Are you a confident, strategic leader with the skills and drive to deliver transformative and impactful economic and societal change across a diverse portfolio?

The Scottish Government has a unique opportunity for a Director General for Net Zero, to lead a dynamic team of five Directorates and three Executive Agencies which include 4,400 staff in five locations. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead with purpose and impact, fostering an inclusive culture where diverse talent is empowered to thrive.

The purpose of this role is to forge and deliver a coherent, joined-up strategy and subsequent outcomes which bring a just transition of the economy whilst delivering transformational change across the whole of government. You will deliver the ambitious and far-reaching transformation of society and economy to achieve Net Zero targets, ensure a just transition for communities and individuals, and address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity. Harnessing the economic opportunities of the transition to Net Zero and improving our biodiversity across both land and marine will be critical. As a key advisor to Ministers, you will offer confident evidence-based advice and will be able to connect with a wide range of stakeholders across organisations and boundaries to translate strategic vision into action.

You will be accountable to Parliament for the following resources:

Five Directorates will report to you with circa 2,400 people across:

Energy and Climate Change
Marine
Environment and Forestry
Agriculture and Rural Economy
Offshore Wind

Additionally, you will have Portfolio Accountable Officer oversight of 25 public bodies and the following three Executive Agencies (EAs represent a further 2,000 staff):

Transport Scotland
Forestry and Land Scotland
Scottish Forestry

As Director General for Net Zero you will be responsible for a total annual budget of circa £6 billion. Joining the top leadership team of the Scottish Government to lead core public policy and services at a time of unprecedented challenge responding to changing international political context and the cost-of-living crisis.

You will provide direct support to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, the Cabinet Secretary of Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, and the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, and you will have a responsibility to the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Permanent Secretary you will:

Lead transformational change across the whole of Government, acting as a key communicator when engaging the public, business and third sector. Representing Scottish Government at the highest levels and focusing on one of the four top priorities for government to tackle the climate emergency.
As part of the top leadership team, make collective decisions on key priorities that affect Scotland, including delivering Public Service Reform. This also includes workforce planning for the civil service and taking forward policies such as hybrid working and diversity and inclusion to support our people.
Deliver an ambitious policy agenda that meets our emissions reduction targets and puts Scotland firmly on the pathway to Net Zero by 2045.
Lead Directors to champion close working with other colleagues across government, with public bodies and other key delivery partners and external stakeholders. Ensuring delivery of outcomes for the benefit of the people of Scotland, developing a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Ensure that the key services and sectors the country depends on are delivered and supported – transport, water, energy, agriculture, food and drink, marine economies of fishing and aquaculture, environment, the circular economy and forestry.
As a key advisor to Ministers, offer confident evidence-based advice and be able to connect with a wide range of stakeholders across organisations and boundaries to translate strategic vision into action.
Be committed to leading and enabling the continuing development of a high performing Director General family and Senior Team comprising eight Directors, with a strong, inclusive, positive working culture.

Success Profile

It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role.

In addition, candidates applying for roles with the government agencies and public bodies in Scotland are assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework that is used across the Civil Service. This means that as well as evidencing the professional experience and skills you will also be expected to evidence behaviours at the level required for this Senior Civil Service role.

Experience:

Leadership at Executive Team and Board level:

Significant experience of leading the development and delivery of organisational strategy in a large and complex organisation, within government, the public sector or private sector
Demonstrable experience of financial management of significant resource and capital budgets, together with overarching corporate governance experience. This includes
Proven ability to deliver strategic objectives at pace and sustain them through periods of ambiguity and organisational change
Significant experience of major programme and project delivery and operational delivery will be key in leading the portfolio, where a substantial element of the overall Scottish Government capital programme sits
Achievement of measurable outcomes across a range of specialist subject areas, through effective cross-boundary working and partnership with a wide range of stakeholders

Behaviours:

Seeing the big picture (Level 6)
Delivering at pace (Level 6)
Leadership (Level 6)
Communicating and Influencing (Level 6)
Making effective decisions (Level 6)

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

How to apply

Candidates must apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 500 words) that directly addresses the Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above. General or unrelated statements will not be accepted and may result in your application being sifted out. Please ensure your statement clearly demonstrates how you meet the specified experience requirements.

During the interview and assessment process we will test your skills and experience as well as behaviours aligned to this role.

If you are shortlisted you will be provided with full details of the next stages of the selection and assessment process. This may include an individual psychological assessment and a stakeholder /staff engagement exercise.

Assessments are scheduled for the weeks commencing 22, 29 September and 6 October however this may be subject to change. Some of the assessments are likely to take place in person, further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

The Final Interview Panel will take place in person in either Edinburgh or Glasgow. Interviews will be chaired by Liz Walmsley, Civil Service Commission.

The other panel members are:

Joe Griffin, Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government
Jenny Stewart, Non-executive Director, Scottish Government
Nicola Richards, Director, People Directorate, Scottish Government
TBC

Indicative Timeline *

Interviews: w/c 20 October.

*Timings are subject to change. You will be informed appropriately.

Interview Expenses

Any travel and subsistence expenses incurred during the selection process are the responsibility of the applicant.

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £138,533, Scottish Government contributes £40,133 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Working pattern

Applicants on any working pattern are welcome to apply for this post. If you are interested in applying on a job-share basis, please make clear in your application if you wish to be considered as a pre-existing job-share partnership or if you are interested in moving into a job-share arrangement. We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for the post and discuss all options with candidates.

Our standard hours are 37 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role.

Edinburgh with regular travel across Scotland and to London. Please note that hybrid working arrangements currently apply.

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact SCSResourcing@gov.scot

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

The successful candidate, if new to the Civil Service, will require Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) security clearance. In addition, given the requirements of this role, candidates will require national security vetting to Developed Vetting level as a condition of appointment.

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.

Director General (DG) – Net Zero

Scottish Government

Director General (DG) – Net Zero

Scottish Government