Head of New Scrutiny Duties Development

Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) role is to monitor, investigate and secure public authorities’ compliance with environmental law in Scotland. We also scrutinise the effectiveness of environmental law and policy in Scotland and how it is implemented and applied. In our investigative and analytical reports, we may also identify instances where we consider there to be gaps in environmental protection legislation.

ESS is an independent non-ministerial office, accountable to the Scottish Parliament and overseen by a non-executive board. It is part of the Scottish Administration and its employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website.

Our Strategy 2026-2031 sets out how we will work as an organisation to deliver our vision that ‘by holding public authorities to account, we will ensure that Scotland’s people and nature benefit from a high-quality, healthy environment through improved compliance with and better implementation of effective environmental law’.

ESS’ role is expanding to take on two new roles:

• scrutinising the Scottish Government’s delivery against the new statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
• scrutinising local authorities’ reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

To deliver these duties and to manage this significant organisational change, ESS will be recruiting new posts over the next twelve months to establish a new team within the organisation to lead the development of work to deliver these two new roles.

Job description

This postholder will be part of ESS’ executive team (ET) and will report directly to the chief executive. The postholder will be responsible for leading and overseeing the establishment of a new team to develop and deliver ESS’ approach to the two new scrutiny roles listed above.

The role will be for two years.

Key responsibilities include:

To support the chief executive and the board in the design, development and implementation of ESS’ approach to its new scrutiny roles by:

• providing day-to-day leadership and management of the new team
• developing and establishing the systems and structures necessary to deliver ESS’ two new roles and ensuring that they integrate effectively with the organisation’s existing roles
• establishing, developing and managing relationships with key external senior stakeholders in central and local government and the wider environmental sector
• contribute to good governance by identifying, monitoring and mitigating risks and providing effective reporting mechanisms to the executive team and board
• identifying skill requirements and deploying and developing staff in the team through support, guidance, and coaching
• acting as a role model to ensure that a positive, supportive and inclusive culture is developed and maintained
• ensure that the team works effectively, and flexibly, with all other parts of ESS
• contributing to the corporate leadership of ESS as a member of the executive team

Person specification

• experience of leading, managing and developing a team at pace to deliver high quality products or service
• experience of establishing, developing and integrating new systems and processes within the context of an existing organisation
• excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to establish strong working relations with a range of internal and senior external stakeholders
• excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to work independently to deliver at pace, without sacrificing quality

Essential criteria

1. a track record of leadership, including leading and delivering complex projects, providing effective leadership of people and resources, building capability and motivating a team
2. excellent oral, listening and written communication skills
3. proven experience in developing and maintaining strong working relationships with internal and senior external stakeholders
4. excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands, using initiative and judgement to resolve sensitive issues

Desirable criteria

• experience of working in a scrutiny-focused organisation (for example: inspection, audit, regulatory and evaluation)
• experience of establishing a new department or team would be beneficial

Qualifications Required
We are looking for a candidate with a minimum of two years proven experience in working at a senior management level.

Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out.

Qualifications

Minimum of two years proven experience in working at a senior management level.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £80,172, Environmental Standards Scotland contributes £23,225 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

ESS is a small organisation focused on ensuring Scotland achieves the highest environmental standards. We seek skilled individuals who have a passion for improving environmental standards through public service, that can work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

In return, we offer a competitive employment package, including the civil service pension and a strong commitment to investing in each member of our teams personal and professional development. We also offer opportunities to work on some of the most significant and meaningful environmental challenges facing us today and the chance to play a part in helping to improve the quality of the environment for the people of Scotland.

We are building a culture that encourages inclusion and diversity and we particularly encourage applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

The post allows flexible working and is open to full time or, by agreement, other working patterns including part-time, or compressed hours with a minimum requirement of 28 hours per week.

• A strong commitment to investing in your personal and professional development
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%