New Market Clusters Policy Officer

Job Description

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to join the New Market Clusters Unit within the Innovation and Industrial Transformation Division in DG Economy?

The New Market Clusters Unit (NMCU) supports the development of key, high-value market clusters and develops policy that will support the growth of new, innovative and market-leading clusters in future, driving the growth of the wellbeing economy and delivering key aims of SG’s Innovation Strategy.

The Unit also closely supports key policy areas – including Space, Quantum Technologies, Robotics, Aerospace and Defence – to establish them as internationally-recognised specialist clusters, providing a focal point of economic growth in Scotland. 

The team leads in the development of a new policy area of cluster development. Working closely with enterprise agencies, industry and academic partners, it will establish a framework and system for economic cluster development, supporting existing and emerging market opportunities in the future.

The Unit also leads on Scotland’s first Technology Council which was established as part of a Programme for Government commitment and is chaired by the Minister for Business and Employment. This group of industry leaders and academics with a range of experience in international markets, including health and life sciences, financial services, data and AI, advanced manufacturing and space will help shape policy, provide a link between businesses and the Scottish Government and promote Scottish tech companies on the international stage.

While this position has a focus on the Secretariat function for the Technology Council, there will be opportunity to engage in broader cluster development policy activities as the Unit works across exciting and dynamic sectors which attract significant Ministerial, industry and public interest. 

The NMCU is a close-knit team that is welcoming, collaborative and excited to work with broader policy teams and industry leaders.
 

Responsibilities

• Supporting the secretariat function for the Technology  Council. This includes assisting with shaping and coordinating  agendas, meeting papers from relevant policy areas and meeting minutes.
• Working closely with senior officials across the Scottish Government and wider stakeholders and Council members to progress actions that arise and facilitate and assist in fostering a collaborative relationship. 
• Providing contributions to Ministerial activities, including high quality Ministerial briefings and advice to senior officials Ministers.
• Support the wider work of the Unit by working with colleagues on key pieces of work and Business as Usual tasks including initial responses to Ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, FMQs and FoIs.

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:

1. Governance and Project Delivery – Level 2

You can find out more about the skills required, here: Policy Profession Standards Annex

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Level 3
• Changing and Improving – Level 3
• Communicating and Influencing – Level 3
• Delivering at Pace – Level 3

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.
 Assessments are scheduled for w/c 1st September however, this may be subject to change.  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. Find out more about what we offer. 

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. 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 in other agreed work location.

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; 25/08/2025 (23:59) This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only