The posting
Job Description
Revenue Scotland is Scotland's devolved tax authority and contributes to Scotland's public services through the taxes we collect. We are diverse, multi-disciplinary, high performing and ambitious. We have a reputation for excellence and a commitment to continually improve the way we work. We promote the health, wellbeing and development of our staff. Our People Survey scores have been excellent across the last five years. in 2025 we had a 94% response rate, and our engagement score ranked 13th highest across the whole civil service, with 3rd for Leading and Managing Change.
Revenue Scotland was established in 2015 and so is a relatively young public body. We are entering a period of expansion moving from an initial 2 taxes to 5 over the next 3 years and embarking on our most ambitious ever Corporate Plan. The Scottish Government's Programme for Government - gov.scot is committed to exploring opportunities for Revenue Scotland to take on further functions. This role will be integral to advancing that commitment.
The Legal Team comprises 4 lawyers (in addition to this role) and support staff. It. supports Revenue Scotland on all legal matters, generally within these categories -
(i) tax advisory
(ii) litigation and
(iii) a full in-house legal service (corporate obligations, technology law and advising the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Board).
Revenue Scotland aims to be an expert voice on tax, digitally enabled and act as a responsible contributor to the public body landscape in Scotland. We aim to work in novel and innovative ways to support the development of tax legislation, including through direct engagement with external stakeholders. Accordingly, the task for the Legal Team is to continue building a legal service to support these functions and ambitions
The role involves two complementary functions – first, to provide strategic legal leadership across Revenue Scotland, ensuring the delivery of integrated, high-quality legal advice; and secondly, contributing to Revenue Scotland’s direction and operational performance as a member SLT.
As a visible and supportive leader, you will be accountable for the services delivered by the Legal Team and will build confidence with key partners, client teams, the Board and senior stakeholders by maintaining and enhancing high standards in the delivery of legal services. You will ensure the Legal Team is closely connected to organisational priorities, enabling legal expertise to influence and support decision-making across the business. You will build and manage networks, share learning across the organisation and profession, and contribute to maintaining and enhancing Revenue Scotland’s reputation as a high-performing public body.
You will bring strong leadership and professional credibility, adding value both through your expertise and your contribution as a member of SLT. You will have experience of leading legal services in a complex environment, influencing senior decision-making, and creating a culture that promotes continuous improvement, collaboration and high-quality outcomes.
Revenue Scotland is part of the Government Legal Service for Scotland (GLSS). You will represent Revenue Scotland at GLSS forums and events and will retain close links with the wider GLSS community to support Revenue Scotland and personal and professional development.
Responsibilities
As Head of the Legal Team, you will lead a team of lawyers and support staff, while co-ordinating the use of shared services and external legal support where required. You will:
- Be the senior legal adviser to Revenue Scotland on all legal matters relevant to it.
- Provide strategic legal advice on high-profile, sensitive and complex matters, including litigation and issues of significant organisational importance.
- Lead strategic planning and horizon scanning activities to ensure legal services effectively support the delivery of Revenue Scotland’s Corporate Plan.
- Lead the production and delivery of the team's annual business plan and ensuring effective management of the Legal Team budget.
- Create and sustain a team culture that is committed, flexible, motivated and constructive, ensuring staff understand how their work contributes to Revenue Scotland objectives.
- Support the development, capability and career progression of colleagues within the team.
- Maintain oversight of the team's work, monitoring performance and ensuring high-quality legal services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
- Ensure the Legal Team works collaboratively with client teams and stakeholders across the organisation.
- Manage workload, resource allocation and the deployment of legal expertise to meet organisational priorities.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with Scottish Government and other stakeholders, including Registers of Scotland, SEPA, HMRC and the Welsh Revenue Authority.
- Represent the Legal Team and Revenue Scotland in discussions with senior leaders, Board members and external stakeholders.
As a member of SLT, you will contribute to the strategic leadership and development of Revenue Scotland by ensuring legal considerations have a direct voice in decision-making and supporting the Chief Executive and Board on organisational objectives.
Qualifications
Qualifications
You must be a solicitor or advocate entitled to practise in Scotland.
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
- Proven track record of providing Ministers and/or senior officials with clear, high-quality risk-based legal advice, taking account of the strategic context.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, proven ability to work strategically and collaboratively with senior colleagues and stakeholders, making links across boundaries to deliver shared objectives, maintaining trust and credibility.
Experience:
- Experience of delivering complex legal projects by matching resources to competing priorities and managing risk effectively.
- Experience of contributing to organisational strategy and influencing decision-making at senior executive and board level.
Behaviours:
- Leadership - Level 4
- Delivering at pace - Level 4
- Working together - Level 4
- Communicating and Influencing – Level 4
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1500 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.
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 an interview and assessment
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 23 or 30 November, however, this may be subject to change. .
For further information regarding the role, please contact the Chief Executive Officer, Johanna Boyd at [email protected] or the current postholder [email protected].
Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered
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.
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
Revenue Scotland is Scotland's devolved tax authority and contributes to Scotland's public services through the taxes we collect.
Revenue Scotland is a diverse, high performing organisation that has a reputation for delivering excellence and a commitment to continually improving the way we work while supporting the health, well-being, and development of our employees. Revenue Scotland is a great place to develop new skills, and you will be supported in your role with learning and development to enable you to perform at your best.
Look at our video to find out more about working for Revenue Scotland.
If you would like to learn more about Revenue Scotland, please visit our website. Our Corporate Plan sets out our strategic objectives for the next three years
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week; we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options. Our hybrid working principles require you to attend your assigned office, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh at least 2/3 days each month. Our hybrid approach supports a blend of home and workplace working, this should be agreed with the line manager to achieve the right balance between collaboration, in-person engagement and flexibility. You can also work from our Glasgow hub office if required.
Minimum Time in Post
The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
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 in our Revenue Scotland Candidate Guide
Revenue Scotland is a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. The interview and assessment process are primarily conducted in person unless you require a reasonable adjustment. Interview questions will be issued 24 hours in advance. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please let us know via [email protected].
Our Revenue Scotland Candidate Guide provides further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Further information
Revenue Scotland is a Non-Ministerial Office which is a part of Scottish Government Main Bargaining unit and have adopted Scottish Government main terms and conditions and pay arrangements.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
We will hold a reserve list for 12 months
Apply Before: 19/11/2026 (23:59pm) - This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only.
