Public Appointments Officer (Training and Communications)

The Role

At this exciting time in our work, we are seeking to recruit a Public Appointments Officer (PAO) specialising in Training and Communications.

Our statutory role involves ensuring that the appointments (recruitment) process to select board members to sit on public body boards is fair and transparent. We do this by promoting good practice and providing guidance to the recruitment panels as well as auditing recruitment processes. We have recently published a revised Code of Practice which the Scottish Ministers must follow when making these appointments and are also intending to refresh our diversity strategy to support the good practice which is outlined in the Code of Practice. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to support and contribute to both of these exciting pieces of work.

The main purpose of the PAO(T&C) is to provide operational and administrative support to the Public Appointments Manager in ensuring that the Commissioner’s statutory functions in respect of Public Appointments are achieved. Although the role has specific responsibilities and skills to contribute, with working in a small office environment this will include providing cover and being sufficiently flexible to undertake any tasks as required to support the work of the office and the achievement of its statutory functions.

The PAO will be expected to be able to provide advice on recruitment practices and processes, diversity and inclusion and compliance against a Code of Practice to a range of stakeholders. Excellent communications and influencing skills will be required to deal with the range and diversity of people who contact the office and an early and effective contribution to the role will be necessary. They will also be able to run effective training courses and review the content of proposed training to assess for suitability. They will also be involved in a range of quantitative and qualitative research in support of Code compliance, improving practice and diversity.

The successful applicant will have sound knowledge of recruitment and selection processes and practices (ideally through attainment of a post graduate CIPD qualification), diversity and inclusion, and be able to advise on regulations and laws, as well as having excellent communication and ICT skills. They will also share our values which are that we act ethically and with empathy and we value people.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE SEEKING A STRONG SKILLSET, WE DON’T CONSIDER PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE TO BE A NECESSITY IF AN APPLICANT HOLDS A RELEVANT DEGREE. THIS POSITION MAY THEREFORE BE SUITABLE FOR A RECENT GRADUATE.

Our work makes a significant contribution to public life in Scotland by providing a level of assurance that those applying for public appointments do so within a process which is fair and transparent and open to all who wish to apply. Our public appointments team play a key role in this so if you are motivated to contribute to society in this way, we’d love to hear from you.

The post is full time, pensionable and based at our offices in Edinburgh, which are currently operating remotely. We offer a flexitime scheme and the opportunity for remote working. We also offer entry to the Civil Service Pension Scheme and a generous annual leave allowance equivalent to 25 days + 11.5 public holidays. Some occasional travel may be involved in connection with meetings or awareness raising events.

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to equality and diversity and would welcome applications from people from all walks of life. We particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in the office such as disabled people, men and people from an LGBTQI background.

Application notes

For further information or if you require assistance with any element of the application process (including any request for a reasonable adjustment to be made or for recruitment materials to be made available in an alternate format), please contact Katherine Lafreniere at info@ethicalstandards.org.uk or on 0300 011 0550.

Please see the attached Recruitment Pack and Application form or visit our website for full details on how to apply.

Applications should be sent to info@ethicalstandards.org.uk (with “Public Appointments Officer” as the header) by 12 noon on Friday 17th June 2022.