Economic Inactivity Policy Officer

Are you ready to bring insight influence and impact to ministerial priorities on reducing economic inactivity

This Senior Policy Adviser role is in the Economic Inactivity Team part of the Governance and Strategy Unit in the Employability Divisionand sits within the Jobs and Wellbeing Economy Directorate.

The division is responsible for devolved employability services in Scotland. Through No One Left Behind we are working with partners from across the public private and third sectors as well as with service users themselves to transformand simplify the employability system in practice this sees a move towards a flexible place-based model of delivery where employability is delivered within a wider package of support including housing health justice and advice services.

You will have a key role taking forward the Deputy First Ministers priority to tackle high rates of economic inactivity a relatively new focus for the division. The work of the team is highly varied and offers an excellent opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with extensive engagement with other policy teams Ministers partner organisations and employers.

The successful applicant will work across key areas including assurance of Programme for Government commitments partnership with DG Health and Social care to develop and progress a health and work action plan engagement with UK Government on the next stages of the Keep Britain Working Review and developing clear messaging on why tackling economic inactivity matters for use with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Project management: Lead on the development of structure to provide ministers and SCS with assurance on progress of actions early identification of risks and opportunities to tackle economic inactivity including through Programme for Government.
• Policy development and delivery: Lead on the identification development and delivery of further action to tackle economic inactivity through the Cross Government Policy Network and other channels.
• Policy development and delivery: Work closely with officials in DG Health and Social Care to develop and progress a Health and Work Action Plan leading wider DG Economy input and alignment with Deputy First Ministers priority to tackle economic inactivity.
• Intergovernmental relations: Building and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships with official counterparts in the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on the next stages of the Keep Britain Working Review and other activity relating to tackling economic inactivity.
• Stakeholder engagement and messaging: Building and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships with Public Health Scotland business organisations and employersto strengthen the collective approach to tackling economic inactivity.
• Briefing and advice: Supporting Ministerial visits and meetings with stakeholders providing concise briefing to support ministerial priorities for engagements accompanying Ministers where required.
• Wider Policy Engagement: Representing the teams interests in other relevant areas of cross-SG policy in corporate commissions and through annual reporting responsibilities.
• People management line management of a member of staff.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

• Working with Ministers - Level 2 - Practitioner
• Policy Context and Purpose- Level 2 - Practitioner

You can find out more about the skills required here:Policy Profession Standards Annex

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving - Level 3
• Working Together - Level 3
• Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 3

You can find out more about Success Profiles here:Success profiles: candidate guide -

How to apply

Apply online providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

For any questions about the role please

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 portfolio review. Assessments are scheduled for early February 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 theUK 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 aboutwhat we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service we uphold theCivil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our 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 checks

Successful 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 theUK Government website or read about the different levels of security checks in ourCandidate Guide.

Equality statement

We 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 todiversityand how we offer and supportrecruitment adjustmentsfor anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation what we offer staff members and how to apply on ourCareers Website.

Read ourCandidate Guidefor further information on our recruitment and application processes.

This post is open to Internal Scottish Government candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.

Apply before 23:59 - 18/01/26