Descriptions & requirements
The Scotland Office supports the Secretary of State for Scotland in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures the people of Scotland are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government’s work is seen and felt in Scotland.
The Role
The Correspondence Manager role is an excellent opportunity to work at the heart of Government and to manage correspondence on a wide range of issues concerning Scotland. The successful candidate will join a friendly, collaborative team of 12 within the Private Office and will report directly to one of the Secretary of State’s private secretaries, working closely with ministers.
Key Responsibilities
* Ensure that correspondence is accurately logged, processed and tracked, managing the progression of correspondence to ensure responses are sent within departmental timescales.
* Manage the logging and processing of Freedom of Information requests to ensure responses fall within statutory deadlines, drafting responses and providing high quality advice on the handling of FOI requests.
* Manage the Scotland Office’s write round processes, working closely with private secretaries and officials to ensure Scotland Office returns are correctly processed.
* Manage the Scotland Office’s general enquiries inbox, drafting written responses to correspondence from members of the public using departmental lines.
* Monitor correspondence performance, providing regular statistics to ministers and proactively addressing challenges as they arise.
* Play a leading role in the Scotland Office’s engagement with the cross‑government correspondence network.
* Support the continuous improvement of processes within your brief, working closely with the Scotland Office’s corporate team to integrate Artificial Intelligence into our ways of working.
Person Specification
* Proactive and able to manage time effectively.
* Able to deliver at pace and manage multiple cases at once.
* A confident writer with a keen eye for detail.
* Confident in building positive working relationships with a wide range of teams and other Government departments.
* Excellent written English and communication skills, including accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation.
* Ability to work at pace and deliver against multiple deadlines.
* Proficiency in Google Workspace tools (or Microsoft Office), including Google Sheets and Google Docs.
* Comfortable working independently.
* Willing to work creatively to build AI into processes.
* Existing understanding or training on the Freedom of Information Act.
* Confident and skilled in the use of IT and digital tools, including AI.
Security Clearance
This role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) level clearance. Applicants must have resided in the UK for 3 years immediately prior to applying for clearance. All successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet security requirements before appointment.
Benefits
* Competitive salary: £29,303 – £31,061 (national) / £33,551 – £35,564 (London) depending on base location.
* Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years’ service.
* Flexible working arrangements: up to 60% of working time in office; hybrid option where business need allows.
* Pay and pension scheme: Civil Service pension schemes with flexible options.
* Extensive training and development opportunities.
* Inclusive work environment with employee‑run networks and family‑friendly policies.
* Paid parental leave: paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
* Other benefits include free annual sight tests, voluntary benefits, and access to government childcare support schemes.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The role is based in either the Edinburgh site (Queen Elizabeth House) or London site (Dover House). You will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of working time in an office; hybrid working arrangements are available where business needs allow.
EEO Statement
The Ministry of Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that reflects society. The Scotland Office is committed to a diverse and inclusive community.
Nationality Requirements
* UK nationals
* Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* Nationals of Commonwealth countries with the right to work in the UK
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and their family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and their family members with valid settled or pre‑settled status
* Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for the settlement scheme 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
Contact Information
For more information about this role, please contact Max Joynson – max.joynson@ukgovscotland.gov.uk.
Telephone: 0345 241 5359
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