Description
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the reform of rail in Scotland?
This post will be within the Rail Reform Team which is part of Transport Scotland's Rail Directorate. Transport Scotland's engagement in rail reform is a key priority for Ministers to ensure that the Scottish Government can keep pace with and benefit from the reform programme that is being progressed by the UK Government. The post will be critical to ensuring that the broad range of required outcomes across the rail reform programme are developed, monitored and delivered. The post will have a key role in monitoring and managing programme risk and will have line management responsibility.
Responsibilities
* To provide strategic leadership in the coordination of the overall Rail Reform Programme, bringing together the necessary experience and expertise in order to deliver the programme in full.
* To provide strategic input to the continuation of the development and delivery of the Scottish Government's approach to rail reform. This will entail working closely with the rail industry in Scotland at senior levels and with policy, procurement, economic and legal colleagues within Transport Scotland.
* To work with, and where necessary provide challenge to, the Department for Transport (DfT) to ensure Scotland's interests are secured in the UK Railways Bill in a way that aligns with the vision of the Scottish Ministers.
* To work across the Rail Reform Team to support work on the full suite of activities, including the development of the ScotRail Alliance, joint specification of services and detailed work around the implementation of changes to railway governance and processes.
* To lead on supporting the rail correspondence team with preparation of responses to PQs, correspondence and FOI requests relating to rail reform.
* Lead on drafting speeches and supporting Ministerial engagements on matters relating to rail reform.
* Line management of 2 x Band B staff within the Team.
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. Technical / Professional Skills:
* Operational Delivery: Data & Insight – Practitioner
You can find out more about the skills required here: ODP Competency Framework
Experience
Experience in programme management including managing and/or overseeing governance functions and associated reporting. Behaviours:
* Communicating & Influencing – Level 4
* Leadership – Level 4
* Seeing the big picture – Level 4
You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide -
How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 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 w/c 8 December 2025, however this may be subject to change.
Qualifications
About Us
Transport Scotland is the national transport agency, seeking to deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland. Transport Scotland is accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers, with a budget of over £4 billion per year. Transport is a vital feature of the Scottish Government's focus on increasing sustainable economic growth, and transport investments and policies have major impacts on the economy, people, and the environment.
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. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
You will require to be office based twice per week.
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
For further information on this vacancy please contact Hilary Cameron by email at
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: 30th November :59) - This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only.