submission. This ensures your application can be considered for relevant roles where appropriate. If you would prefer us not to store your information for this period, please inform us.

We do endeavour to let all applicants know of the outcome once the whole process has been finalised.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy, and maternity.