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 – Policy Manager – Creative Industries and Festivals
Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy .
Grade – B3
Advert type – level transfer
Duration – Permanent
Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only.
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.
Overview
Creative Industries and Festivals represents some of the most important elements of culture that support the economy. The screen sector is forecast to reach £1bn GVA by 2030, creative industries has grown at four times the rate of the rest of the economy over the past decade, and the major Edinburgh festivals alone are forecast to deliver gross economic impact of more than £4.2 billion in Scotland over the next five years.
This Creative Industries and Festivals Unit leads the Scottish Government’s focus on this area, this includes policy development across screen and broadcasting, festivals policy and delivery, and creative industries workforce, as well as supporting the work undertaken directly by our public bodies such as Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland and Visit Scotland.
The unit is also responsible for the high profile delivery of manifesto and Programme for Government commitments. These include: setting up Screen Scotland as an independent body; the establishment of a Film and TV School; expansion of funding to enhance the ambitions of Scotland's arts festivals, and; the piloting of a minimum income for artists.
As a cross-cutting role, the post holder will build, develop and maintain strong relationships with partners across creative industries, screen, festivals as well as the broader culture sector and beyond, helping to support and enhance some of our country’s most significant national and international assets.
Working across these three areas will provide the post holder with an exciting array of both short-term focused projects, long-term policy development as well as leading on elements of Ministerial and stakeholder engagement.
The Culture and Historic Environment Division as a whole is responsible for: sponsoring culture public bodies and organisations such as Historic Environment Scotland, Creative Scotland and the national collection bodies; ensuring everyone can participate in and enjoy culture; and creating the conditions for creative people and businesses to thrive.
Responsibilities
The key tasks and deliverables you may be responsible for include:
- Supporting the work to establish Screen Scotland as an independent public body, through the design, legislation, and delivery process;
- Supporting work to establish a new Television Festival in Edinburgh;
- Leading on early scoping work for the creation of a new Film and Television School;
- Support the development of work to strengthen the evidence base we draw on to develop policy to support Scotland’s arts festivals
- Lead and/or support ongoing work to address key barriers to the sustainability of Scotland’s arts festivals—such as accommodation, affordability, and infrastructure - collaborating across Scottish Government, public sector partners, local authorities and beyond.
- Management of the recently launched Expanded Festivals Fund, working closely with Creative Scotland, arts festivals and other partners to shape its future development.
- Provide concise, rigorous advice to senior colleagues and Ministers - working collaboratively and supporting the team in the production of accurate and high-quality written briefings, submissions, Parliamentary Questions, FOIs, and correspondence.
- Support Ministers and senior staff at meetings and engagements;
- Work flexibly across the Unit and Division as business requires, as well as being prepared to undertake activity as needed during peak periods such as related to major events like the annual programme of Edinburgh Festivals, signature events such Celtic Connections, Glasgow Film Festival and other arts festivals across Scotland.
Qualifications
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. You can find out more about Success Profiles here:
Experience
- Proven experience of working strategically and creatively across boundaries, developing thinking on cross-cutting policy areas;
- Experience in the legislative and/or Parliamentary process;
- Excellent communication skills, including an ability to develop trusted working relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
- A track record of strong organisational skills, preferably including project management skills;
- Good analytical skills, including the ability to work with analysts and to draw out key conclusions and policy implications.
- A good understanding of the workings of government and how it relates to the wider public and/or culture sector
Technical Skills:
- Policy Context and Purpose – Level 2 - Practitioner
- Participation and Engagement – Level 2 - Practitioner
- Parliament and Law – Level 2 – Practitioner
- Policy Delivery and Systems – Level 2 – Practitioner
You can find out more about the skills required, here
Behaviours:
- Seeing the Big Picture – Level 3
- Changing and Improving – Level 3
- Making Effective Decisions – Level 3
- Working Together – Level 3
Working Pattern
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. This post is based in Victoria Quay with a mix of office-based and remote working. The current team anchor day is Wednesday in VQ.
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 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.
How to Apply
Please submit a CV and an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 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 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.
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.
Discussions are to be confirmed.
For any questions relating to your expression of interest please contact [email protected]
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 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.
