Procedures and Workforce Team Leader

Are you interested in a job that directly relates to the delivery of an essential public service that ensures our buildings are safe places to live and work?  Building Standards Division is looking for a Construction Professional with knowledge of the building standards system to lead the Procedures and Workforce Team.

You will work across the division to develop changes that will strengthen the building standards system so that Scotland’s buildings are safe, sustainable and energy efficient.  This is an important time for the division as we deliver key improvements overseen by the Building Standards Futures Board and respond directly to the recommendations in the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report.

The post requires frequent working with local authorities in their role as building standards verifiers, external partners in the construction sector, and policy colleagues in related business areas in Scottish Government.  You will be responsible for developing and maintaining the policies, guidance and legislation for the building standards system to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. 

You will also drive forward work to support the building standards profession by introducing a new approach to competency management for all staff in operational roles across the 32 local authorities.  Engagement with Local Authority Building Standards Scotland and the Scottish Building Standards Hub will seek to address resourcing and resilience issues affecting delivery of the building standards system.

The post sits within the Practice Unit and a key feature of the role will be to build effective working relationships with colleagues across the division and with external partners representing the interests of local authority building standards verifiers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Procedures and Workforce Team, consisting of this post and two construction professionals who are a Chartered Surveyor and an Architect, to develop improvements to the procedures underpinning delivery of the building standards system and to address challenges affecting the professional workforce across all 32 local authorities.
• Deliver key priorities by making well-informed decisions that reflect stakeholder views and ensuring that Ministerial commitments and needs of the division and directorate are met.
• Lead on recommendations arising from the Grenfell Inquiry on construction products regulation and assuring impartiality and accountability to the public in relation to delivery of the building standards system.
• Monitor the practical use of building standards legislation and guidance, make recommendations for improvements and prepare legal instructions while maintaining consistency with the overall approach to the building standards system.
• Deliver statutory casework for Scottish Ministers providing decisions on applications to relax or dispense with a requirement of building standards and requests for a Ministerial view on compliance with building regulations.
• Carry out an annual data collection exercise to understand the challenges facing the building standards workforce and inform new policy approaches.
• Work proactively with the Competency Steering Group to deliver an interim competency assessment process for the profession and carry out a review of the new approach to inform future arrangements.
• Define research specifications and deliver projects that provide an evidence base for improvements and carry out public consultation on proposals for legislative change.
• Support Ministers by providing advice on emerging issues and briefing for events on building standards matters.
• Work collaboratively with Local Authority Building Standards Scotland and the Scottish Building Standards Hub on shared goals for the verification service and improvements to the building standards system.

Qualifications

• Construction professional qualification or equivalent.

 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:

• Knowledge and understanding of the Scottish building standards system - Level 4

You can find out more about the skills required here: Built environment (including chartered surveyors) profession Experience

• Experience of the building standards system.

 Behaviours:

• Leadership – level 4
• Working together – level 4
• Communicating and Influencing – level 4

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
 How to applyApply 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 a presentation.  Assessments are scheduled for late November however this may be subject to change. 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. 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. 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; 29th October (23:59) This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only