Senior Policy Adviser

**General Information**:

- Salary
- £42,914 - £46,182
- Working Pattern
- Full Time
- Vacancy Approach
- Cross Government
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Region
- National
- Closing Date
- 19-Sep-2025
- Post Type
- Permanent
- Civil Service Grade
- SEO
- Number of jobs available
- 1
- Reserve List
- 12 Months
- Job ID
- 9119

**Descriptions & requirements**:

- Job description

**Senior Policy Adviser (SEO), Energy and Net Zero - Scotland Office**

Do you have a keen interest in energy and net zero matters?

Are you good at forming professional relationships? Able to get to the nub of policy matters and propose solutions that will have real impact? Looking for a role w your creativity and communication skills will be valued, and w you will have the autonomy to work on interesting projects supporting a key UK Government priority?

If you are ready to take the next step in your career, then we are looking for an enthusiastic and talented person to join our busy and friendly Energy and Net Zero team located in the Domestic Policy Group of the Policy Division in the Scotland Office, based in Edinburgh or London.

The Scotland Office supports the Secretary of State for Scotland. We are Scotland’s voice in Whitehall and the UK Government’s voice in Scotland. That gives us a job like few others in government. The Secretary of State has identified ‘green energy’ as one of his priorities, so this is a high profile area of work for the department.

The Energy and Net Zero team is responsible for providing ministers, special advisers and senior officials with advice on energy and net zero matters as they relate to Scotland. The team plays a crucial role in shaping UK energy policy and influencing how it will impact in Scotland. As such the Energy and Net Zero team is involved in a wide range of issues, including: investment in and the development of clean and low carbon energy projects and innovative green technologies in Scotland; the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan; the future of North Sea oil and gas and the transition to Net Zero.

You will have the opportunity to lead on a wide variety of work including policy, strategy and relationship management, in a supportive environment. This is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic individual who is keen to use their initiative to conceive and manage projects while collaborating and building trust in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. You will use your knowledge of the devolution settlement to contextualise energy and net zero matters within the current political landscape, and be motivated by having the opportunity to contribute to the prosperity and future wellbeing of Scotland. This role presents great development opportunities.

**Key responsibilities for the role**:

- Supporting the UK Government’s clean power agenda, a key ministerial priority. Working
- ly with other Whitehall departments, including DESNZ, to advise on policy developments, in particular devolution assessments and ensuring UK Government policy decisions are relevant, applicable and impactful in a Scottish context.
- Representing the Scotland Office in cross-government meetings and at meetings, working groups, and other events with external stakeholders.
- Drafting replies to Cabinet Committee, Ministerial and Official correspondence on policy issues. In addition, preparing responses to Parliamentary Questions and FOI requests as well as briefing for ministerial meetings, visits and events, all to the expected standards and within agreed deadlines.

**Essential criteria**
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills involving a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external, at all levels.
- Strong planning and organisation skills including the ability to balance competing priorities to meet tight deadlines.

**Desirable criteria**
- Ability to prepare clear and succinct policy advice, recommendations and briefings to government ministers, special advisers and senior officials.
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, with high levels of personal autonomy.
- Experience of working in one or more policy areas simultaneously, or a demonstrable ability to quickly develop a credible level of expertise and judgement.
- Subject area expertise, such as experience of working in the energy industry or in energy-related policy.
- Line management experience.

We will assess against these behaviours during the selection process:
Making Effective Decisions (lead)-
Communicating and Influencing-
Delivering at Pace-
Working Together.- Please note the following:
We will operate a six month reserve list for similar SEO roles which may arise in the Scotland Office.-
We are recruiting using Ministry of Justice terms and conditions, but this is not a MoJ role. For substantive civil servants we are able to offer the MoJ terms or offer the option of a loan agreement with the home department.-
The security clearance required for this role i