Senior Policy Manager; Building Standards Procedures

Are you interested in a job that directly relates to the delivery of an essential public service that ensures our buildings are safe places to live and work?

Building Standards Division in the Building Safety and Standards Directorate is looking for a construction professional with working knowledge of the building standards system. The division is responsible for developing and maintaining the policies and legislation for the building standards system in Scotland. You will work across the division to develop changes that will strengthen the building standards system so that Scotland’s buildings are safe, sustainable and energy efficient.

A key feature of the Senior Policy Manager role, which sits in the Procedures and Workforce Team, will be frequent working with local authorities in their role as building standards verifiers, external partners in the construction sector, and policy colleagues in related business areas in Scottish Government. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining the policies, guidance and legislation to ensure the procedures that underpin the building standards system remains fit for purpose.

This is an important time for the division as it delivers key improvements to strengthen the building standards system overseen by the Building Standards Futures Board and responds directly to the recommendations in the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report.

This is a rewarding post in a supportive team that provides opportunities to use your technical knowledge and experience of the building standards system when developing options for change and when leading on regular liaison with building standards professionals in local government.

• Review application of building standards legislation and guidance and develop improvements to the procedures underpinning delivery of the building standards system.
• Provide an effective point of contact between the division and Local Authority Building Standards Scotland and the Scottish Building Standards Hub for joint working on shared goals for the verification service.
• Provide support on recommendations arising from the Grenfell Inquiry on construction products regulation and assuring impartiality and accountability to the public in relation to delivery of the building standards system.
• Develop research specifications and deliver projects that provide an evidence base for improvements and carry out public consultation on proposals for legislative change where required.
• Prepare briefing on building standards related matters for Ministers and other parts of Scottish Government.
• Respond to correspondence from the public and construction professionals about the procedural aspects of the building standards system and providing advice where required.
• Administer statutory casework including applications for ‘Relaxation’ and ‘Ministerial Views’ relating to compliance with building regulations.
• Lead on an annual workforce data collection exercise to understand the challenges facing the building standards workforce and inform new policy approaches.
• Work proactively with the Competency Steering Group to deliver an interim competency assessment process for the profession and carry out a review of the new approach to inform future arrangements.

Construction professional with a qualification in a built environment or construction related subject. Other equivalent qualifications may be considered, if you are in any doubt please contact to discuss.

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Provide details of your background as a construction professional, including any professional…