Description Job description Would you like a role where you can shape the future of animal welfare policy in Scotland by bridging science, legislation, and stakeholder collaboration? The Animal Health and Welfare Division sits within the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate (ARE) and has a range of responsibilities from contingency planning and exotic disease control to animal welfare. There is a strong focus on proactive stakeholder engagement, partnership working and solutions that fit Scottish circumstances. As part of a team carrying out work to protect animal health and welfare you will provide policy support to senior colleagues and Ministers on a range of issues relating to the welfare of animals. The team ensures that animal welfare processes are effective and legislation is followed and implemented. Ensuring these processes are built through robust policy and decision making and are, most importantly, evidence based. With some significant policy development opportunities over the next few years you will contribute to the wider team and divisional effort, and support senior officials in the development of animal welfare legislation and its implementation in Scotland. Responsibilities Responsibilities Providing policy support and input to on-going reviews/projects at a national and UK level to improve animal welfare strategies. Contributing to the legislative process – working with SGLD colleagues to create legislation that delivers policy aims to protect public and animal health. Maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders inside and outside of the Scottish government, to ensure consistent application of welfare policy and legislation. Working with the various animal industry stakeholders, veterinary advisors, welfare organisations and scientific professionals through regular discussions, meetings and formal consultations to ensure that policy decisions are evidence based and proportionate. Drafting of high quality briefings, submissions, policy papers and correspondence. Success profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Experience Previous experience working in a policy environment including: drafting submissions and PQs briefing Ministers stakeholder engagement working with consultations responding to MiCase enquiries Working with legislation Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing – Level 3 Making effective decisions – Level 3 Delivering at pace – Level 3 You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. 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 interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for 29 th September – 3rd October. however this may be subject to change. Qualifications 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, 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. Working pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles 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. 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 23:59 on 11 September 2025. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only.