Do you want a rewarding post which gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people in, or at risk of, poverty through supporting them in a dignified and rights-based way?
This is a great opportunity for you to join a high profile area with significant stakeholder and Ministerial interest. The Financial Wellbeing Unit sits within the Third Sector and Financial Wellbeing Division of the Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate. The Unit is focussed on leading and collaborating on work to tackle poverty and inequality and to create a fairer Scotland where everyone can access the financial and wider support to achieve an acceptable standard of living.
This post sits within the Unit’s Fairer Scotland Team and will provide you with the opportunity to be involved in a range of social justice work, including sponsorship of the Poverty and Inequality Commission, affordable credit and the Fairer Scotland Duty. The Team also holds responsibility for tackling food insecurity.
- Sponsorship of the statutory Poverty and Inequality Commission, including:
- Providing a point of contact on the Commission for Scottish Government related matters and for the Commission’s Secretariat.
- Working closely with the Commission’s Secretariat on a day to day basis, including regular monthly meetings and providing support as and when required.
- Ensuring necessary governance documents are in place and up to date.
- Supporting the Director and Cabinet Secretary in their regular engagement with the Commission.
- Leading on any necessary public appointments to recruit new members.
- Developing and implementing policy to improve accessibility to the affordable credit sector for low income households.
- Policy lead for the Fairer Scotland Duty, which requires certain named public bodies in Scotland to consider how they can reduce inequality of outcomes when taking any strategic decision.
- Building effective relationships with key stakeholders and obtain input when required for policy development and delivery.
- Working with colleagues across the Directorate and the Scottish Government to inform key products such as: FMQs, Ministerial briefings, briefing for debates, speeches and Committees, ministerial correspondence, PQs and media enquiries.
- Line management responsibility.
Success Profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Experience:
- Working across organisational boundaries and across Scottish Government teams to develop and deliver policy.
Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving - Level 3
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
- Delivering at Pace - Level 3
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 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 18 August 2025, however this may be subject to change.
Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates for the role, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.
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, 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.
Working Pattern
The Directorate is based in both Victoria Quay, Leith, and Atlantic Quay, Glasgow. In line with our current ways of working, our Team follows a hybrid working approach, where colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working (working from home) depending on the requirements of the role and personal circumstances. The successful applicant will be expected to spend at least one day per week in the office or with stakeholders.
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.
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.