Head of Consumer Markets Policy and Advocacy (C1)

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

• reducing harm to consumers in Scotland
• increasing confidence among consumers in Scotland in dealing with businesses that supply goods and services to consumers
• increasing the extent to which consumer matters are taken into account by public authorities in Scotland
• promoting –

1. sustainable consumption of natural resources, and
2. other environmentally sustainable practices, in relation to the acquisition, use and disposal of goods by consumers in Scotland

• otherwise advancing inclusion, fairness, prosperity and other aspects of wellbeing in Scotland.

Consumer Scotland is committed to put consumer rights and interests at the heart of markets, services and policy, taking an evidence-led approach to its advocacy. The Head of Consumer Markets, supported by a small team and working closely with colleagues in our Research, Investigations and Analysis Directorate, will play a leading role in the organisation’s statutory responsibilities for policy and advocacy on key consumer issues across a variety of markets. Key stakeholder relationship include relevant public and third sector partners, business, regulators, the UK and Scottish Government and other key stakeholders. The Head of Consumer Markets will report to the Director of Policy and Advocacy.

Job description

Role and Key Responsibilities

The post-holder will have a key leadership role, responsible for day-to-day leadership of Consumer Scotland’s independent advocacy for consumers across a broad range of markets. They will be required to collaborate effectively with other teams within Consumer Scotland, including the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, and with stakeholder organisations. There will be a need for flexibility and creativity as the organisation builds its activity and responds to key external drivers.

The post-holder will manage the organisation’s consumer markets policy and stakeholder engagement activity by:

• Supporting the Director of Policy and Advocacy in providing strategic leadership and direction to the Consumer Markets Team, and in setting the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
• Identifying priority consumer issues across a range of Consumer Markets, prioritising these and developing a robust policy and advocacy work programme to address these, working closely with other relevant teams within the organisation.
• Managing the Consumer Markets team, its staff and resources ensuring it effectively works to deliver its work programme.
• Oversee work including reports, consultation responses, briefings and other submissions, ensuring they are evidence-led, appropriate, considerate of stakeholder views and of high quality.
• Be an ambassador for Consumer Scotland, building and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders in relevant policy areas in order to maximise the impact of Consumer Scotland’s advocacy.
• Manage and develop staff within the Consumer Markets team, ensuring high performance and encouraging personal development while creating a supportive, collaborative and innovative organisational culture.

Person specification

1. Lead criteria - A demonstrable track record of leading advocacy and policy work with evidence of delivering meaningful outcomes within a policy or advocacy setting. Ideally this would be within consumer markets or social policy but wider relevant or transferrable experience will also be considered.
2. Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of establishing, developing and maintaining positive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, to help shape priorities and direct activity to achieve tangible outcomes for consumers.
3. Excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands, and use initiative and judgement.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to produce and present strategic documents and systematically analyse a diverse range of information. Able to cut through complexity to bring clear, relevant and intelligible findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and stakeholders.

Experience of providing leadership to team members to achieve organisational objectives and develop their skills to reach their potential.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,111, Consumer Scotland contributes £17,993 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.

Sift – As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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.

The assessment will be a 5 minute presentation (no slides) on the candidate’s background and how their skills make them the best candidate for this role.

We do not anticipate a second round of interviews but would like to reserve the right to invite candidates back for a second round should there be a high calibre of candidates.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from Douglas White, Director of Policy and Advocacy douglas.white@consumer.scot

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

Any move to Consumer Scotland 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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 Douglas.white@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.

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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

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 : Douglas White
• Email : Douglas.white@consumer.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : Catriona.Kirk@consumer.scot