Policy Manager – Strategic Team for Anti-Racism

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 – Policy Manager – Strategic Team for Anti-Racism

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy .

Grade – B3

Advert type – level transfer

Duration – Permanent

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

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

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.

Overview

The Equality, Inclusion & Human Rights Directorate’s mission is to ensure equality, inclusion and human rights are at the centre of everything the Scottish Government does, promoting equality, tackling discrimination and fostering inclusion. The Mainstreaming and Inclusion Division drives actions to embed human rights and equality across government and the wider public sector, building capability and capacity to make deep and sustained progress on tackling inequality through better policy-making and service design.

The Strategic Team for Anti-Racism (STAR) leads Scotland’s cross-government work to tackle structural and systemic racism. Operating in a fast-paced, highly visible environment with significant political interest, STAR develops and delivers strategic policy to embed anti-racism across government and public services. This role requires resilience and the ability to manage complex, sensitive issues under scrutiny, balancing competing priorities while influencing diverse stakeholders. The successful candidate will play a leading role in the next phase of Scotland’s anti-racism work, implement and monitor a refreshed delivery plan aligned to the Race Equality Framework for Scotland (2016–2030), contribute to Scotland’s international treaty reporting obligations, and support wider community cohesion work, including providing reassurance and clear communication during times of uncertainty or heightened public concern. The postholder will also line-manage a B2 Policy Officer.

Role and Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a public-facing anti-racism delivery plan, ensuring alignment with the Race Equality Framework for Scotland (2016–2030).
• Provide strategic advice and support to senior leaders on anti-racism policy, including managing sensitive issues that attract scrutiny and involve balancing competing priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including community organisations, public bodies, and internal teams, to ensure meaningful engagement and co-production.
• Monitor and report on progress against anti-racism commitments, ensuring transparency and accountability in delivery.
• Lead on capability-building initiatives to embed anti-racism principles in policy-making and service design across Scottish Government.
• Oversee operational delivery including ministerial briefings, PQs, correspondence and cross‑government coordination; manage risks, dependencies and milestones.
• Lead and contribute to Scotland’s international treaty reporting obligations, ensuring accurate, timely submissions and alignment with human rights commitments.
• Support wider community cohesion work, including offering reassurance and clear messaging during periods of uncertainty or heightened sensitivity.

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. Demonstrable expertise in anti-racism policy and practice, with a deep understanding of structural and systemic racism and the ability to apply these principles to drive systemic change.
2. Experience of working with Ministers and senior officials, preparing high-quality briefings, handling commissions, and managing politically sensitive issues under scrutiny.
3. Ability to lead complex, cross-cutting policy or programmes, with strong planning, prioritisation and risk management skills, and embedding co-production with racialised communities into delivery.
4. Ability to communicate and influence effectively across senior stakeholders, communities and delivery partners, including building trust and working effectively with racialised communities in sensitive contexts.
5. Understanding of international human rights frameworks, with experience contributing to treaty reporting or similar compliance processes.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Level 3
• Communicating & Influencing – Level 3
• Delivering at Pace – Level 3
• Leadership – Level 3

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

Working Pattern

The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns 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

This directorate is based across Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in line with our current ways of working, our team follows a hybrid working approach, where colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working (working from home) depending on the requirements of the role and personal circumstances.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from Frankie McLean, frankie.mclean@gov.scot.

How to Apply

Please submit a CV and 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 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.

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 a light touch interview.

Discussions are to be confirmed.

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

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.