Consumer Markets Policy Officer

Job summary

Consumer Scotland was established by the Consumer Scotland Act 2020 and formally took on its statutory functions and powers on 1 April 2022. As a Non-Ministerial Organisation Consumer Scotland is independent and accountable to the Scottish Parliament. The staff of Consumer Scotland are civil servants.

As the statutory body for consumers we work with business, the public sector and consumer champions to put consumer rights, needs and interests at the heart of markets, services and policy. We are committed to working in a way which is fair, transparent, collaborative and evidence-driven and we use data, research and analysis to inform our work.

Consumer Scotland provides consumer advocacy and advice with a view to –

1. reducing harm to consumers in Scotland
2. increasing confidence among consumers in Scotland in dealing with businesses that supply goods and services to consumers
3. increasing the extent to which consumer matters are taken into account by public authorities in Scotland
4. promoting –
5. sustainable consumption of natural resources, and
6. other environmentally sustainable practices, in relation to the acquisition, use and disposal of goods by consumers in Scotland
7. otherwise advancing inclusion, fairness, prosperity and other aspects of wellbeing in Scotland.

Job description

Consumer Scotland works across the economy, looking at issues across the public, private and third sectors. We are the levy-funded advocacy body for the electricity, gas, heat network, post and water sectors in Scotland. Our Work Programme sets out our plans for 2026-2027 in these particular markets, as well as within the wider economy. Policy work in areas that are currently non-levy funded sits within our Consumer Markets team, where this role is based.

This role sits within Consumer Scotland’s Policy and Advocacy Directorate and will be line managed by the Head of Consumer Markets. Policy Officers also work closely with colleagues across Consumer Scotland, including our Research, Analysis and Investigations Team. Policy Officers also work collaboratively with external stakeholders, including regulators, consumer groups, providers and other bodies.

Role and Key Responsibilities

This role will support the Consumer Markets team’s policy and advocacy work across non-levy funded sectors. The post holder will work across a broad range of issues and themes affecting consumers in Scotland. In the current year the team has planned work on issues including financial services, net zero and the circular economy, telecommunications, housing, legal services and consumer protection and redress. There will be a need for flexibility and creativity, as the organisation continues to develop its work, role, functions, and organisational capacity.

The post holder will have a range of duties and responsibilities including:

• Supporting the Head of Consumer Markets to develop and deliver the team’s planned work programme.
• Working with research and analysis colleagues to commission and report on qualitative and quantitative research to inform our advocacy work.
• Producing a range of written outputs, including reports, consultation responses, briefings and presentation. These outputs will contribute to the delivery of high quality, evidence-led policy and advocacy work, presenting robust, accessible recommendations that can be readily implemented by the relevant organisations.
• Helping to build and maintain an in-depth knowledge of consumer issues across a range of markets
• Developing a range of relationships with stakeholders to ensure effective engagement and information gathering

Person specification

This opportunity will suit an individual with appropriate knowledge/experience of current consumer issues in Scotland. We would like to hear from individuals with:

1. Lead Criteria: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draw on a diverse range of information and produce clear, relevant and succinct findings and recommendations tailored to the target audience.
2. A demonstrable track record of contributing to policy and advocacy work of at least one year’s duration.
3. Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of establishing, developing and maintaining positive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
4. Excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands across multiple work streams.
5. The ability to work independently at pace and to tight deadlines, with appropriate support from the team and the wider organisation.

Lead criteria must be demonstrated or the application will not be progressed. Should a high number of applications be received, sifting will only be undertaken on the lead criteria and CV.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,767, Consumer Scotland contributes £11,520 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This competition is being run in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Please complete the application form which includes a Personal Statement of up to 500 words, detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role based on the Essential Criteria. You will also be asked to complete a CV.

The selection panel will use your application to assess your suitability for the role against the essential criteria during sifting.

If you are shortlisted, your interview will be based on your experience and the Civil Service behaviours listed in the advert.

Sift – personal statement and CV assessed against the essential criteria and Civil Service Behaviours. Lead criteria must be demonstrated or the application will not be progressed. Should a high number of applications be received, sifting will only be undertaken on lead criteria and CV.

Interview – The interviews, which will be held in-person at Thistle House, will be a competency-based interview focussing on the candidate’s experience and the Civil Service behaviours outlined in the job advert, expected to last around 30-45 minutes long.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to CS from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Location

This post will be based in Edinburgh or Glasgow with hybrid working arrangements in place. Please note that while Consumer Scotland operates a hybrid working policy where most staff blend their working week between home-working and office-working, this role will require attendance to either our Edinburgh or Glasgow office on a regular basis.

The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via info@consumer.scot as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Tracey Reilly
• Email : Tracey.Reilly@consumer.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : Catriona.Kirk@consumer.scot