Policy Development Lead,

Community Justice Scotland

Salary - £35,269

Fixed Term -Maternity Cover - 6-9 months

Overview

Community Justice Scotland is the national body for community justice in Scotland. Launched on 1st April 2017 by the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, it aims to create a more robust and effective community justice system based on local planning and delivery by a range of statutory partners, supported and guided by national leadership and oversight. Community Justice Scotland is based in Edinburgh but is a national body working across the whole of Scotland.

The role

Policy Development Lead is a key role in Community Justice Scotland as part of the service delivery team. The post is both challenging and exciting, and will maintain proactive awareness of key current and future policy developments as well as the organisational objectives of diverse stakeholders across the public, private and third sector landscapes in Scotland. This will entail assessing the implications of these objectives and how they relate to those of Community Justice Scotland.

You will identify and develop Community Justice Scotland policy directions, support and where appropriate lead on establishing and developing strategic business responses and plans, including informing Community Justice Scotland’s corporate direction.

You will address issues with colleagues and external stakeholders in the community justice environment to research, facilitate and develop key messages relative to the Community Justice agenda, and contribute to the dissemination of information across the different departments within Community Justice Scotland and to external partners.

You will be part of a dynamic team which plays a key part in delivering system change to enhance outcomes for people coming into contact with the criminal justice system. To drive forward the community justice agenda you will support colleagues and stakeholders in identifying innovative policy and practice, locally, national and internationally to inform the Community Justice Scotland strategic development.

The main duties will include:

Strategic Policy Development

You will identify and develop Community Justice Scotland policy directions, and where appropriate lead on establishing and developing strategic business responses and plans, including informing Community Justice Scotland’s corporate direction.

You will identify and maintain awareness of current and future policy developments, and assess the implications for Community Justice Scotland, stakeholders, partners and people affected by the justice system. This will include contributing to the development of Community Justice Scotland policy and strategic development, and briefing colleagues and others as required.

You will identify opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and external stakeholders to inform Community Justice Scotland’s policy agenda, and to champion the community justice agenda at a national level.

You will assist in developing messaging from Community Justice Scotland on key topics relative to the corporate direction.

Strategic Research Development

You will work to identify shared strategic policy and practice priorities and create opportunities to work with colleagues, academics, professionals from statutory and third sector community justice partners, people with lived experience etc, to research and develop potential strategic responses, and lead on delivery and monitoring of same. This will also be used to inform, support and develop Community Justice Scotland’s corporate direction.

You will maintain awareness and links with national and international research and policy that is relevant to the Community Justice agenda. This will enable Community Justice Scotland to be proactive in respect of changes in the community justice landscape in line with national and international developments in best practice and policy.

Facilitation

The role will involve working with the above external partners to facilitate focus groups and discussion sessions in order to:

•inform Community Justice Scotland internal policy and strategic responses to key national policy developments,

•identify, develop and test solutions to key issues to inform strategic approaches and enable systemic change and development,

•engage with stakeholders to coproduce shared messages and information assets

Stakeholder Engagement

You will engage with multiple and diverse stakeholders, to gain expert input on thematic and specific specialised topic areas of policy and practice. Working with stakeholders and using problem solving methodologies you will assist with the identification of innovative solutions to shared systemic challenges in community justice strategy.

You will support the Senior Management Team in lobbying and engaging with elected officials in local and national government on key issues strategically relevant to Community Justice.

You will liaise with colleagues to provide appropriate policy context to support the development and delivery of Community Justice Scotland events, including the development of areas for focus, speakers, event activities and key aims.

The role will involve the production and development of high quality reports, infographics and summaries for partner, public and internal consumption on policy and practice developments relevant to community justice.

General

You will identify opportunities to engage with communities to publicise and garner support for the community justice agenda.

You will work co-operatively within and across teams, as required, taking responsibility for the development of policy and any recommendations which flow from your work.

This will include facilitating the collaborative development of content for the Learning, Development & Innovation Hub and the website.

The Person

The successful candidate will be an experienced policy professional with a proven track record of working with stakeholders and senior management across all sectors. They will have the commitment, skills and drive required to deliver Community Justice Scotland’s ambitious plansto transform the outcomes of those leaving the criminal justice system. Specifically:

  1. Wide knowledge and experience of the community justice agenda
  2. Evidence of delivery within a complex environment
  3. Extensive stakeholder management and collaborative working
  4. Commercial understanding
  5. Strong analytical and research skills
  6. Public policy design and delivery
  7. Corporate governance and working to a Board

Application Information

Please send us a CV and covering letter to:

Closing date for applications is 12 noon 28th November

Interviews will be held in Edinburgh on 7th December 2017