The Scottish Parliament represents the people of Scotland by debating issues of national importance, passing legislation and holding the Scottish Government to account. The business of the Scottish Parliament is conducted in the Chamber and in Committees.
The Chamber is where Members of the Scottish Parliament meet to debate topical issues and decide on new laws. The Chamber Office supports the management of business in the Chamber and handles all parliamentary motions and questions. The Chamber Office also manages the introduction and publication of all Bills and the preparation of Acts. In addition, the Chamber Office assists MSPs with the preparation of their own Bills and with amendments to other Bills and provides advice on all aspects of legislative procedure.
About the post
We are looking for a Support Manager to work within the Business Team of the Chamber Office. The Business Team is at the heart of the Parliament, supporting the operation of all aspects of business in the Parliament’s Debating Chamber. It provides advice and briefings to a number of parliamentary offices to ensure the efficient management of three plenary meetings each week. The Business Team also provides support to the Parliamentary Bureau, which is the group responsible for proposing the Parliament’s programme of business.
The successful candidate would, after a period of time, have an opportunity to work in one of the other teams in the Chamber Office or, possibly, the Committee Office.
You will work as part of a team comprising a Clerk Team Leader, a Senior Assistant Clerk, an Assistant Clerk, a Support Manager and Administrative Support Assistant. You will play an important role in supporting the core business of the Parliament. Reporting to the Assistant Clerk (and managing the work of the Administrative Support Assistant), your responsibilities will include:
- producing documents relating to business in the Chamber including procedural papers, the Minutes of Proceedings and the Parliamentary Journal.
- ensuring that follow up actions from meetings of the Parliamentary Bureau and the Parliament are carried out.
- providing guidance and assistance to members, their staff and other parliamentary staff on procedural and business matters in relation to business in the Chamber.
- managing the processes for Time for Reflection, in conjunction with the Senior Assistant Clerk.
- managing administrative systems, including databases, and providing statistics to support the effective management of parliamentary business.
- carrying out voting clerk duties in the Chamber on a rota basis and associated tasks.
- collating and editing the Business Bulletin on a rota basis.
- managing and supporting the preparation, copying, and collation of parliamentary papers, such as scripts for the Presiding Officer, draft motions, and papers for the Parliamentary Bureau.
- supervising and providing general administrative support to the Business Team, or Chamber Desk, as required.
- deputising for the Assistant Clerk and the Senior Assistant Clerk when required.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience Required
You will have worked in a busy environment with changing priorities and have experience of managing and coaching others. You will also have a keen eye for detail and excellent communication skills. You must be able to provide evidence to demonstrate the following:
Communication
- The ability to pass on complex or detailed information accurately and clearly
- Be able to communicate effectively at all levels, including with members
- Using a variety of styles of communication confidently depending on the situation
Teamwork and collaborative working
- The ability to manage and coach staff effectively
- Be able to form effective and supportive working relationships within and out with your team
Planning organisation and delivery
- The ability to work quickly and accurately to deadlines
- A proactive approach to your work and an ability to work on your own initiative
- Manage changing priorities effectively
- Good IT skills and a proactive approach to suggesting and developing improvements to systems used
Provide a high quality service
- Provide a consistently high level of service to members, their staff and to colleagues
- A flexible attitude and a willingness to acquire new knowledge and skills
Parliamentary and political awareness
- An understanding of how the Parliament works and the political environment in which it operates
- An understanding of the needs of members and ability to handle confidential material and politically sensitive situations appropriately.
You should provide evidence to demonstrate these qualities in your application form.
Salary
The salary range for this post is shown below:
- Year 1: £26,395
- Year 2: £29,241
- Year 3: £32,724
How to apply
You should complete the application form and send it to jobs@parliament.scot by midnight on Friday 24 August. The next stage will be an interview and you will be asked to provide evidence of the skills, knowledge and experience above.
Working Pattern
This is a full time post. Our normal working week is 37 hours but we currently operate a wide variety of work patterns within the Committee and Chamber teams, successfully balancing lifestyle choices with business requirements. All requests for part time or flexible working hours will be seriously considered.
Benefits
We offer a great range of benefits including 41.5 days of leave (including public holidays), the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements, and family-friendly policies.
Information about the SPCB as an employer.
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