Business Support Officer

Are you an energetic self-starter who thrives under pressure and is eager to grow your skills across a dynamic Directorate?

The Covid Inquiries Response Directorate leads on the provision of information and documents to both Covid-19 Inquiries, as well as supporting witnesses ahead of oral evidence. Both Inquiries are well underway, with the UK Inquiry running multiple concurrent modules and the Scottish Inquiry looking to shortly engage current and former staff and Ministers in gathering its evidence.

As Business Support Officer, you will assist the Directors and Senior Management Team in delivering Directorate objectives. The role will entail work across both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries, offering variety and the opportunity to develop and grow skills across professions, including the policy profession.

Responsibilities

• Support the Directors with diary requests and managing the Director's inbox.
• Support the Directors and wider SMT by co-ordinating, advising on and responding to corporate commissions by appropriate deadlines collating information from across the Directorate.
• Support the directorate communications across many teams and colleague levels. This work would include drafting staff communications and supporting staff sessions.
• Provide secretariat support to the Directorate Management Team and Oversight Board.
• Assist the SMT in driving forward continuous improvement within the Directorate to embed efficient, effective and inclusive ways of working; support resilience and wellbeing; and improve performance.
• Create succinct and accurate summaries of Inquiry hearings.
• Take a supporting role on corporate tasks including MiCase, PQs, FMQs and FOI requests as required.
• Work closely and collaboratively with other members of the Directorate to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the responses to the Inquiries.
• Provide support to colleagues/witnesses in the assessment and identification of specific pieces/types of evidence.

Success profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills:

• Adaptability to change - Working level.

You can find out more about the skills required here Experience Experience in a business or executive support role or working in a team that supports senior stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives. Behaviours:

• Managing a quality service - Level 2.
• Working together - Level 2.
• Making effective decisions - Level 2.

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 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 in-tray exercise. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 8 September 2025, however this may be subject to change. About usThe 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. Find out more about what we offer.As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working patternOur standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles 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 checksSuccessful 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 statementWe 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 informationFind 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: 24 August 2025 (23:59) This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.