Programme Manager

ESS was established by the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 and gained its statutory functions and powers on 1 October 2021. ESS has been set up to ensure environmental laws and standards are adhered to in Scotland, replacing the European Union’s scrutiny and enforcement role.

The remit of ESS covers a broad range of environmental law, including all aspects of environmental protection and harm, particularly in relation to human beings and their enjoyment of the environment.

ESS’ role is to scrutinise, investigate and secure improvements in public authorities’ compliance with environmental law, the effectiveness of environmental law, and the way it is being implemented and applied in Scotland.

ESS is accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the effective performance of its functions. It has recently published the ESS Draft Strategy 2026 – 31 for consultation, setting out how it will operate and function, including how it will act objectively, impartially, proportionately and transparently. The current Strategic Plan can be found here.

ESS will:

• monitor information about the quality of the environment in Scotland and the effectiveness of environmental law, including representations brought forward by citizens and interested groups
• seek information from public authorities, including the Scottish Government, and working with the public authorities to understand the background to regulatory policies and practices
• select a number of cases for detailed investigation, prioritising cases where there is the greatest risk to the environment
• work with public authorities, where necessary, to seek to agree changes in practice to reflect environmental law, or develop advice on recommended changes to the law to improve its effectiveness

Job description

This is a key role within Environmental Standards Scotland. You will work to the Chief Executive, and with the Executive Team, Board, colleagues and stakeholders, across all levels, to assist with the work of ESS.

You will need an eye for detail and the ability to be creative in your approach to challenges, alongside being proactive in seeking to continuously improve existing processes and procedures.

The focus of this post will be to deliver for ESS high-quality programme management across the organisation.

There is no current line management responsibilities.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

To provide programme management support directly to the Chief Executive by:

• developing and maintaining an ESS system to capture, summarise, visualise and report progress of all investigatory, analytical and corporate work in a regular, easy to assess way, highlighting where and why planned milestones are, or are not being met or are missing
• working with the Executive Team to support creative and considered approaches to resolving scheduling challenges, for example through redeployment opportunities or contracting external advice
• highlighting the resource assigned to individual pieces of work and identifying any constraints
• helping identify whether and how individual pieces of work have dependencies on each other
• supporting the Chief Executive, Executive Team and wider organisation to prioritise individual pieces of work and, where appropriate, recommending which should be accelerated taking into account ESS’ strategy, annual business plan and the interests of ESS’ varied stakeholders
• facilitating a review of all work in a structured way at each Executive Team meeting, updating on progress, and making recommendations for changes

Person specification

Essential criteria

1. Strong interpersonal, networking and team-working skills, with proven experience of managing internal and external relationships, creating positive networks and maintaining trust and credibility.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with experience of: drafting a range of documentation at both a strategic and operational level; ensuring a clear flow of information to senior leaders.
3. Demonstrable understanding and enhanced knowledge of programme management and best practice in the public sector, with relevant background and experience.
4. Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage a complex and diverse workload / be fluent in programme management techniques and methodologies and be able to help the business understand them and work to them.

Desirable criteria

1. A relevant project management qualification (APM, Prince 2, Agile etc).
2. Practical experience of using the Smartsheet platform used by ESS to project manage activity.

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with a minimum of two years proven experience in coordinating and managing a complex programme of work.

Whilst not a mandatory requirement, it would beneficial if the candidate had a recognised Programme Management accreditation.

Other qualifications equivalent to these may also be acceptable, if you are in any doubt please contact the recruiting manager named at the bottom of the advert to discuss.

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

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

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

• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,010, Environmental Standards Scotland contributes £17,384 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%

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.