Infrastructure Policy Unit - Policy Official - B3

Job Description 

This opportunity is only open to internal Scottish Government applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.   

The Infrastructure Division is part of the Public Spending Directorate within Director General Exchequer, Strategy and Performance. The Division provides strategic direction to the Scottish Government’s overall programme of infrastructure investment and sponsorship of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).

We are in charge of the Infrastructure Strategy and the unit’s purpose is to help ensure that infrastructure projects across government are well developed and properly prioritised so that the public asset base is fit to deliver services efficiently and effectively. Our role is to identify opportunities to drive efficiencies and system-wide improvement in how we deliver infrastructure projects and programmes.
 
We have reviewed our approach and are restructuring our work. The Infrastructure Unit is led by a C2 and contains two C1-led teams - Infrastructure Performance Branch (C1, B3, B2) and Infrastructure Strategy Branch (C1, B3, B2).
 

Infrastructure Strategy Branch

This team looks at the Government’s strategic priorities for infrastructure, helping to identify infrastructure requirements and supporting Ministers in understanding their long-term options. This involves working closely with teams across Scottish Government The team also has sponsorship responsibility for the Scottish Futures Trust, the Scottish ‘centre of expertise’ for infrastructure, which supports all policy portfolios with expert advice. 

Responsibilities 

This is an important role maintaining professional and effective sponsorship of a key public body and seeking scope for improvements in both the relationship with as well as the impact of SFT. It also covers an important policy challenge to improve the SG approach to place-based infrastructure investment, which is shared with a number of other policy areas. This post suits someone who enjoys pushing for continuous improvement and has the ability to work constructively with others to achieve that improvement. The sponsorship function requires maintaining a regular cycle of engagement and review.

• Sponsorship SFT: managing the day-to-day relationship with SFT, supporting quarterly assurance meetings and Ministerial / SCS engagement with the body, responding to commissions on sponsorship and public bodies governance, and managing the relationship with other parts of the Scottish Government (50%).
• Sponsorship of the Hub Programme: working with the coordination team in SFT to ensure that Senior Management and Ministers are kept informed on the programme as required (20%). 
• Work across Government to ensure the principles and practices set out in the Infrastructure Strategy (2027-2037) are fully understood and implemented. This includes working with relevant colleagues to define a new and pragmatic model of place-based infrastructure investment (10%).
• Responsible for all stakeholder engagement on these issues. This includes reviewing the role of the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group (10%). 
• Line management of B2 member of staff (10%).

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position. 

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B3 employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Selection Process

All candidates will be invited to an informal discussion with the Hiring Manager. 

Informal discussion dates tbc. 

Further Information

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact [email protected] 

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.