About the job

Job summary

Are you interested in working in a supportive and collaborative unit, helping to deliver essential energy development and want a role that will make a difference and help Scotland to meet its target to become Net Zero by 2045?

If you are, then an exciting opportunity to work in the high-profile Energy Consents Unit (ECU) has arisen which involves assessing proposals for Scotland’s energy infrastructure and their impacts of climate change, and effects on the environment and communities.   

The Energy Consents Unit (ECU) is a branch of the Energy and Climate Change Directorate, responsible for processing applications for energy infrastructure to be determined by the Scottish Ministers within relevant legislative and policy frameworks.

The applications processed by the ECU are highly technical in nature. They often relate to multi-million pound development and infrastructure projects, which make a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s core purpose of promoting sustainable economic growth and to the delivery of Scottish Government’s energy policies.

You will actively progress case work, to support the team leader in identifying and managing case work priorities across the team.  You will support and supervise case officers within the team to manage the application process whilst providing support to senior colleagues and ultimately Ministers in their determination of applications. Joining ECU will give you the opportunity to work in a high profile area, and contribute to vital decisions for Scotland’s energy infrastructure and electricity network.

Job description

• Responsibility for managing to completion a portfolio of Electricity Act Applications including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) projects, in line with relevant planning and environmental legislation including drafting decision letters for ministerial approval;
• Using your working knowledge of the planning system and practical skills provide mentoring and coaching support to staff under your line management and where required the wider unit;
• To draft and support quality assurance you will review all aspects of Electricity Application associated casework (such as EIA screenings and scopings, Compulsory Purchase Orders and Necessary wayleave applications) and;
• Undertake all other duties as required by your line manager (such as Parliamentary Questions, Ministerial and official correspondence/Freedom of Information requests and briefing).

Person specification

Improving performance

Analysis and use of evidence

Communications and engagement

People management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,557, Scottish Government contributes £12,030 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Sift and Interview dates TBC
Please apply using the link provided

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.