Job detail for Offshore Wind Environmental Policy Officer

Job Title - Offshore Wind Environmental Policy Officer

Business Area/Directorate - Offshore Wind Directorate

Location - Atlantic Quay / Victoria Quay

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy

Grade- B2

Advert type-Temporary Promotion or Level Transfer

Duration-

• Post 1: Maternity Leave cover until 13/05/2027

• Post 2: Maternity Leave cover until 30/06/2027.

• Applicants will be considered for either opening as the roles are the same. Should your Business Area only be able to release you for the shorter of the two roles please do specify this in your statement.

Eligibility: This vacancy is open to all eligible staff in bands A-C.

Sponsorship: Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Would you like to be at the heart of delivering Scotland’s energy transition, working across boundaries and with stakeholders to be part of Scotland’s journey to Net Zero?

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Offshore Wind Directorate to be an Offshore Wind Environmental Policy Officer (Mat Leave Cover post) in the Planning, Assessment, Compensation and Evidence (PACE) Division. This is a varied and rewarding role and will give you the opportunity to gain experience supporting the implementation of Scotland’s Strategic Compensation Policy for Offshore Wind and related work streams, which industry has identified as critical to unblocking the deployment of offshore wind in Scottish waters.

The postholder will be part of the PACE Division and will report to the current Unit Head of the Strategic Compensation Policy team.

The Offshore Wind Environmental Policy Officer sits within the Strategic Compensation Policy team of the Offshore Wind Directorate which is responsible for taking forwards elements of the Planning Assessment Compensation and Evidence (PACE) programme.

The Offshore Wind Environmental Policy Officer sits within the Strategic Compensation Policy team which is responsible for taking forwards elements of the Planning Assessment Compensation and Evidence (PACE) programme. You will be supporting the implementation of Scotland’s Strategic Compensation Policy for Offshore Wind and related work streams, which industry has identified as critical to unblocking the deployment of offshore wind in Scottish waters.

The Offshore Wind Directorate leads on policy and programmes related to offshore renewables, marine energy and sectoral marine planning, to support the continued growth of the offshore wind sector. It works across government and the Scottish public sector to deliver offshore renewables in Scotland at a scale and pace which is sustainable and for Scotland’s Net Zero ambition, citizens, communities, environment and economy.

The Directorate’s core aim is to maximise the significant economic benefits from the growth of offshore renewables for Scotland’s economy, citizens and environment as we transition to net zero. We also have a key role in ensuring the balance of economic and environmental objectives, with other users of the marine environment.

We support the development of Scotland’s offshore wind economy by:

• working across the public sector to deploy strategic investment in ports and supply chain that grows our manufacturing base, attracting capital, inward investment, driving economic growth and job creation;
• demonstrating the potential role for marine energy in Scotland’s low carbon energy system;
• delivering enabling programmes e.g. through the Energy Act to streamline consenting, improve regulatory certainty, and accelerate deployment;
• managing the constraints and opportunities of Scotland’s transition to net zero through the sustainable expansion of offshore renewables, enabled by sectoral marine planning that provides clarity, reduces risk, and supports balanced use of the marine space.

---

• Support the effective and consistent implementation of new secondary legislation and guidance which have amended the Habitats Regulations for offshore wind. This will involve working collaboratively across the division, with consenting, science and legal colleagues and engaging externally with the offshore wind sector and public bodies.

• Build and maintain positive and effective working relationships with stakeholders across government, public bodies, industry and other UK administrations to implement Scotland’s Strategic Compensation Policy for Offshore Wind. Working collaboratively, you will contribute to the development and delivery of environmental policy, regulatory proposals and approaches that facilitate sustainable offshore wind deployment.

• Support on a range of corporate tasks across the Division, including working on Ministerial submissions, Ministerial and official correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests and maintenance of relevant core briefs.

• Development and delivery of stakeholder engagement processes, including clear written and verbal communications and facilitating constructive discussions to manage differing perspectives, priorities and interests.

• Work collaboratively across the Offshore Wind Directorate and wider DG Net Zero portfolio and team Scotland programme to support shared priorities and contribute to the successful delivery of Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions.

Flexibility and Adaptability

• The Offshore Wind Directorate operates in a dynamic policy environment, and priorities may evolve over time, including in response to changing Ministerial priorities. In line with expectations across the Scottish Government, staff are expected to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, enabling the Directorate and wider DG Net Zero to respond effectively to emerging priorities. Consequently, the outlined in this role may change and develop over time, and the team is expected to work collaboratively and flexibly to achieve shared objectives.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Professional / Technical Skills

Policy Context and Purpose – Level 2 Practitioner

• Understand the policy process. Develop expertise within the policy area to operate credibly and effectively.

• Embed cross-cutting policy objectives and

Participation and Engagement – Level 2 Practitioner

• Enable participation by stakeholders in the policy process. Seek enhanced transparency and openness.

Parliament and Law – Level 1 Developing

• Understand the legislative process.

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

Experience

• Policy experience essential.

• Stakeholder engagement experience essential.

• Experience working on legislation and engagement with the legislative processes would be an advantage.

Behaviours Being Tested

1. Communicating and Influencing – Level 3

2. Working Together – Level 3

3. Making effective decisions – Level 3

1. Seeing the big picture – Level 3

2. Delivering at pace – Level 3

You can find out more about Behaviour Levels here:  Success Profiles

Working Pattern

This post is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim 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.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from emily.macdonald@gov.scot

How to Apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 1000 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on Friday 16 October

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 ourcandidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of a light-touch interview, scheduled for w/c 19 October, however this may be subject to change.

Temporary Promotion (If Applicable)

Please click the link to access further guidance and information on overview and eligibility Temporary promotion

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

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 observing the Civil Service Codeand 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.

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 the UK 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 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 ourCareers Website.

Read ourCandidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

Apply before: 16/10/2026 (23:59). This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.