Senior Scrutiny Officer (Climate Change) x4

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 roles, alongside related corporate services requirements.

Benefits

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

In return, we offer a competitive employment package including:

• enrolment in the civil service pension scheme
• a range of flexible working arrangements as well as flexitime to ensure a working pattern that meets both your needs as well as those of the organisation
• 25 days annual leave with an increase to 30 days after two years of reckonable service, plus 11.5 days of public and privilege holidays
• six months full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave, five weeks full pay for paternity leave and paid leave for any antenatal appointments
• a range of paid special leave including leave for carers and bereavement leave
• a strong commitment to investing in the personal and professional development of all staff
• dedicated wellbeing support and services for all staff including access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• exceptional workplace adjustment support to remove barriers to enable staff to achieve their full potential

We are building a culture that encourages inclusion and diversity and we particularly encourage applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. We also offer access to a range of network groups to support equality, diversity and inclusion.

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

Job Description

We are recruiting for four Senior Scrutiny Officers (Climate Change) within our newly created New Scrutiny Duties Development Department.

Together, working to the Principal Scrutiny Officer and Head of New Scrutiny Duties Development, these post holders will play a crucial part in how we will deliver our new area of work scrutinising local authorities’ reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Key responsibilities include:

• supporting the Head of Department and Principal Scrutiny Officer to develop an effective approach to how ESS will scrutinise local authorities’ implementation of their climate change duties
• identifying, summarising, interpreting and presenting evidence on the way in which local authorities in Scotland implement their climate change duties
• identifying and engaging with relevant stakeholders to access support, advice and opinion on climate change best practice
• obtain, by way of written requests for information, calls and meetings, research and consultation with other staff, all substantive, relevant information pertinent to matters under consideration
• identifying potential issues for investigation
• assisting in the planning and managing of the team in achieving planned outputs as agreed with the Head of Department and Principal Scrutiny Officer
• assisting the Head of Department and Principal Scrutiny Officer in providing high quality information on any aspect of the work of the team
• working collaboratively and flexibly with colleagues across ESS on key operational work streams to support the development of effective and efficient processes and systems within ESS
• representing ESS, and supporting and co-ordinating relationships with key external senior stakeholders in central and local government and the wider environmental sector

Person specification

• experience of working in a team at pace to deliver high quality products or service
• 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

• proven experience of using analytical skills to explore issues and reach decisions based on evaluating a range of evidence, preferably in relation to legally complex matters involving the implementation and interpretation of law
• proven experience in developing and maintaining strong working relationships with internal and senior external stakeholders
• proven experience of producing high quality, formal, written reports that are clear, comprehensive and which have withstood scrutiny
• excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands

Desirable criteria

• experience of working in environmental science, law, policy or regulation

Qualifications/experience

We are looking for candidates with a minimum of four years proven experience working in a scrutiny-focused organisation (for example: inspection, audit, regulatory, or evaluation).

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's experience, skills, and potential fit within our organisation. This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your behaviours, strengths and experience.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Short stage application form

Please complete the first stage short application form, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2: Written application and sift

As part of the application process, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours – you will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on each of the following Behaviours:

• managing a quality service
• making effective decisions

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Your personal statement should explain why you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

You should read each of the essential criteria, and think about a time, or an example, that can help demonstrate your knowledge/skills. Remember, this must be evidence based and your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion. Please read and understand the key criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against.

ESS uses the Scottish Government Civil Service Success Profile framework which is made up of three elements: Behaviours, Experience and Technical. ESS strongly recommends you have a look at the Success Profiles candidate guide to enable you to make the best application possible. When writing behaviours at application stage or presenting behaviours in interview, ESS recommends you use the STAR format to present your answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Sift

After the closing date, your application will be reviewed and marked.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, managing a quality service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The sift is expected to take place from week commencing 13 July 2026.

Once the sift has been completed, applicants will be notified of the outcome. Please note that feedback will not be given to applicants at sift stage.

Stage 3: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• behaviours – managing a quality service, making effective decisions, working together, delivering at pace, communicating and influencing
• experience

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews are expected to take place week commencing 27 July 2026.

Preparing for the interview

The interview will take approximately one hour and will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.

Please note: you will receive the interview questions approximately 12 hours in advance of your interview.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the behaviours mentioned above.

It may be helpful to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the STAR model to explain:

STAR – What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strength questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed further.

Stage 4: Offer

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.

The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful pre-employment checks, which can take a number of weeks to complete.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.