Senior Policy Analyst (Maternity Cover)

Job description

This is an important role within the Strategy and Analysis Team. We are seeking an enthusiastic
and passionate fixed term or seconded Senior Policy Analyst to lead and deliver monitoring and
analysis of policy and legislation to identify areas of concern around compliance or the
effectiveness of environmental law. The postholder will ensure that ESS is kept abreast of
relevant developments in our understanding of environmental governance and regulation in a
number of specific policy areas. They will identify and prioritise potential topics for
analysis and provide advice to senior colleagues on developments in legislation, policy and
regulatory practice and their potential impact on the environment.

The postholder will be working closely with other policy staff in Scottish Government and its
Agencies and will be expected to be an informed analyst on environmental standards. The role is
part of an interdisciplinary policy team comprising colleagues with a range of backgrounds
including legal, regulation, enforcement, research, scientists and policy specialists. The
postholder will need to be able to produce high quality analysis, engage colleagues and
stakeholders, and clearly communicate key insights to influence the direction of ESS’ work.

Key duties and responsibilities will include:

a) Lead specific programmes of monitoring and analysis of environmental policy and legislation,
working individually or as part of project teams and using a wide range of existing policy,
evidence and data sources.

b) Identifying, summarising, interpreting and presenting intelligence about relevant
developments in policy, regulatory and legislative practice on environmental matters of concern
to ESS.

c) Delivering an effective approach to ‘horizon-scanning’ across assigned topic areas ensuring
that ESS engages with relevant networks for knowledge exchange and regulatory/policy
improvement, and emerging issues of environmental concern within Scotland, the European Union
and beyond.

d) Identifying and then engaging with relevant topic experts to access support, advice and
opinion on the application of policy and regulation to deliver positive environmental outcomes.

e) Building effective relationships with a range of individuals and organisations involved in
the development of environmental policy and regulations in Scotland and beyond – including the
Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government and its Agencies, environmental NGOs, landowner
and industry representatives, and research institutes and universities.

f) Representing ESS with internal and external contacts – helping to promote understanding of
the role and ethos of the new body with public authorities, environmental organisations and
community and landowner/industry representatives.

g) Produce high quality reports and summaries to identify areas of concern around compliance or
effectiveness of environmental law and to support further analysis and ESS investigations into
these issues. Disseminate findings to a wide range of stakeholders and encourage their wider
use.

h) Line management of a B2 Policy Analyst. Possible additional ad-hoc line management of
interns or matrix management within the team.

Essential Criteria

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex
  information and concepts clearly and succinctly to senior decision makers and non-specialists,
  and an understanding of knowledge exchange in policy, science and practice, or related areas.
• Proven experience in developing and maintaining productive and high-quality relationships
  with a range of internal and external stakeholders and the ability to promote/secure a
  collaborative approach to influence decision making to achieve a common purpose.
• Excellent analytical skills and recent experience in the use of horizon scanning and/or
  multi-disciplinary analysis and evidence to support policy, regulatory or operational
  decisions.
• Leadership skills, including the ability to build and develop project teams, and to promote
  collaborative working within and across teams to deliver on priority projects.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of interpreting legislation and policy in a relevant context.

Qualifications

A degree in a relevant subject (such as an environmental science, public policy or law or similar) and significant experience gained through working within a related role in a relevant field;

or

A PhD or Master’s Degree in an appropriate discipline (such as environmental sciences, public policy, law or similar);

or

applications from candidates who do not have a degree are welcomed, but they must demonstrate that they have significant work experience in a relevant environmental or policy related field plus continuing professional development in a relevant area.

Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out.