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Scottish Government Hiring for Policy Officer at Glasgow G Full Time
Overview:
This is a significant programme of work which will enable the successful candidate to develop policy skills in an agile programme environment and to gain experience of working with ministers, the Scottish parliament and officials in Whitehall.
Vacancy 1 – Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) Policy Officer
The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) was established in 2013 and is administered by all 32 local authorities under national guidelines. It provides a vital lifeline and safety net for people who find themselves facing financial crisis or needing help to live independently through the provision of Crisis and Community Care Grants. This post will be integral to the SWF policy team and will help to ensure current and future policy supports local authorities in their administration of the Fund.
Vacancy 2 – Winter Heating Policy Officer
This post will help to develop replacements for Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment, Pension Age and Low Income Winter Heating Assistance respectively, which will be provided to people in Scotland in the next few years. Winter Fuel Payment is provided to help older people meet the costs of heating their homes in winter. It is paid as a tax-free lump sum each winter.
Both of these policies contribute to the Government’s overall aims of reducing poverty and inequality.
Additional Duties for Winter Heating Policy Officer Role Only:
Competencies:
Essential Criteria:
1. Good interpersonal, networking and team working skills to build, develop and maintain positive working relationships.
2. The ability to prioritise and manage workload, adapting to meet changing circumstances and emerging risks.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, delivering information clearly and concisely in ways which meet the needs of varied audiences.
4. The ability to organise and analyse information from a wide range of sources, accurately and with attention to detail, and to draw out key findings to support decisions.
Additional Information
To apply, you must fully complete and submit an online application via this website before the closing date using evidence based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
To learn more about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]
The Scottish Government is a diverse and inclusive workplace and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via
[email protected]
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
We are seeking applications for enthusiastic Policy Officers to fill two vacancies based in the Policy Division within the Social Security Programme and provide an opportunity to play a key role in the provision of support to vulnerable people.
This is a significant programme of work which will enable the successful candidate to develop policy skills in an agile programme environment and to gain experience of working with ministers, the Scottish parliament and officials in Whitehall.
Vacancy 1 – Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) Policy Officer
The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) was established in 2013 and is administered by all 32 local authorities under national guidelines. It provides a vital lifeline and safety net for people who find themselves facing financial crisis or needing help to live independently through the provision of Crisis and Community Care Grants. This post will be integral to the SWF policy team and will help to ensure current and future policy supports local authorities in their administration of the Fund.
Alongside the SWF Policy Manager, key elements of this post will include engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders such as local authority staff, CoSLA, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and policy colleagues across other relevant areas of Scottish Government. A comprehensive, independent review of the Fund is currently underway involving a significant programme of research and this post will be key to supporting this process as well as contributing to future policy analysis of the research findings.
Vacancy 2 – Winter Heating Policy Officer
This post will help to develop replacements for Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment, Pension Age and Low Income Winter Heating Assistance respectively, which will be provided to people in Scotland in the next few years. Winter Fuel Payment is provided to help older people meet the costs of heating their homes in winter. It is paid as a tax-free lump sum each winter.
The Cold Weather Payment is provided to individuals receiving low-income benefits during periods of very cold weather. Both of these benefits are currently paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to eligible individuals throughout the UK but are part of the range of benefits which are being devolved to Scottish ministers.
Both of these policies contribute to the Government’s overall aims of reducing poverty and inequality.
Responsibilities:
Main Duties:
- Coordinate and contribute to the drafting of ministerial briefing, responses to correspondence, FOI requests, parliamentary questions and media lines on Scottish winter heating benefits and the Scottish Welfare Fund, coordinating and liaising with colleagues as required.
- Provide high quality information and advice to colleagues within the Division and across the Scottish Government on relevant matters.
- Provide administrative support for all external and internal meetings including: setting up meetings; drafting accurate and concise minutes and liaising with all relevant stakeholders.
- Work closely with colleagues to provide support to the wider unit as requested, including through participating in projects; undertaking research; proof reading; representing the team at meetings and events; and organising meetings and other activities that promote and support the work of the team.
Additional Duties for Winter Heating Policy Officer Role Only:
- Provide specific support to a visually impaired colleague to access corporate systems such as the Outlook Calendar, MICase system, Citizen Space, ERDM, etc., to support in the co-ordination of related activities, such as preparing papers and ministerial correspondence, with a high degree of accuracy and within deadlines, adhering to security and other relevant internal procedures.
- Support a visually impaired colleague to access, produce and format key documentation, to produce accurate numeric work and concise, well-structured written work using SG guidance, protocols and templates, adapting and embracing new ways of carrying out tasks. Seeking the support of others when needed.
Competencies:
- Self-Awareness
- Communications and Engagement
- Analysis and Use of Evidence
- Improving Performance
Essential Criteria & Qualifications:
No specific qualifications required for this position
Essential Criteria:
1. Good interpersonal, networking and team working skills to build, develop and maintain positive working relationships.
2. The ability to prioritise and manage workload, adapting to meet changing circumstances and emerging risks.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, delivering information clearly and concisely in ways which meet the needs of varied audiences.
4. The ability to organise and analyse information from a wide range of sources, accurately and with attention to detail, and to draw out key findings to support decisions.
Additional Information
To apply, you must fully complete and submit an online application via this website before the closing date using evidence based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
To learn more about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]
The Scottish Government is a diverse and inclusive workplace and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via
[email protected]
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
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