Policy Officer

Do you want to be at the forefront of driving Scotland’s investment future and shaping impactful policy?

These roles sit within the Investment Unit, which is part of the Investment & Financial Services Division within the Directorate for International Trade & Investment. The Investment Unit was established in 2024 to lead on the implementation of a long-term investment programme focused on investor engagement; a national pipeline of opportunities; and financing mechanisms, in order to make substantial improvements in the public sector’s approach to attracting internationally mobile capital. The programme of work is led by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic in her role as cross-portfolio ‘Investment Champion’.

The Investment Unit are recruiting for 2  posts for the following roles:

• Policy Officer - Financing Mechanisms and Data Insights
• Policy Officer - Investment Pipeline
   

The Financing Mechanisms and Data role sits within the Investment Landscape, Financial Instruments and Markets team. This team is responsible for identifying, coordinating innovative funding, financing, and risk-sharing approaches that could help accelerate the delivery of future infrastructure projects. The role supports work to explore how financial instruments and mechanisms—such as guarantees, blended finance, or other public-private models—can be effectively applied in the Scottish context. It also involves gathering and analysing data to inform policy development, improve market confidence, and support evidence-based decision-making across infrastructure investment planning. 

The Investment Pipeline role sits within the Commercial and Technical, Portal and Pipeline Projects team, which leads the development and management of the national investment pipeline and the online investment portal—two core projects of the wider Investment Unit. This work involves significant cross-government and cross-agency collaboration, as well as close coordination with the rest of the Unit, particularly around investor engagement. The role supports the development of the national project pipeline by helping to establish governance structures and processes and reporting progress to Ministers. It also contributes to the delivery of the online investment portal, due to launch in 2025, with regular progress updates provided to Ministers.

Responsibilities

• Build effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across governments, agencies, investors and professional associations. 
• Represent the Investment Unit and Directorate across Scottish Government to drive improvements in attracting private capital investment at scale to Scotland.
• Work effectively as part of a team or as an individual to deliver policy and programmes objectives.
• Develop and maintain core brief(s), and respond to MiCases, PQs, FOI requests and media enquiries as needed.
• Draft high quality, evidence based briefings and submissions for Ministers and senior staff, including working with colleagues on FMQ briefs.
• Work flexibly across a high performing team/division providing support as required. 
• Be proactive in seeking opportunities to build expertise and personal development.

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

• Policy Delivery and Systems – Practitioner  

• Governance and Project Delivery – Practitioner 

You can find out more about the skills required here. 

 

Experience

• Experience of working across the Scottish Government and across government agencies, including the Enterprise Agencies, is preferable.  

 

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions – Level 3  

• Working Together – Level 3 

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk) How to applyApply 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. 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 presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 15th September. 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. 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 31st August (23:59). This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.