Senior Policy Analyst (Nature Recovery)

Environmental Standards Scotlands (ESS) role is to monitor, investigate and secure public authorities compliance with environmental law in Scotland. We also scrutinise the effectiveness of environmental law and policy in Scotland and how it is implemented and applied. In our investigative and analytical reports, we may also identify instances where we consider there to be gaps in environmental protection legislation.

ESS is an independent non-ministerial office, accountable to the Scottish Parliament and overseen by a non-executive board. It is part of the Scottish Administration and its employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website.

Our Strategy 2026-2031 sets out how we will work as an organisation to deliver our vision that by holding public authorities to account, we will ensure that Scotlands people and nature benefit from a high-quality, healthy environment through improved compliance with and better implementation of effective environmental law.

ESS role is expanding to take on two new roles:

• scrutinising the Scottish Governments delivery against the new statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

• scrutinising local authorities reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

To deliver these duties and to manage this significant organisational change, ESS will be recruiting new posts over the next twelve months to establish a new team within the organisation to lead the development of work to deliver these roles, alongside related corporate services requirements.

We are recruiting for a Senior Policy Analyst into the Nature Recovery Team in the New Scrutiny Duties Development Department:

The role will support the work of the department to establish and undertake:

• scrutiny of the Scottish Governments delivery against the new statutory biodiversity targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• undertake and commission analysis of environmental policy, legislation and regulatory frameworks to support ESS assessments on environmental targets and delivery of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
• identify, gather, analyse and communicate intelligence on relevant policy, regulatory and legislative developments to a range of audiences
• lead the coordination and drafting of ESS' statutory response to Scottish Government progress on delivery of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
• engage stakeholders to gather evidence, expertise and insight on policy and regulatory implementation that supports environmental target delivery
• build and maintain effective relationships with key partners across in central and local government and the wider environmental sector
• collaborate across ESS to support analysis on key operational work streams, ensuring target-related developments are reflected in our work
• represent ESS internally and externally, promoting understanding of ESS, its role and the New Duties among public authorities and stakeholders
• support the department to develop practice and prepare ways of working to operationalise ESS scrutiny of targets

• experience of working in a team at pace to deliver high-quality products or service
• excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to establish strong working relations with a range of internal and senior external stakeholders
• excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to work independently to deliver at pace, without sacrificing quality

excellent analytical skills with experience delivering high-quality policy analysis including the ability to synthesise complex information drawing out key strategic links and conclusions

Essential criteria

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information and concepts clearly and succinctly to senior decision makers and non-specialists including through formal reports or technical briefings.
2. Strong analytical skills and recent experience in the use of multi-disciplinary analysis to support policy, regulatory or operational decisions either within or outwith government.
3. Adaptable and proactive with the ability to respond to changing circumstances and deliver evidence-led decisions.
4. Management and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and deliver effective matrix-managed projects, and to undertake and promote collaborative working within and across teams to deliver results.

Desirable criteria

1. Knowledge or experience of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government and the wider public sector.
2. Experience of working in environmental science, law, policy or regulation.
3. Experience and skills utilising scientific and data analysis to inform policy development and delivery.
4. Knowledge of the environmental governance and policy in Scotland.

Qualifications/experience required

• a degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (such as an environmental science or public policy, etc) or significant experience gained through working within a policy development, implementation or analysis role