Economic Inactivity Policy Officer

Are you ready to bring insight, influence, and impact to ministerial priorities on reducing economic inactivity?

This Senior Policy Adviser role is in the Economic Inactivity Team, part of the Governance and Strategy Unit in the Employability Division and sits within the Jobs and Wellbeing Economy Directorate.

The division is responsible for devolved employability services in Scotland. Through No One Left Behind we are working with partners from across the public, private and third sectors, as well as with service users themselves, to transform and simplify the employability system in Scotland. In practice this sees a move towards a flexible place-based model of delivery where employability is delivered within a wider package of support including housing, health, justice and advice services.

You will have a key role taking forward the Deputy First Ministers' priority to tackle high rates of economic inactivity – a relatively new focus for the division. The work of the team is highly varied and offers an excellent opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with extensive engagement with other policy teams, Ministers, partner organisations and employers.

The successful applicant will work across key areas including assurance of Programme for Government commitments, partnership with DG Health and Social care to develop and progress a health and work action plan, engagement with UK Government on the next stages of the Keep Britain Working Review and developing clear messaging on why tackling economic inactivity matters for use with internal and external stakeholders.

• Project management:
  Lead on the development of structure to provide ministers and SCS with assurance on progress of actions, early identification of risks and opportunities to tackle economic inactivity including through Programme for Government.
• Policy development and delivery:
  Lead on the identification, development and delivery of further action to tackle economic inactivity through the Cross Government Policy Network and other channels.
• Policy development and delivery:
  Work closely with officials in DG Health and Social Care to develop and progress a Health and Work Action Plan, leading wider DG Economy input and alignment with Deputy First Ministers priority to tackle economic inactivity.
• Intergovernmental relations:
  Building and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships with official counterparts in the UK Government and Devolved Administrations, on the next stages of the Keep Britain Working Review and other activity relating to tackling economic inactivity.
• Stakeholder engagement and messaging:
  Building and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships with Public Health Scotland, business organisations and employers to strengthen the collective approach to tackling economic inactivity.
• Briefing and advice:
  Supporting Ministerial visits and meetings with stakeholders, providing concise briefing to support ministerial priorities for engagements, accompanying Ministers where required.
• Wider Policy Engagement:
  Representing the team’s interests in other relevant areas of cross‑SG policy, in corporate commissions and through annual reporting responsibilities.
• People management – line management of a member of staff.