CTNS Policy Officer (Prevent)

Job Description

Would you like to work in a team with a focus on early intervention and diversionary work to reduce susceptibility to involvement in, or support for, terrorism? 

We have an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and self-motivated individual to join the Counter Terrorism and National Security Unit (CTNS) as a policy officer for the Prevent strand of the Counter-terrorism strategy. The Counter Terrorism and National Security Unit sits within the Safe and Secure Scotland Division of the wider Safer Communities Directorate and supports the coordination, facilitation and delivery of the four key strands of the UKG Counter-Terrorism strategy, CONTEST, in Scotland; Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare.

Responsibilities

• The role  will sit within the CONTEST Prevent function of the Counter Terrorism and National Security Unit which manages the delivery of the Scottish UK CONTEST objectives under Prevent, and wider engagement with key internal and external partners.
• Supporting the delivery of Prevent objectives by working with relevant partners in understanding capability, capacity and delivery across Scotland.
• Providing high quality policy support to the Prevent team and across the Counter Terrorism and National Security Unit as needed. This includes ownership of secretariat support for meetings, coordination of events, diary management and appropriate record keeping.
• Maintaining appropriate and efficient contact lists for a range of stakeholders across Scotland.
• Supporting the delivery of the Prevent Board, and relevant working groups, by providing secretariat functions.
• Supporting development and delivery of communications across Prevent network in Scotland including engagement with the Home Office, the creation and circulation of a newsletter for our network and managing our Prevent Knowledge Hub for public sector partners. 
• Provision of support to managing Counter Terrorism and National Security Unit budget including payments for events and speakers and processing other key payments. 
• Engage with a wide range of sectors to support the awareness and implementation of the CONTEST strands in Scotland, with a focus on Prevent partners. 
• Providing core support for unit responses to correspondence and briefing requests such as FOI, PQ’s, MiCase etc. 
• Engage with a wide range of sectors to support the awareness and implementation of the CONTEST strands in Scotland, with a focus on Prevent partners. 

Success Profile

Experience:

Candidates should have experience of working at pace and the ability to organise and prioritise their work in order to deliver key work objectives within set timelines across multiple priorities.

Behaviours:

• Delivering at pace level 2
• Working together level 2
• Changing and improving level 2 
   

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 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 22nd September however this may be subject to change.

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.

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 Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week.  We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for,  please contact us.

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.

Security Checks 

Successful 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 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; 28/9/25 (23:59) This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.