Description Job Description Looking for a high-profile and engaging senior policy role that can make a real positive difference? We’re looking to recruit someone with a high degree of political awareness, who can work autonomously in a fast-paced environment to join the Cancer & Rehabilitation Unit. You will support priority programmes of work within the team, ensuring the delivery of the Cancer Strategy and Action Plan, with 136 actions to be delivered by 2026. Our aim is to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The unit provides policy support to Cancer Waiting Times and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery’s (CfSD) Cancer Programme. The Unit also holds responsibility for Robotic Assisted Surgery Policy and Rehabilitation Policy; however, it is not expected that this post will lead on these policies. Cancer policy is a high-profile area and receives significant ministerial, parliamentary and media attention. There is a high level of exposure to Ministers, and you can expect to support them on visits, in debates, at events and in meetings. You will need to be comfortable with responding to immediate policy requests and able to balance these with longer term policy development. While located in the Directorate for Chief Operating Officer NHS Scotland, you will regularly work across Health & Social Care Directorates. Regular engagement with stakeholders, including Health Boards, the third sector, research and clinical communities, and the public, will be required. You will be joining a driven and supportive team of 10, including the Senior Medical Officer for Oncology. Although each of the team have specific workstreams that they lead on, it is common for the team to band together to support any priority asks Responsibilities Line manage a Policy Officer. Support budget owners to deliver on finance monitoring, forecasting and reporting. Lead on key areas of policy within the Cancer Strategy and Action Plan. Provide high-quality advice to Ministers through ministerial support in debates, on visits and at events, with delivery of briefings, submissions and speeches as required. Lead on relationship with Public Health Scotland with regards to the Cancer Data Roadmap. Respond and support others to respond to a high level of correspondence such as PQs and micases, FOIs and media requests. Lead the monitoring and reporting required for the Action Plan, supporting delivery of annual cancer action plan progress reports and effective governance of the Scottish Cancer Strategic Board. Lead on the embedding of the new National Cancer Quality Improvement Board, working with the national Cancer Quality Performance Programme to deliver a review of Quality Performance Indicators that all Health Boards must report on. Lead and support others to deliver on policy needs to improve Cancer Waiting Times and workstreams associated with Earlier Diagnosis in association with CfSD. Responsibilities 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: Strong written and oral communication skills. Behaviours: Changing and Improving (Level 3) Delivering at Pace (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 - 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. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and written analysis exercise. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 9th and 16th June 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. Location & Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. This post is based in St Andrews House, Edinburgh. In line with our current way of working, our team follows a Scottish Government hybrid working approach, where colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working depending on the requirements of the role. We are often required to support Ministerial visits across Scotland or in Scottish Parliament so there is an expectation that you will be able to do this. 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.