Policy Officer in Glasgow

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Advocacy, Community Land Scotland

Location: Anywhere in Scotland, but regular attendance at Scottish Government/Parliament meetings and events in Edinburgh and Glasgow will be needed

Start Date: 1st April 2026

Fixed term to: 31st March 2028, potential for extension depending on funding

Closing Date: 3rd March (interviews on 11th March)

Community Land Scotland is a membership organisation which represents the interests of community landowners throughout Scotland, and which currently has over 140 Members. It is the national voice for community ownership and land reform in Scotland, aiming to diversify the pattern of land ownership to ensure many more people can benefit from Scotland’s land. Land ownership matters because it significantly influences how land is used and crucially who benefits.

Community Land Scotland operates by taking the real lived experiences of communities and using them to influence positive change. We have a UK wide reputation for promoting community empowerment through the democratic ownership of key assets in local economies, building community wealth and resilience. We are regularly asked to speak nationally within Scotland, within the UK and internationally, on land reform and community empowerment. We are the only civil society organisation that exists to fulfil this advocacy function.

This role would suit a candidate with some experience of policy development, research and campaigning. The role will require the ability to work autonomously and build upon existing skills and experience whilst learning the details of the land reform and community ownership policy environment. Although some experience is expected for the role, training and development will take place alongside gaining a wide range of experiences, all of which will support career development.

As Policy Officer you will have a specific role within the policy and advocacy team to help research and shape policy development whilst sharing our message with a wider audience.

We are looking for a Policy Officer who is a strong oral and written communicator with strong organisational and administrative skills, who can digest and synthesise complex information and then present it in an engaging format and who has a passion for community-led approaches and land reform.

The main objectives of this post, and outcomes to be delivered are to:

• Help support the organisation’s significant policy agenda with a focus on developing policy to deliver more community ownership, further land reform in Scotland and to help communities deliver their sustainable development objectives
• Promote awareness and benefits of community land ownership across all communities in Scotland and particularly spread our message to new demographics
• Demonstrate how more community ownership creates more communities in control of their own sustainable development
• Develop, facilitate and promote networking among a range of partner organisations that promote community ownership and land reform in Scotland
• Work with the Director of Policy and Advocacy to represent Community Land Scotland’s members from Holyrood to local political discussions and in wider forums
• Stand in for the Director of Policy and Advocacy as appropriate

Responsibilities

This is a wide-ranging role which, while having specific tasks identified below, can be developed to suit the candidates’ own skills and experiences. Community Land Scotland has a national voice and reputation and the specific responsibilities will be focused on enhancing this and ensuring our objectives are delivered. The responsibilities include:

• Work with the Director of Policy and Advocacy on a programme of policy advocacy, underpinned by a sound evidence base which will have been drawn from the organisation’s support work with communities
• Lead on aspects of Community Land Scotland’s significant policy portfolio as appropriate
• Support, and lead where appropriate, the continuing establishment of a national Land Reform Alliance
• Lead our programme of campaign events to spread public awareness about land justice issues and political solutions, including developing and maintaining our policy communications on social media
• Maintain the policy and advocacy elements of the Community Land Scotland website
• Act as a representative of Community Land Scotland at meetings with allied organisations or public body/governmental/parliamentary meetings
• Support Community Land Scotland’s campaign work for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections and the establishment of the new Parliament
• Support our work on legislation in the Scottish Parliament, and lead on pieces of legislation where relevant
• Lead on the researching and drafting of policy briefings and research papers
• Support our policy network-building at a national and regional level and work with partners to coordinate the development of policy proposals for submission to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government – particularly in relation to the work of the Scottish Community Coalition on Energy (SCCE) and our work on addressing the rural housing crisis
• Work with the International Land Coalition on the development and maintenance of the Europe, Middle East and North Africa Youth Network
• Develop and maintain knowledge of key policy, legislative and funding developments relevant to the sector

Research and case studies

• Lead on desk-based research as part of the programme of policy development and to feed into briefings and media content
• Assist with the managing of commissioned research projects to provide the evidence needed to make the case for more community ownership
• Be the Community Land Scotland representatives to the Community Land Academic Network (CLAN) and contribute to developing their research agenda

Communications

• Lead on Community Land Scotland’s social media presence in relation to policy issues and the land reform campaign
• Support the work of the Director of Policy and Advocacy and PR and Comms co-ordinator when publicising policy issues. This may include preparing press releases, social media releases and cultivating good relationships with key media interests. This will involve working with other team members.
• Work with the Director of Policy and Advocacy and PR and Comms co-ordinator to ensure that the organisation’s Members are kept engaged and informed as to current and emerging policy issues and how they can promote positive change within their own communities. This will include supporting the quarterly policy meetings with members and contributing to monthly newsletters

Supporting Community Land Scotland’s wider work

• Promote a working culture in-line with Community Land Scotland’s values: Advocate, Bold, Creative, Inclusive, Trust and Resilience
• Attendance at Community Land Scotland events will be an essential part of the role.
• Carry out any other duties that may be required, as specified by the Director of Policy and Advocacy of Community Land Scotland.