Reference number
359820
Salary
£36,585 – £41,834
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Other
B2
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
Consumer Scotland – Policy
Type of role
Policy
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Location
This post will be based in Edinburgh or Glasgow with hybrid working arrangements in place.
About the job
Job summary
Consumer Scotland was established by the Consumer Scotland Act 2020 and formally took on its statutory functions and powers on 1 April 2022. As a Non-Ministerial Organisation Consumer Scotland is independent and accountable to the Scottish Parliament. The staff of Consumer Scotland are civil servants.
Consumer Scotland uses data, research and analysis to inform our work on the key issues facing consumers in Scotland. As the statutory body for consumers we work with business, the public sector and consumer champions to put consumer rights, needs and interests at the heart of markets, services and policy. We are committed to working in a way which is fair, transparent, collaborative and evidence-driven.
Consumer Scotland will provide consumer advocacy and advice with a view to –
- reducing harm to consumers in Scotland
- increasing confidence among consumers in Scotland in dealing with businesses that supply goods and services to consumers
- increasing the extent to which consumer matters are taken into account by public authorities in Scotland
- promoting –
- sustainable consumption of natural resources, and
- other environmentally sustainable practices, in relation to the acquisition, use and disposal of goods by consumers in Scotland
- otherwise advancing inclusion, fairness, prosperity and other aspects of wellbeing in Scotland.
The Policy Officer – Water is a key part of the water team. They will contribute to the development and delivery of the team’s work plan and the organisation’s strategy for working with public and third sector partners, business, the Scottish Parliament and other key stakeholders. The Policy Officer – Water will report to the Head of Water and Post.
Job description
The post holder will be responsible for supporting policy and advocacy work into sectors or practices of interest to Consumer Scotland. The post holder is likely to work across a broad range of issues and themes when considering issues affecting water consumers in Scotland. They will be required to collaborate effectively with other teams within Consumer Scotland and stakeholder organisations. There will be a need for flexibility and creativity, particularly as the organisation starts its work and develops its role and functions, and its organisational capacity.
The post-holder will support the organisation’s work by:
- Supporting the Head of Water and Post in developing and delivering Consumer Scotland’s policy and advocacy work programme.
- Helping to build and maintain an in-depth knowledge of consumer issues across the Water Team.
- Contributing to the delivery of high quality, evidence-led policy and advocacy work, developing robust, accessible recommendations that can be readily implemented by the relevant organisations. This may include producing reports, consultation responses, briefings and other outputs.
- Being an ambassador for Consumer Scotland, managing and nurturing good relationships with stakeholders to ensure effective engagement and information gathering Working collaboratively with other teams within the organisation and maintaining high standards of integrity and professionalism.
- The role holder will need the ability to work independently but with support available from the water team and the wider Policy Officer network.
Person specification
A demonstrable track record of contributing to policy and advocacy work of at least one year’s duration.
Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of establishing, developing and maintaining positive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands, and use initiative and judgement.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, enabling the production and presentation of strategic documents and the analysis of diverse information, cutting through complexity to bring clear, relevant and intelligible findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and stakeholders.
The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
Further Information
Further information about this opportunity is available from Gail Walker, Head of Water and Post gail.walker@consumer.scot
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £36,585, Consumer Scotland contributes £9,877 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 25-30 days holidays
- 11.5 days public and privilege holidays
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
This competition is being run in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
Please complete the application form which includes a Statement of Suitability of up to 500 words, detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role based on the Essential Criteria. You will also be asked to complete a CV.
The selection panel will use your application to assess your suitability for the role against the essential criteria during sifting.
If you are shortlisted, your interview will be based on your experience and the Civil Service behaviours listed in the advert.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to CS from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via info@consumer.scot as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :Gail Walker
- Email :gail.walker@consumer.scot
Recruitment team
- Email :secretariat@consumer.scot
