MACS Head of Secretariat

The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) is an advisory non-department public body responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on the challenges of disabled people in relation to transport and creating a Scotland without the barriers that isolate and exclude disabled people from making their choice of successful door to door journeys.

The Committee is made up of a diverse group of members, each bringing a wealth of professional and/or lived experienced, offering profound insights into the challenges faced within Scotland’s transport system.

The MACS Secretariat Team within Transport Scotland is responsible for day to day management and administration to support the Committee as a public body.

The Head of Secretariat is responsible for leading the Secretariat Team, ensuring that the Committee is able to deliver its functions effectively and efficiently, consistent with Ministers’ priorities. This involves, working closely with the Convener and Sponsor to develop and implement appropriate performance management, monitoring and reporting arrangements to ensure that the Committee is accountable and responsible for the full range of its strategic and operational functions.

This post sits within the Transport Strategy & Coordination Unit of Transport Scotland which brings together a number of cross cutting functions, including delivery of the National Transport Strategy (NTS), strategic coordination, stakeholder engagement, UK and Devolved Administrations relations and preparing transport for constitutional change.

As the Head of MACS Secretariat, you will have line management responsibility for one member of staff (B2 Secretariat and Policy and Support Officer). The team reports to the C1 Head of Stakeholder Engagement and MACS Sponsor and is supported by a wider strategic unit within Transport Strategy and Coordination.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with the Mobility and Access Committee Convenor and Committee members, and more widely, across Transport Scotland. Building and maintaining strong stakeholder engagement and management of external parties to ensure effective support to deliver priorities.
• Set direction, lead, manage and develop the Secretariat Team, ensuring there are consistent, efficient and effective management processes that support the delivery of MACS’s annual Work Plan and foster a culture of wellbeing, openness, and continuous improvement.  
• Lead on the day to day management and administration to support the Committee, ensuring that the Committee is able to deliver its functions effectively and efficiently. Providing advice and support to the Convener to ensure that the Committee operates within the required Scottish Government’s frameworks and policies.
• Demonstrate effective decision making that provides an intelligent filter and uses Committee members time efficiently for matters that add value. Track for required follow-up and delivery by agreed deadlines of all business which is for their attention.
• Keep up to date on critical and emerging issues relating to accessibility, making the relevant links with Transport Scotland and Scottish Government colleagues, external stakeholders and others to gather and share intelligence, ensuring the Convener is briefed on topics ahead of meetings.
• Provide regular analysis and reporting on MACS priorities and workstreams and take forward any follow-up actions agreed by the Convenor, Sponsor or Senior Management Team.
• Lead the drafting and publication of MACS’s Annual Report, Work Plan, and strategic documents.

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:

• Operational leadership and management - Level P 

You can find out more about the skills required here: ODP Competency Framework  Behaviours:

• Leadership - Level 3
• Managing a quality service - Level 3
• Working Together - Level 3
• Seeing the big picture - Level 3 

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
 How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 1500 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 10th November however this may be subject to change. If you require any further information on the post please contact Joanne Parker - joanne.parker@transport.gov.scot  About us

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency, seeking to deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland. Transport Scotland is accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers, with a budget of over £4 billion per year. Transport is a vital feature of the Scottish Government's focus on increasing sustainable economic growth, and transport investments and policies have major impacts on the economy, people, and the environment.

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.  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.

You will require to be office based twice per week. Location You will be based in 177 Bothwell Street, G27ER.  

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: 19th October 2025 (23:59) - This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.