Assistant Clerk, Permanent and Temporary posts, Committees/Chamber, Grade 4
Working pattern: Our normal working week is 35 hours, and we work on a hybrid basis, involving working from home and at Holyrood. We’re happy to talk about flexible working. We’re committed to supporting staff to achieve a healthy work-life balance. To meet business and personal needs, we have a progressive flexible working hours arrangement in place.
About the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is responsible for providing the Parliament with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes. We place a high value on excellence, and we are continually looking to improve how we can deliver the Parliament's core purpose of representing the people of Scotland by debating issues of national importance, passing legislation and holding the Scottish Government to account. We are a diverse workforce, and our embedded values shape the way we work and treat each other. We have a culture of respect and inclusion, and everyone has the ability to make a difference. For further information about working for the Scottish Parliament, please see our website.
About the role
This is an excellent opportunity to join the Committee or Chamber office as an Assistant Clerk. We are also looking to expand our pool of Assistant Clerks who can be considered for future vacancies. As we’re also recruiting to a pool, if you’re not available to start with us immediately, you can also apply now to be considered for inclusion in the pool. Please state your preferred start date under the ‘additional information section’ of your values-based statement (full details on how to apply is detailed below).
You’ll work in either our Committeeor Chamber office, where the business of the Scottish Parliament is conducted. To see where the office sits within the organisation, you can view our organisation chart here.
As Assistant Clerk, you’ll be part of a team in which you will play an important role in supporting the Members of the Scottish Parliament in inquiring into and debating issues of importance to the people of Scotland, in holding the Scottish Government to account and in deciding on new laws. This is especially important as we work to improve the Parliament’s scrutiny function in areas of public policy and legislation, which are often complex and contested. This includes innovating in our support for Members and enhancing the Parliament’s ability to operate as a modern democratic organisation, with the public participation at its core.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a Black and Minority Ethnic background who are under-represented at this level. All appointments will be made on merit.
We offer a great range of benefits including: 41.5 leave days (including public holidays), flexible working, paid professional subscriptions, family-friendly policies, Season Ticket advance loans, an onsite gym, Health and Wellbeing Schemes including discounted gym membership, a confidential counselling and information service, and the Cycle to Work Scheme.
You’ll also have the opportunity to join the Alpha Civil Service pension scheme, where we’ll offer you an employer contribution of 28.97% of your basic salary.
We are a values-based organisation. Our values are a central part of our working culture and our people management processes. We use these to recruit, manage and develop our staff. For more information on our values and behaviours framework, please visit our values pages in our Employee Handbook.
About you
You’ll demonstrate an acute awareness of the political background with the ability to apply this within a high pressured and high-profile environment. This sits alongside the ability to perform your role on an impartial basis. You’ll have exceptional interpersonal skills and will establish effective relationships, both within and out with the Parliament, providing politically impartial advice.
You’ll have excellent problem solving and organisational skills and will be able to manage competing priorities to meet tight deadlines. You’ll have political nous, an ability to understand and apply procedure, and an ability to communicate both written and verbally with great accuracy and impact. You’ll have an aptitude for innovation, for example in how we engage with the public, to support scrutiny. Through your contribution, and your management of others, you’ll be confident in your ability to play a leadership role in the realisation of the Parliament’s vision: to make a positive difference to the lives of the people of Scotland.
For full information about the role, have a look at the job description and application pack. You can also contact Gavin.King@parliament.scotor Irene.Fleming@parliament.scot
How to apply
Stage 1
Please apply before 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 25 November 2026.
Information on how to apply and our recruitment process is available on our recruitment process pages on the website.
Your supporting statement will be assessed at this stage.
Stage 2
If your application is successful at stage 1, you’ll be asked to undertake a remote written assessment. This will be a timed exercise and will be sent to you by email. The assessments are expected to take week commencing 11 January 2027 although this is subject to change.
You’ll be notified if you’reinvited to assessment week commencing 4 January 2027.
Candidates will be invited to the next stage of the recruitment process on the basis of their assessment and application score.
Stage 3
At the final stage, you’ll be invited to attend a virtual panel interview and will be asked to undertake a presentation. Interviews will be held week commencing 1 February 2027, although this is subject to change.
Offers will be awarded based on merit. For this role, the following weighting is used to come to a final score on which offers will be based. Application 20%; Assessment 20%; Presentation 20% and Interview 40%.
Feedback will only be provided on request to those who attend interview.
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please email: careers@parliament.scot
Assistant Clerk in Edinburgh employer: Scottish Parliament
As the inaugural Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland, you will be part of a pioneering role that champions the rights and interests of victims and witnesses across the nation. The position offers a competitive salary, a commitment to equality and diversity, and the opportunity to make a significant impact within the criminal justice system. Working in this high-profile capacity allows for professional growth and the chance to influence best practices in support services, all while being backed by the robust framework of the Scottish Parliament.
