Business Manager

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Job Title – Business Manager

Business Area/Directorate – Community Justice- Justice Directorate

Location – This position is based in St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh. It is a hybrid position – meaning the successful candidate is expected to have an office presence in line with the SG hybrid working policy.

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time in person at their contractual workplace.

Grade - B2

Advert type -

Duration - Permanent

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer.

Sponsorship:

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Are you interesting in working in a fast paced environment to support our senior managers right at the heart of the Scottish Justice system?

In this role, you will work as part of the Community Justice Division and Justice Business Support Unit (BSU), working directly with the Deputy Director for Community Justice and across the division, at a time of significant ambition and reform in justice policy.

As the division’s Business Manager, you will be central to how it functions, playing a key role in strategic planning, internal governance, business support and corporate activity. From time to time, you will also be expected to work flexibly to support other Deputy Directors and the Director of Justice.

Key responsibilities

• Provide timely and reliable support to the Deputy Director on a daily basis including the management of the Deputy Director's inbox and diary: acting as an intelligent filter, checking and discussing issues and asks across policy teams, ensuring information flow, timely input and follow up so that deadlines are met and ensuring emails are stored effectively in line with business need.

• Proactively providing advice and guidance to the Deputy Director, proactively highlighting issues and taking appropriate action on their behalf, understanding the political environment and rapidly changing priorities.

• Manage incoming commissions and ensure timely contributions to briefings and submissions, working with policy leads, team leaders and unit heads, exercising judgement as appropriate, with guidance and support from the Deputy Director. This also includes co-ordinating key products, such as policy papers, meeting papers, weekly SCANCE, PQs and FMQs.

• Support the B3 Business Manager to deliver a professional Directorate business support service, building and maintaining open, positive working relationships, engaging confidently with SLT, divisional staff, Business Partners, DG Office, ET SGO, Private Office and other key stakeholders.

• Lead and support corporate work across the division and as part of the Directorate. This includes the management of essential products such as risk registers, the divisional business plan and finance and budget returns and clearances, working with colleagues in the BSU and divisional finance team as well as supporting the work of the Directorate People team by ensuring agreed ways of working in the Community Justice Division are embedded and working well, leading improvements to systems and supporting key initiatives such as bespoke L&D events, induction processes and away days.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Experience:

1. Strong organisational and communication skills, both written and oral.

2. Ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

3. Experience of managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines

4. Experience of providing high-level executive support to senior leaders in a fast-paced environment

Behaviours:

1. Communication and influencing (Level 3)

2. Managing a quality service (Level 3)

3. Seeing the big picture (Level 3)

4. Making effective decisions (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide

Working Pattern

This post is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles are expected to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from rachel.miller@gov.scot or DirectorofJustice@gov.scot

How to Apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on Wednesday 4 November.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an informal discussion.

Discussions are scheduled for w/c TBC.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Codeand working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

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Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

Apply before: 04/11/2026 (23:59). This role is open to substantive B2 grade staff from core SG only.