Full Job Description

Ref: 611558

 

As Assistant Clerk, you will work as part of a team in either the Committee Office or Chamber Office.

Your responsibilities will vary depending on which office you work in and may include:

• drafting papers, agendas, minutes, correspondence and reports and managing inquiries as appropriate
• supporting the preparation of motions, amendments, Parliamentary Questions and petitions to ensure they comply with the Parliament’s rules and procedures
• assisting in the handling of Bills through the Parliamentary process
• preparing procedural advice for MSPs, including Committee Conveners and the Presiding Officer
• where appropriate, managing/supervising staff and through effective leadership and delegation, creating the circumstances in which they can perform to the best of their ability
• providing support to other clerking teams as required
• managing relationships with stakeholders
• contributing as necessary to the wider work of the office and to corporate projects
• engage with the public to promote the committee’s work through social and traditional media

Skills, Knowledge and Experience Required

You must be able to demonstrate:

Parliamentary and Political Awareness:

• a level of understanding of the work of the Scottish Parliament
• an awareness of the political machinery in Scotland and topical issues/ current affairs
• an understanding of what it means to work in a political environment, including for example, why it is important to maintain confidentiality and behave impartiality
• an understanding of the range of functions performed by MSPs
• the ability to gain credibility with MSPs and an understanding of how issues play out in a political environment

Communication and Interpersonal skills:

• the ability to convey information in a balanced but persuasive way – both orally and in writing
• the potential to develop excellent relationships with a wide variety of people, including elected Members, stakeholders and parliamentary staff
• the ability to explain complex information and to be confident in the accuracy of the advice or guidance that you provide
• high standards of accuracy and attention to detail in your own work with the ability to identify errors and rectify them

Leadership and Team-working:

• ability to manage and develop staff and to motivate and generate enthusiasm
• a track record of delivering team objectives

Problem Solving and Decision Making skills:

• the ability to interpret and analyse complex information and to develop options and solutions
• the ability to take considered, timely and consistent decisions, sometimes under the pressure of deadlines

Planning, Organising and Delivery:

• the ability to break down a project or complex task into a series of activities
• excellent time management and organisational skills
• a proactive approach, with the ability to drive forward specific activities and projects as part of an overall programme of work

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form, demonstrating the skills and experience above and return to jobs@parliament.scot by 5pm on 17 August 2018. The next stage will be an assessment and interview where you will be asked to provide evidence of the skills, knowledge and experience above.

Benefits

We offer a great range of benefits including 41.5 days’ leave (including public holidays), the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangement and flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies.

Salary

The salary range for this post is shown below which is the full-time salary: