The Policy Team leads the development of Disclosure Scotland policy, and advises Ministers on matters relating to the state disclosure of criminal conviction, and the administration of the PVG Scheme. This role is focused on leading the Policy Team, and will involve planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting on team priorities, ensuring those priorities match with that of Disclosure Scotland as a whole. This role requires strong leadership, management, and influencing skills to ensure broad participation from internal and external stakeholders.
Disclosure Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government. The policy team are responsible for its functions and are embedded inside the agency, under the guidance of its Chief Executive, and directly support Ministers for all matters relating to policy around the state disclosure of criminal convictions and the administration of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.
The Head of Policy is a key leadership role within Disclosure Scotland, with responsibility for advising and supporting Ministers in relation to policy matters, in conjunction with Disclosure Scotland’s Leadership team. The role also includes working collaboratively with other Heads of Service within Disclosure Scotland to play an active part of Disclosure Scotland wider governance groups and as part of a general leadership responsibility across Disclosure Scotland
This post reports to the Director of Policy, Customer Engagement and Communications and currently includes line management of 3 Policy Managers. This may change in due course as the organisation continue to undergo a structural review. The policy team also includes 2 Policy Officers, and a Policy Officer. The policy team are co-located with the Customer Engagement and Communications teams in Disclosure Scotland.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Lead on support Disclosure Scotland’s Leadership Team in providing advice to Scottish Ministers in relation to the state disclosure and barring regime in Scotland.
- Act as the focal point for policy matters within Disclosure Scotland, including day to day responsibility for ensuring all Ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests, briefings, are completed within assigned deadlines.
- Lead development of the required impact assessments in support of policy changes within Disclosure Scotland.
- Oversee the policy development and implementation of the remainder of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.
- Work closely with other Heads of Service and teams within Disclosure Scotland as part of specific programmes of work, or as part of the organisation’s governance arrangements, to provide policy input.
- Lead on the development of policy options and policy instructions as required, working closely with key stakeholders within the Scottish Government, including Scottish Government Legal Directorate and Parliament and Legislation Unit.
- Identify, commission and participate in effective stakeholder engagement to inform policy development.
- Effective risk management, including management of reputational risk.
- Line management of 3 B3 Policy Managers, and countersigning responsibility for 2 B2 Policy Officers.
- Support the Director of Policy, Customer Engagement and Communications in other organisation wide matters as required.
Qualifications
Working pattern
This role is a permanent level transfer position.
How to Apply
Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive C1 employees.
Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).
Selection Process
All candidates will be invited to an informal discussion with the Hiring Manager.
Informal discussion dates tbc.
Please be advised this vacancy is open only to Priority Movers.
Further Information
If you have specific questions about the role, please contact gareth.wilks@disclosurescotland.gov.scot
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
