HR Officer in Edinburgh

Use your HR expertise to help shape the employee experience and support effective workforce management across the Inquiry. The HR Officer role sits within the Corporate Services Team at the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, the largest Inquiry ever undertaken in Scotland. The team provides the corporate services and operational support that enable the Inquiry to deliver its remit effectively and efficiently. Working closely with colleagues across the Inquiry and key stakeholders within the Scottish Government, you will provide expert HR operational support across a range of workforce activities. The role's main objective is to deliver effective people services and ensure the consistent application of HR policies, processes and best practice across the organisation.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the recruitment processes for temporary staff alongside the other HR Officer, including processing recruitment requests, completing associated paperwork, and coordinating onboarding and induction activities.
• Manage customer enquiries, including transactional HR queries and escalations, and oversee the HR team mailbox.
• Provide advice, support and assurance on the application of HR policies, procedures and employment law, and support individual case management activity as required.
• Ensure employee data and records are maintained accurately and in compliance with relevant data protection legislation, including GDPR.
• Gather, analyse and report on HR data to inform decision-making and assess service quality and performance.
• Contribute to HR projects and initiatives relating to operational improvements, service development and the annual People Survey.
• Coordinate and, where required, support the delivery of learning and development activities across the Inquiry, working with the Scottish Government learning team and external providers as appropriate.
• Undertake other ad hoc duties as required, including supporting SBM position management activities and assisting with Inquiry-wide events.

Qualifications:

Success profile: Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills: Understanding key HR policies and processes - Knowledgeable about key HR policies and processes, and how to research and apply these when providing advice to customers and managing processes. Able to assess issues and risks and escalate when required.

Experience: Proven experience and ability to manage complex people casework in an HR environment.

Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing – Level 3, Managing a Quality Service – Level 3, Working Together – Level 3.

How to apply: Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 14 September 2026 however this may be subject to change. Apply before 23:59 on 31 August 2026.

This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).

Recruitment Principles: As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About us: The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits.

Working pattern: Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location.

Security checks: Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

Equality statement: We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.