Senior Policy Manager
- Hiring from
- United Kingdom
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Posted
- Sep 30, 2026
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 - Senior Policy Manager
Business Area/Directorate - Early Learning and Childcare Division
Location - VQ / AQ
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.
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.
We have an exciting opportunity for a colleague to join the Early Years Workforce Retention and Support Team in Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Division as a Senior Policy Manager, on level transfer.
ELC Division plays a central role in delivering key Scottish Government’s commitments. Following the successful expansion of funded ELC to all three and four year-olds and eligible two year-olds to 1140 hours per year in 2021, the Division works with local authorities and the childcare sector to ensure that this offer benefits children and families. The Division also provides policy leadership for the further transformation of ELC in light of significant new commitments to support children from nine months until the end of primary school.
We are looking for a Senior Policy Manager to lead an important programme of work on Fair Work in early learning and childcare. Having a skilled and well-qualified workforce is the single most important factor in delivering high-quality ELC experiences for children.
Key Responsibilities
Lead a small team, with a focus on supporting quality outcomes and taking responsibility for their learning and development.
Engage effectively with key stakeholders and delivery partners to promote buy-in and deliver actions which will support Ministers’ policy programmes.
Lead on the design and development of policy, inform policy options and recommendations to Ministers in the area of Fair Work.
Analyse evidence and work closely with relevant analysts and policy teams to interpret and strengthen the evidence base to develop policies and programmes to support the ELC workforce.
Oversee business of government work relating to the policy such as PQ responses, Parliamentary statements and ministerial briefings.
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.
Behaviours:
Communicating and Influencing – Level 3
Working Together – Level 3
Making effective decisions - Level 3
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide
Experience
Experience of building relationships with internal and external stakeholders, gaining trust and credibility and influencing and persuading others to deliver shared policy priorities.
Experience of distilling complex information and presenting it in a clear and accessible way.
Experience of analysing and evaluating different types of evidence to develop policy recommendations.
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 should aim 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 scott.sutherland@gov.scot or victoria.bruce@gov.scot
How to Apply
Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 750 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 7 October.
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 interview, 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 Code and 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.
Apply before: 07/10/2026 (23:59). This role is open to substantive B3 staff in core SG only.