Marine Environment Policy Officer

Job description

Are you passionate about the environment and ready to take the next step in your career in a role which will afford you a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-profile, cross-cutting policy area that attracts significant ministerial and public interest?

We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Policy Official to join the Marine Environment Portfolio, working across two dynamic teams: the Marine Climate and Biodiversity Twin Crisis Hub and the Clean Seas team. 

In this role, you’ll collaborate across the Marine Directorate and wider SG, as well as a broad range of external stakeholders from NatureScot to NGOs and community groups. Collaboratively, you’ll help shape the development of a new Scottish Marine Environment Programme Board and support the delivery of the Marine Litter Strategy. 

Your work will span a variety of tasks from administrative to creative, offering the chance to develop new skills and grow your career in a supportive environment that values coaching and learning. With responsibilities shared between two very friendly and supportive teams, you can expect a varied and rewarding workload.

Responsibilities

• Assist with briefing and advice (for senior officials and/or Ministers).
• Assist with and contribute to correspondence (e.g. Ministerial, official, PQs, FoIs).
• Assist with the Secretariat of the newly established Scottish Marine Environment Programme Board and the Secretariat of the Marine Litter Group, including contributing to the drafting and preparation of official documents, supporting organisation of meetings, coordination and engagement with external board members and MD policy teams and using Project and/or Programme Management to support delivery.
• Contribute to communications activity (including media, speeches, visits).
• Support the delivery of the Marine Litter Strategy, including stakeholder engagement work on end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear.
• Support colleagues to deliver the wider work of the Marine Climate and Biodiversity Twin Crisis Hub and the Clean Seas team as identified in the Marine Directorate Annual Delivery Plan.

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 Context and Purpose (Developing Level) - Embed cross-cutting policy objectives and responsibilities
• Participation and Engagement (Developing Level) - Deliver effective external communication

You can find out more about the skills required here: here Experience

• Experience, or a working knowledge of ministerial and parliamentary correspondence systems, including Ministerial, official, PQs, FoIs.

Behaviours:

• Working Together – Level 2
• Communicating and Influencing – Level 2
• Seeing the Big Picture – Level 2

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 1000 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 3 November 2025 however this may be subject to change. In the event of a tied interview/assessment score, merit order will be determined by score in Policy Context and Purpose criteria. 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. This post is based in Victoria Quay in Edinburgh or Atlantic Quay in Glasgow and in line with our current ways of working, our teams follow a hybrid working approach, where colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working (working from home). Security checksSuccessful 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 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 23:59 on 20 October 2025.  This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only.