Do you have knowledge of Subsidy Control and the willingness to become an expert in what is an exciting, but continually evolving area?

Would you like the opportunity to have a significant impact upon shaping the future of the South of Scotland?

Join SOSE and have a positive influence on the changing nature of the Subsidy Control regime, as well as supporting a trail-blazing team that’s working to build a better future for the South of Scotland. 

As part of our new and growing organisation, you’ll do something amazing for the region – all while enjoying the benefits of flexible working options and a supportive culture.

About Us

South of Scotland Enterprise (also known as SOSE) is the new Economic and Community Development Agency for the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. We represent a fresh approach to driving growth across a very special region in a way that benefits all of us who live and work here. 

We are the first of Scotland’s public agencies to promote a wider view of the economy and how it impacts all we do. Jobs, businesses, communities and the environment are all equally important to us. We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to fulfil their ambitions, no matter who or where they are.

What You’ll Do Day-to-Day

As our Subsidy Specialist, you will support subsidy assessments by providing guidance and support to project-leads in the development of subsidy-compliant business and community projects. You’ll also guide our Senior Leadership Team and Board in areas of subsidy policy, organisational risk, and project appraisal.

Recognising the changing nature of the Subsidy Control regime, you’ll focus on monitoring and gathering intelligence and insight from stakeholders, monitoring opportunities and risks, and acting quickly to exploit or mitigate them.

You’ll be able to de-mystify all areas of Subsidy Control for business and community-facing colleagues so will create practical guidance for subsidy assessments and you’ll provide the framework so that they can have informed discussions and carry out subsidy assessments for lower-risk projects.  You’ll also help our client-facing teams on a 121 basis with their higher-risk, complex and higher-value projects. 

The Skills and Personal Attributes You’ll Need to Have

You’ll need to be able to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the field of Subsidy Control, or State Aid as it was known pre-Brexit. Ideally you’ll have gained some experience within a public sector regulatory environment, with high levels of governance and accountability and you’re the type of individual who thrives in a collaborative environment. Your ability to build relationships will be second to none and you’ll also need to show that you have strong research and analysis skills as well as experience of gathering, analysing, summarising, and presenting information to senior managers and leaders. You don’t necessarily need to have worked in a role solely focused on subsidy or state aid, but we would like you to demonstrate an understanding and the desire to become an expert. What’s more important to us, however, are your transferrable skills – your ability to ‘dig into the details’ of the funding regulations, to keep abreast of the changing regulations and to provide consultative, compliant advice and guidance to our teams. 

What We’ll Offer You

We offer a competitive and varied reward package, designed to cover your wellbeing, your lifestyle, your working life and your future, including 43 days holiday annually and a generous pension contribution. Our salary ranges are designed to be competitive and new entrants will normally start on the minimum of the pay range, except in exceptional circumstances. We want to make sure that what we offer helps you to fit your work around your life, not the other way around.

At South of Scotland Enterprise, we celebrate and support differences. We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestral heritage, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity and expression, or veteran status. If you need any adjustments to support your application, such as information in alternative formats or special requirements to access our buildings, or if you’re eligible under The Disability Confident Scheme please contact us and we’ll do all we can to support you.

Because of COVID-19 all our staff are currently working from home until further notice and guidance from Scottish Government, although we do expect to move to a hybrid way of working once restrictions allow. As such, one of our main hub locations (Dumfries or Selkirk) should be within reasonable commuting distance of your home address. To enable you to do your job to the best of your ability, IT equipment will be delivered to your home to make the onboarding process as seamless as possible.

This role is full time and permanent, although we will consider alternative working patterns.

The closing date for applications is 1st May 22 at 11.59pm and interviews will be held as soon as practical thereafter.  

If you are an Inclusive, Responsible and Bold individual who is always Striving for success and believe you have something to offer the South of Scotland as a Subsidy Specialist then we would love to hear from you.