Executive Support

Are you looking for a fast-paced post in a dynamic environment that offers the opportunity to build strong relationships across the Directorate and wider Scottish Government? 

You will join the International Trade Policy and Subsidy Control Division (ITP&SCD) in the International Trade and Investment Directorate. You will be working as a part of Business Management Unit, working closely with the Deputy Director (DD) for ITP&SC and reporting to the Directorate's Business Support manager. The Division is one of three within the Directorate for International Trade and Investment (DITI). 

The Directorate for International Trade and Investment (DITI), established in 2017, works to boost Scotland's international trade and investment, supporting economic growth and reducing inequality. Within DITI, the International Trade Policy and Subsidy Control Division (ITP&SCD) protects and promotes Scotland's interests by influencing UK and global trade policy, ensuring compliance with domestic and international obligations, and providing expert analysis to remove trade barriers and shape negotiations. 

Guided by Scotland's Vision for Trade, the Division prioritises economic, environmental, and human rights considerations, leads on subsidy control advice, trade remedies, and border arrangements, and collaborates with UK Government, stakeholders, and analysts to deliver evidence-based policy. It also drives initiatives such as increasing exports by women-led businesses and oversees guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence and business links with Russia.

Responsibilities:

• Effective inbox management, triaging emails as appropriate, using judgement to assess emails and making the executive decision on when to delegate emails, and when to highlight urgent deadlines. Co-ordinating divisional responses where necessary.

• Ensuring that the Deputy Director's time is spent wisely and efficiently, leading diary meetings to ensure appropriate forward planning, by understanding their priorities in order to deal effectively with diary requests and changes, booking meeting rooms and organising any associated logistics to ensure that their time is used effectively.
• Management of all papers for meetings, commissioning these where relevant and appropriate, collating and organising for the Deputy Director ahead of meetings. Ensure senior leaders within Divisions are prepared for meetings and engagements by commissioning relevant advice and briefing in advance.
• Provide secretariat support for Unit Head meetings and for all quarterly business planning sessions and other meetings as needed.
• Acting as the key point of contact within the Division, leading on appropriate forward planning and logistical support for all divisional meetings. Providing divisional support to co-ordinate core briefs, FMQs and routinely monitoring divisional performance for FOI, PQ and Micase correspondence.
• Leading induction processes for new staff, ordering equipment/IT.
• Work flexibly across the Directorate providing necessary support to the Director and senior leadership team, as required. Work as part of the directorate business management team, taking on appropriate tasks/roles to ensure corporate priorities are met. Contribute to continuous improvement across the Directorate by participating in people groups (and other groups) as required.
• Acting as divisional BCLO, processing invoices and payments, requisitioning on Oracle Cloud, and managing purchases as an ePC cardholder.
• Acting as IMSO, sharing best practices on information management.

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:

1. Connections and Communication - Working

You can find out more about the skills required here: Core ODP Skills - Operational Delivery Profession

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing - Level 2
• Working Together - Level 2
• Managing a Quality service - Level 2
• Delivering at Pace - Level 2

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide -

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. 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.

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 interview it will consist of interview questions and a presentation. 

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 12/01/2025 however this may be subject to change.

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

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to 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.

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.

Apply before 23:59 on 17 December 2025. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only.