Environmental Standards Scotland
Scrutiny Officer
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Edinburgh
Job Summary
Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) role is to monitor, investigate and secure public authorities’ compliance with environmental law in Scotland. We also scrutinise the effectiveness of environmental law and policy in Scotland and how it is implemented and applied. In our investigative and analytical reports, we may also identify instances where we consider there to be gaps in environmental protection legislation.
ESS is an independent non-ministerial office, accountable to the Scottish Parliament and overseen by a non-executive board. It is part of the Scottish Administration and its employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website.
Our Strategy 2026-2031 sets out how we will work as an organisation to deliver our vision that ‘by holding public authorities to account, we will ensure that Scotland’s people and nature benefit from a high-quality, healthy environment through improved compliance with and better implementation of effective environmental law’.
ESS’ role is expanding to take on two new roles:
- Scrutinising the Scottish Government’s delivery against the new statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
- Scrutinising local authorities’ reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
To deliver these duties and to manage this significant organisational change, ESS will be recruiting new posts over the next twelve months to establish a new team within the organisation to lead the development of work to deliver these roles, alongside related corporate services requirements.
Job Description
We are recruiting for two Scrutiny Officers into the New Scrutiny Duties Development Department. Together, these two roles will support the work of the department to:
- Scrutinise local authorities’ reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
- Scrutinise the Scottish Government’s delivery against the new statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
Key Duties And Responsibilities Include:
- Contribute to the wider work of the department around areas such as evidence gathering, policy scrutiny, reporting outcomes etc.
- Support the implementation of policies, working practices and controls for both sets of new duties
- Support both scrutiny teams in managing and planning workload and tasks through good programme management
- Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of wider relevant developments in policy, regulatory and legislative practice
- Support the development and implementation of an external outreach programme with the ESS communications team, helping to promote understanding of the organisation and its new scrutiny functions with relevant stakeholders.
- Working with the ESS data analysis team, support the effective use of data by providing required data management and analysis that helps strengthens our evidence base
- Contribute to the production of external reports and briefings to effectively communicate the work of the department
- Manage departmental dashboards and PMI’s
- Ensure information management procedures are maintained, and good record management is followed throughout the department
- Support ESS’ wider organisational work as required
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Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience of working in a team at pace to deliver high-quality products or service
- Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to establish strong working relations with a range of internal and senior external stakeholders
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to work independently to deliver at pace, without sacrificing quality
Desirable criteria
- Ability to undertake detailed analysis using a range of evidence and information to produce meaningful insights and to support recommendations for improving regulatory and/or operational performance.
- Strong interpersonal, networking and team-working skills, with proven experience of managing internal and external relationships, creating positive networks and maintaining trust and credibility.
- Experience of quantitative analysis and data management to support decision making.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills, with experience of drafting and editing reports and producing advice for a range of audiences.
Qualifications Required
- A minimum of two years’ experience working in a policy or scrutiny support function.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
In Return, We Offer a Competitive Employment Package Including:
- Enrolment in the civil service pension scheme
- A range of flexible working arrangements as well as flexitime to ensure a working pattern that meets both your needs as well as those of the organisation
- 25 days annual leave with an increase to 30 days after two years of reckonable service, plus 11.5 days of public and privilege holidays
- Six months full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave, five weeks full pay for paternity leave and paid leave for any antenatal appointments
- A range of paid special leave including leave for carers and bereavement leave
- A strong commitment to investing in the personal and professional development of all staff
- Dedicated wellbeing support and services for all staff including access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Exceptional workplace adjustment support to remove barriers to enable staff to achieve their full potential
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We are building a culture that encourages inclusion and diversity and we particularly encourage applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. We also offer access to a range of network groups to support equality, diversity and inclusion.
The post allows flexible working and is open to full time or, by agreement, other working patterns including part-time, job share or compressed hours.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your behaviours, strengths and experience.
The Selection Process For This Role Will Be:
Stage 1: Short stage application form
Please complete the first stage short application form, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.
Stage 2: Written application and sift
As part of the application process, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
-
Behaviours – you will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on each of the following Behaviours:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
-
Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1250-word count). Your personal statement should explain why you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
Stage 3: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
- Behaviours – Working Together, Communicating and Influencing, Changing and Improving and Making Effective Decisions
- Experience
The interviews are expected to take place in person at our Thistle House office week commencing 26 October 2026.
Location
The post is based at ESS’ Edinburgh Haymarket office called Thistle House. You should only apply for this role if you can travel to and from your home office location daily within a reasonable time. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : Alasdair Dewar
- Email : people@environmentalstandards.scot
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