Business Support Officer Edinburgh, Scotland
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About the job
Job summary
ESS was established by the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, which received royal ascent in January 2021. ESS was established and gained its statutory functions and powers on 1 October 2021.
ESS has been set up to ensure environmental laws and standards are adhered to in Scotland, replacing the European Union’s scrutiny and enforcement role after Brexit.
The remit of ESS covers a broad range of environmental law, including all aspects of environmental protection and harm, particularly in relation to human beings and their enjoyment of the environment.
ESS’ role is to scrutinise, investigate and secure improvements in public authorities’ compliance with environmental law, the effectiveness of environmental law, and the way it is being implemented and applied in Scotland.
The body has published a Strategic Plan, setting out how it will operate and function, including how it will act objectively, impartially, proportionately and transparently. ESS is accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the effective performance of its functions.
The organisation will carry out its role by:
- monitoring information about the quality of the environment in Scotland and the effectiveness of environmental law, including representations brought forward by citizens and interested groups
- seeking information from public authorities, including the Scottish Government, and working with the public authorities to understand the background to regulatory policies and practices
- selecting a small number of cases for detailed investigation, prioritising cases where there is the greatest risk to the environment
- working with public authorities, where necessary, to seek to agree changes in practice to reflect environmental law, or develop advice on recommended changes to the law to improve its effectiveness
The Business Support Officer will support the existing and expanding work within the Corporate Services and Communications (CSC)Team, as well as providing support to the wider organisation.
The post is situated within the CSC team and will report directly to the B3 Business and Finance Manager.
Job description
We are recruiting for two enthusiastic business support officers to help maintain the work of the CSC team within ESS.
Key duties and responsibilities will include working collaboratively and flexibly as part of the wider ESS Team, to support effective and efficient organisational processes and systems:
- provide administrative support for general ESS corporate service requirements, including; information gathering and management; document retention and reporting; general correspondence; and routine compliance and monitoring checks, such as gathering carbon footprint data
- administrate the day-to-day general ESS finance requirements, including: creating and submitting purchase order requests and invoices; supporting colleagues with electronic procurement card payments; checking invoices at risk; producing routine financial reports; and other ad-hoc requests
- assist with ESS internal and external stakeholder management, through the co-ordination of meetings
- provide administrative support to the CSC team, to ensure tasks are delivered on time and of the right quality, through developing a sound knowledge of relevant operational ESS policies and procedures to ensure compliance is maintained
- provide adhoc administrative support to the wider Investigations, Compliance and Standards Team and the Strategy and Analysis team
To note: ESS uses the finance system Scottish Government Enterprise Accounting System (SEAS), and the Scottish Government content management system Electronic Record and Document Management system (eRDM). All training requirements will be provided.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Word and Excel.
- A strong customer focus, with excellent communications skills to work with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to work on your own with minimal supervision, manage challenging workloads and competing priorities, whilst maintain attention to detail.
- A proactive approach and the ability to use initiative to come up with solutions quickly when challenges arise.
Qualifications Required
The minimum formal qualifications required for this role would be five GCSE’s, or at least three years’ experience gained working in a similar role.
Other qualifications equivalent to these may also be acceptable. If you are in any doubt, please contact the Recruiting Manager named at the bottom of the advert to discuss.
Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out.
Qualifications
Other qualifications equivalent to these may also be acceptable. If you are in any doubt, please contact the Recruiting Manager named at the bottom of the advert to discuss.
Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out.
Benefits
ESS is a small organisation focused on ensuring Scotland achieves the highest environmental standards. We seek skilled individuals who have a passion for improving environmental standards through public service, that can work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
In return, we offer a competitive employment package, including the civil service pension and a strong commitment to investing in each member of our teams personal and professional development. We also offer opportunities to work on some of the most significant and meaningful environmental challenges facing us today and the chance to play a part in helping to improve the quality of the environment for the people of Scotland.
We are building a culture that encourages inclusion and diversity, and welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
The post is full time based on 37 hours per week with flexible working hours. However, applications from those wishing to apply on any working pattern would be welcome.
The post is based at ESS’ Edinburgh Haymarket office called Thistle House. ESS works a hybrid working approach and it is expected that attendance at the office will be in the range 2-3 days per week, with remote working from home the remainder of the time.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This competition is being run in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
The selection panel will use your application to assess your suitability for the role against the essential criteria during sifting using your statement of suitability and your CV .
If you are shortlisted, you will be provided with full details of the next stages of the selection process.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out
In addition to setting out information on your work experience, please submit a personal statement and a technical statement.
The personal statement (no longer than 1,000 words) 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. You should aim to use approximately 250 words per criteria.
The sift will be completed during the week beginning 22 May 2023.
The Skills for Success Competencies required for this role are shown below. You will be tested against these competencies at interview.
Communications and engagement
Analysis and use of evidence
Improving performance
Financial management
Interviews will be held at our Thistle House Offices, Edinburgh and are expected to take place week beginning the 29 May 2023.
If an alternative virtual interview is required, we will ask all applicants to ensure that they have a suitable space to complete the online interview. In addition, a personal device of choice that can access MS Teams will be required, alongside access to personal Wi-Fi/Broadband that has capacity to carry both audio and video feeds.
Minimum Time in Post
The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for two years and would not be expected to move to another civil service role unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 9 months.
Additional Information
Applicants from existing civil servants must discuss their intention to apply with their current line manager to help ensure release dates can be agreed.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 9 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to ESS from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 11:55 on 10th April 2023 . If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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