The posting
Job Description
This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.
Job Title - Communications and Engagement Senior Manager
Business Area/Directorate - Digital Directorate
Location - The core team are primarily based at 5 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow. Whilst the majority of internal meetings are held online or hybrid, travel to the office in Glasgow and other locations in Scotland for in-person events and meetings will be required.
Working Arrangement – The directorate follows a hybrid working approach which blends working in SG workspaces and from home depending on the requirements of the role in line with SG Hybrid Working Policy.
Grade - B3
Advert type - Level transfer only
Duration - Permanent
Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer from core SG only.
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.
Overview
Are you an experienced communications professional who can turn complex programme activity into clear, impactful communications that supports programme delivery?
Can you manage competing priorities, build effective working relationships and confidently challenge stakeholders and delivery partners to ensure high-quality communications are delivered in a fast-paced environment?
Digital infrastructure is central to economic and societal resilience and must be capable of meeting current and future needs of business and wider society. It must provide fair access to connectivity for all, ensuring that rural and island communities are integral to Scotland’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing.
As a Communications and Engagement Senior Manager, you will play a key role in the successful delivery of high-profile digital infrastructure programmes, including R100 and Project Gigabit in Scotland. Collectively, these programmes represent £1 billion of investment and are helping to transform digital connectivity across the country. The Division is also responsible for a range of other connectivity policy areas, including mobile connectivity and green data centres.
Working across programme, delivery and policy teams, you will lead communications and engagement activity that supports programme delivery objectives, maintains public and stakeholder confidence, and protects the reputation of the Division's digital infrastructure portfolio.
The role focuses on translating complex delivery activity into clear, accessible communications, ensuring consistent messaging across programmes, and providing strategic communications advice to programme teams. You will work closely with internal colleagues, suppliers and external partners to ensure communications activity is delivered to a high standard, challenging constructively where necessary to drive improvements and achieve delivery outcomes.
Through effective communications planning, reputation management and audience-focused engagement, you will help create the conditions for successful programme delivery.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
- Drive and lead communications plans for major programmes and projects, aligning activity to programme priorities, delivery risks and opportunities, and producing high-quality communications products including briefings, key messages, digital content, case studies, presentations and stakeholder materials.
- Lead proactive communications activity that supports programme delivery, outcomes and benefits for communities, businesses and stakeholders.
- Work closely with delivery, programme and policy teams to translate complex technical and operational information into clear and compelling communications that support decision-making, manage expectations and enable successful programme delivery.
- Work with suppliers and delivery partners to coordinate communications activity, ensuring messaging is accurate, timely and aligned with programme delivery objectives.
- Support the management and protection of programme reputation by identifying communications risks, developing mitigation plans and providing strategic communications advice to support programme delivery.
- Manage programme web content and digital channels, ensuring information remains accurate, accessible and aligned with Scottish Government standards.
- Provide reporting and analysis on communications and engagement activity, using insight and evidence to evaluate effectiveness and inform future activity.
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.
Experience:
- Experience leading and delivering communications strategies, plans and products in support of complex programmes, projects or policy delivery.
- Experience building relationships and influencing stakeholders to improve communications outcomes, including providing constructive challenge where required.
- Ability to analyse complex information and evidence, using sound judgement to provide accurate communications advice and recommendations.
- Proven experience delivering high-quality communications activity at pace while managing competing priorities.
Behaviours:
- Communicating and influencing
- Changing and improving
- Making effective decisions
- Delivering at pace
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide
Qualifications
Working Pattern
This role is a permanent level transfer position.
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 [email protected]
How to Apply
Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 750 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 Thursday 12 November.
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 our candidate 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 23 November or 30 November, however this may be subject to change.
Minimum Time In Post
You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
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 Code and 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 our Candidate 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 our Careers Website.
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Apply before: 12/11/2026 (23:59). This role is open to substantibe B3 staff from Core SG only.
