Response Manager

Job Title - Response Manager

Business Area/Directorate – Scottish Government Response Unit to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), Redress, Relations, and Response Division. Children and Families Directorate

Location – Glasgow (AQ) or Edinburgh (VQ)

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found on the Hybrid Working Policy pages on Saltire.

Grade – B3

Advert type - Level Transfer

Duration - Permanent

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from eligible staff in Band B for this vacancy.

Sponsorship: Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Overview

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) was established in 2015 as a statutory, independent inquiry into the abuse of children in care. Its purpose is to raise awareness of such abuse, identify the systemic failings that allowed it to occur, and make recommendations to improve legislation, policy, and practice. Chaired by Lady Smith, the Inquiry began public hearings in May 2017 and will continue until its work is complete. Its terms of reference are published on the SCAI website.

The Scottish Government Response Unit coordinates the Scottish Government’s role as a core participant in the Inquiry. The Unit anticipates and responds to the policy and wider implications of the Inquiry, collaborating closely with colleagues across the Scottish Government and its executive agencies. Its responsibilities include managing the identification and disclosure of relevant information to the Inquiry and supporting Scottish Government witnesses. The Unit reports to the Deputy First Minister and operates separately from the Inquiry’s Sponsor Team under an information barrier.

The Response Unit works flexibly and collaboratively to manage changing demands. It comprises two teams: the Evidence and Records Team and the Policy Coordination Team. This post sits within the Policy Coordination Team.

Key Responsibilities:

Ministerial Business
- Support the provision of high-quality ministerial advice, including submissions, briefings and correspondence.

- Support with the coordination of RU’s FMQ’s, Micases and PQ’s

Leadership and People Management

- Deputise for, and assist, the Policy Coordination Team Leader in responding to SCAI
- Line manage five B2 colleagues, supporting performance, development and wellbeing.
- Contribute to collective leadership across the Unit and Division.

-You will be a supportive and inclusive leader, with experience of line managing staff and supporting their development and wellbeing.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Experience

- You will have a strong track record of working collaboratively with colleagues across the Scottish government and its executive agencies in relation to the policy development.

-A track record of undertaking research and analysis of the development and delivery policy and legislation.

- Strong project management skills, with experience of ensuring that complex workstreams are delivered at pace and on time.

-High personal resilience given the subject-matter and the need to meet deadlines.

Desirable criteria:

- Experience of working with internal stakeholders on the development and delivery of policy

- An understanding of the work involved in responding to an Inquiry and/or experience of working with legal professionals

- An understanding of child protection policy and/or responding to survivors of abuse.

Behaviours

You will be assessed on the following behaviours at Level 3:

· Changing and improving

· Communicating and influencing

· Working together

· Delivering at pace

You can find out more about Success Profiles, Behaviours and Behaviour levels here - Success Profiles

Working pattern

This is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns. Proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

Further information

Further information on this opportunity is available from Maisie O'Brien (maisie.obrien@gov.scot)

How to Apply

Applicants must discuss their intention to apply with their current line manager to help ensure early release.

Please submit your CV and an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills, and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.