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- Tasks: Support governance in Scotland's colleges and universities while engaging with unions and workforce representatives.
- Company: Join the Scottish Government, dedicated to improving lives across Scotland.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, supportive environment, and a range of employee benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education governance and workforce relations in Scotland.
- Qualifications: Experience in providing high-quality advice and building relationships in challenging environments.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about strengthening governance and supporting positive workforce relationships across Scotland's colleges and universities? The Policy Official post is within the Institutional Governance and Reform unit, one of four units within the Governance and Assurance Division. The division focuses on governance and financial and quality assurance of colleges and universities within the system. It also oversees the sponsorship of two NDPBs—the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland—while carrying out budget planning plus monitoring for the directorate.
The Institutional Governance and Reform unit focuses on governance of colleges and universities and engagement both with individual institutions and their sectoral representative bodies of Colleges Scotland and Universities Scotland. The unit also holds the key relationships with Unions on workforce matters in the college and university sectors. There are currently three teams within the unit. The Unit works flexibly to respond to key priorities and pressures with good levels of cross team working and peer support. This Policy Official post is in the College Governance, Engagement and Workforce team. You will provide high quality advice and support to Ministers and senior officials on their engagement with unions and college workforce, taking forward key recommendations on improvements to the process and maintaining a good understanding of college workforce and severance patterns.
Responsibilities
- Assist the Team Lead in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with unions and workforce representative bodies, driving forward collaborative policy making as needed.
- Be the first point of contact for College Employers Scotland and Campus trade unions on all industrial relations issues such as industrial action, pay and conditions, staffing, sector bargaining and Fair Work issues, including developing SG positions, media lines and briefing Ministers.
- Lead on the briefing/speeches for debates, committee evidence sessions etc related to industrial action in the college sector.
- Work closely with SFC to maintain a good understanding of college workforce issues, including mapping staffing levels and severance patterns and ensuring adherence to fair work principles.
- Work collaboratively and flexibly with other colleagues in the team to distribute and undertake cross team tasks as needed.
- Make high quality contributions to Ministerial briefings, commissions, and other core business, such as MiCases, comms requests, PQs and FOI requests, supporting the team to complete such work on time, and escalating complex queries as needed.
Qualifications
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Experience
- Experience of providing responsive, high quality advice to Ministers and senior officials.
- Experience of building and maintaining relationships with internal and external colleagues including through challenging times.
- Experience of providing high quality and nuanced responses as part of core business (MiCases, PQs, FOIs etc).
- Willingness to act as a team player, supporting the team and wider Unit and flexing to meet new priorities.
Behaviours
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - How to apply.
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.
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, 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.
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
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. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
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).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Apply before 23:59 on 19 February. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only.
Policy Official in Glasgow employer: Scottish Government
Contact Detail:
Scottish Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Policy Official in Glasgow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the education sector, especially those connected to colleges and universities. Attend events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues and learn more about the industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by researching the latest trends in governance and workforce relations. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to improving these areas within Scotland's colleges and universities.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Since you'll be advising Ministers and senior officials, being able to articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently is key. Consider mock interviews with friends or mentors.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the resources you need to ace your application process.
We think you need these skills to ace Policy Official in Glasgow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff: Before you start writing, make sure you understand the job description inside out. Highlight the key responsibilities and qualifications, and think about how your experience aligns with them. This will help you tailor your CV and supporting statement effectively.
Be Specific: When you're crafting your supporting statement, use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your skills and behaviours. Don't just say you're a team player; show us a time when you collaborated successfully with others to achieve a goal.
Keep It Clear and Concise: Remember, you have a word limit of 1500 words for your supporting statement. Make every word count! Use clear language and avoid jargon. Break up your text with headings or bullet points to make it easy for us to read.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right place. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our organisation there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Government
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the governance landscape in Scotland's colleges and universities. Brush up on recent policies, key stakeholders, and current issues affecting the sector. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your passion for the role.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves engaging with unions and workforce representatives, think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated challenging conversations or built rapport with diverse groups.
✨Prepare for Scenarios
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think about potential industrial relations issues you might face in this role and how you would approach them. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
This position requires collaboration across teams, so be ready to discuss how you work as part of a team. Share specific examples of how you've supported colleagues in the past, especially in high-pressure situations, to highlight your adaptability and teamwork skills.