Description Do you want to play a key role in shaping Scotland’s future workforce and delivering lasting education and skills reform? The Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Skills (LLS) oversees policy and funding for post-school education in Scotland, managing a £3 billion annual budget covering universities, colleges, student support, research, skills, apprenticeships, careers services, and community learning. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Directorate at the start of a 10-year transformation of Scotland’s education and skills system, delivering reforms with lasting economic and societal impact. Recent reviews, such as the 2023 independent review of Scotland’s Skills Delivery Landscape, alongside commitments like the Purpose and Principles for Post-School Education, Research and Skills, set the Scottish Government’s vision for a lifelong education and skills system, including major public body reforms. Within the Skills Division, you will join a new Skills Planning Policy unit tasked with developing a national skills planning approach and strengthening regional skills planning. This priority reform project also leads on green skills. The unit aims to make the education and skills system more agile and responsive to Scotland’s economic and societal needs. It develops evidence-based mechanisms to identify skills gaps, engages ministers and stakeholders in prioritization, and collaborates on innovative solutions to enhance learning and training delivery. The unit works closely with public bodies like Skills Development Scotland, benefiting from their expertise. It is supported by the LLS Reform Programme, Projects Unit, and government analytical staff. The role requires problem-solving skills, autonomy in delivering objectives, and the ability to work with minimal supervision. You will also engage directly with Ministers, senior Scottish Government officials, and senior leaders across Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council, Enterprise Agencies, industry, public sector employers, education institutions, Regional Economic Partnerships, Local Authorities, and trade unions. Responsibilities Provide assistance to the Team leader to deliver Ministerial commitments on national and regional skills planning - including providing cover where required, and taking lead on specific projects/subject areas as delegated. Support national skills policy and process design, providing information, advice and firm recommendations as required by Senior Staff and Ministers. Support policy development in non-green sectors (e.g. digital, economy, health and education, science, culture), taking lead on specific sectors as delegated. Lead testing of approaches in these sectors. Support testing of approaches to regional skills planning. Act as a key point of contact for external stakeholders at all levels including relevant agencies such as Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council. Provide high quality briefing and advice on national and regional skills planning to Ministers, often working across Ministerial portfolios, and provide dedicated support for Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans. Quality assure briefing, PQs, MiCase etc. Qualifications 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 1 – Practitioner Experience: Experience of working in a policy role, working with partners and stakeholders to develop and implement policy and providing advice to Ministers. Behaviours: Seeing the big picture – level 3 Making effective decisions – level 3 Communicating and influencing – level 3 Working together – level 3 You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot How to Apply Closing: 07/04/25 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. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and a presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 21/04/25 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 the UK 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 about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working Pattern This is a full time post (35 hours per week) based in either Glasgow or Edinburgh. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. 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 to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further Information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.