Policy Official - B3

Senior Policy Manager responsible for the management of Scotland's sea fish quota and oversight of Scottish fishing vessel licensing. A high-profile role requiring strong analytical skills, resilience and sound judgement in a challenging stakeholder and legal environment.

We are looking for a Senior Policy Manager to join the Access to Sea Fisheries Team within Marine Directorate.
The role is responsible for key aspects of Scotland's fisheries management system, including management of Scotland's fishing opportunities and oversight of Scottish fishing vessel licensing. The postholder will provide expert policy advice, support Ministerial decision-making and engage extensively with industry stakeholders and other interested parties.

This is a high-profile and rewarding role operating in a fast-paced environment. Fisheries management decisions can have significant commercial, operational and environmental implications and are often subject to intense scrutiny. The postholder will engage regularly with stakeholders whose businesses may be directly affected by policy and operational decisions. Stakeholder engagement can be demanding and, at times, contentious, requiring resilience, professionalism and the ability to remain objective under pressure.

The team is responsible for the management of Scottish fishing opportunities worth approximately £600 million annually and oversight of licensing arrangements applying to around 2,000 commercial fishing vessels. The role also supports delivery of changes arising from the Scottish Government's revised fishing vessel licensing arrangements following recent litigation and contributes to the development and implementation of Economic Link policy.

The successful candidate will be expected to work with a high degree of autonomy, with extensive daily interaction with stakeholders, exercising sound judgement and taking ownership of complex issues whilst ensuring appropriate escalation of significant risks and decisions. 

Lead policy and operational delivery relating to Scotland's sea fish quota and fishing vessel licensing systems. Provide expert advice to Ministers and senior officials, engage extensively with stakeholders and help deliver key fisheries management priorities in a high-profile, technically complex and legally sensitive policy area.

Responsibilities

• Ensure quota is allocated in line with UK and Scottish quota management rules and that sectoral groups manage quota allocated to them in accordance with those arrangements.
• Manage the Scottish non-sector quota allocation, including ensuring quotas are not overfished, securing additional quota where opportunities arise, and maximising the value and duration of available fishing opportunities.
• Provide expert advice to inform Scotland's negotiating positions and broader fisheries policy and strategy development.
• Lead the oversight of Scottish fishing vessel licensing, including licensing policy, licensing systems and associated operational delivery arrangements.
• Lead the completion and quality assurance of assessments relating to licensing decisions, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, legally robust and appropriately documented.
• Lead and support the development, implementation and ongoing management of Economic Link policy.
• Prepare briefing, submissions, correspondence and advice for Ministers and senior officials.
• Represent the Scottish Government at meetings with industry representatives, other UK Fisheries Administrations and wider stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of future fisheries licensing systems and processes.
• Provide line management and support team delivery as required.
• Within the Marine Directorate, we operate a flexible resourcing policy and as such you may be required, or given the opportunity, to work on other areas of priority work as required.

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position. 

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B3 employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Selection Process

All candidates will be invited to an informal discussion with the Hiring Manager. 

Informal discussion dates tbc. 

Further Information

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact [email protected] 

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.