Student & Graduate Placements

The Scottish Government are looking to fill the role of Policy Officer, working within the Energy and Climate Change Directorate on Climate Change Adaptation.

The devolved government for Scotland has a range of responsibilities which include: health, education, justice, rural affairs, housing and the environment. 

Everyone who works within the Scottish Government has a part to play in a common goal: to make our country better. We want to live in a successful Scotland: a healthy, safe, well-educated country, with a vibrant economy and opportunities for all. We want Scotland to be fair, tolerant and green. Put simply, we want a Scotland to be proud of.

The Energy and Climate Change Directorate works to deliver a low carbon society, with sustainable economic growth and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The Energy and Climate Change Directorate are responsible for:

• helping Scotland become a prosperous low carbon economy, with secure, affordable and sustainable energy
• promoting Scotland's climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency programmes internationally
• working locally to help individuals, businesses and communities make sustainable choices

As a member of the Energy and Climate Change Directorate, you will work closely with policy leads to help develop and deliver the Scottish Government’s policies across this fast-paced directorate. There will be opportunities to engage with stakeholders and provide advice to senior colleagues and Ministers. 

Climate Change Adaptation

The post will contribute to the development of the second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) due in 2019. We are currently considering its future structure but it is likely to be developed using an outcome based approach. The post will work to develop this concept specifically examining one of the sectors that will be included in the programme, probably flood risk management, demonstrating the deliverability of the approach.

Essential Criteria

• An interest in climate change policy and science.
• Project management skills experience, including delivering pieces of work to tight deadlines

Person Specifications

• All candidates must be studying toward or have a relevant degree (HND or higher) as well as an interest in climate change.
• Ability to collate and analyse a wide range of information to draw out key messages and findings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications – PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to clearly communicate often complex information to a range of audiences, including senior colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to balance competing demands and deliver short, medium and long term objectives and balance competing demands in a fast-paced environment and react quickly to changing circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build good working relationships and to work positively and constructively with a range of people such as delivery bodies and stakeholders with different priorities and perspectives.

All roles are subject to security checks.

Applicants must be part of the EEA or Commonwealth.

Please ensure your CV is tailored to the role you applying for. If applying for more than one role, please apply separately and adapt your CV accordingly.

CANDIDATES CAN APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE POSITION. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE ON YOUR APPLICATION WHICH POSITION IS YOUR PREFERRED ROLE. INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD SEPERATELY FOR EACH POSITION.