Development Officer

Starting salary:40158 pro rata per year
Contract type:Permanent
Grade:4
Location:Longmore House Edinburgh alongside hybrid working
Working Hours:28 hours per week
Interviews:To be held in person at Longmore House Edinburgh the week commencing 9 February 2026

In this role you will provide coordination advice and support that promotes the historic environment supporting economic and community development activities. This requires a confident and collaborative approach engaging with both internal and external stakeholders at local regional and national level.

For more information about the post and information about the team please access the full job descriptionfor this post. Please note that if you dont have Office 365 installed on your device this can be opened using your browser.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

The post is connected to key corporate priorities surrounding community engagement and economic development and supports projects and programmes delivering our Annual Operating Plan (AOP) indicators and Corporate Plan key performance indicators (KPIs).

Key responsibilities are to:

• Develop and maintain relationships with national and local economic agencies intermediaries and local authorities to establish productive development networks and the engagement of business and communities in the delivery of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) Corporate Plan and Scottish Government (SG) policy outcomes.
• Develop implement and evaluate a regular programme of engagement activities and events collaboratively with other organisations to advocate for and promote heritage.
• Provide advice guidance and signposting from across HES to organisations and groups considering heritage activities as part of wider community and economic regeneration.
• Develop co-ordinate and deliver projects both internally and externally to support HESs Corporate and Investment Plans working together with other directorate teams.
• Represent HES at a senior levelin SG / public sector and voluntary and community sectors andas part of wider external partnerships to improve outcomes where heritage plays a key role.
• Develop communication activities both externally and internally regarding the success and impact of heritage focussed community and economic development.
• Coordinate support and advice from across HES to respond to economic and investment planning consultations and programmes.
• Work across HES to support the identification of issues affecting the delivery of economic and community initiatives and the development of opportunities to enhance existing projects and priorities.
• Undertake project and case management which involves negotiating complex external organisations and internal dynamics.
• Identify potential funding and other resourcing opportunities to support the delivery of agreed project or programme outcomes.
• Proactively handle sensitive development cases seeking solutions and drawing in other parties as appropriate.
• Contribute to developing analytics for performance reporting on economic and community development as well as monitoring key issues.
• Advise internal and external stakeholders on partnership and development-related opportunities and risks and develop appropriate and proportionate agreements with project partners.
• Work with internal HES colleagues to reach a corporate view on sometimes complex issues.
• When necessary and supporting key projects manage internal and external contracts and associated budgets for work.

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1200 words) using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life home life education or volunteer experience.Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidancefirst before completing as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential:

• Experience of building and successfully maintaining partnership relationships and networks.

• Experience of economic and/or community development sector including an understanding of the policies and practice in relation to regeneration and placemaking together with the current funding landscape.

• Ability to develop imaginative and innovative approaches including in partnership to economic and community development.

• Proven ability to manage discussions and negotiation processes between people from a range of different backgrounds one to one or in groups.

• Experience of development and/or management of cross organisational engagement programmes including attracting a range of audiences to participate in engagement programmes

• Experience of project management and appraisal including planning developing due diligence implementing monitoring evaluating budgeting and reporting on performance and dealing with competing priorities.

• Confident presentation facilitation and engagement skills both in person and online.

• Proven analytical skills and the ability to capture and analyse information in the most effective way and communicate in clear and accessible way.

Find out more aboutdesirableskills and experience in our full job description.

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds regardless of age race gender or gender identity religious beliefs marital status sexual orientation disability or support of our Gaelic Language Plan we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format please reach out to us via email ator call our Head Office at 0 and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that at this time we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.

To submit your application online please read our How to Apply followed by Apply Now button to begin your application.