Ceremonial and Development Officer

The Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government body is seeking a Ceremonial and Development Officer to oversee planning and delivery of significant State Ceremonial events in Scotland. This role involves collaboration with various organizations and managing public engagement to enhance understanding of Scottish culture and ceremonies. Candidates should possess a strong background in event management and communication skills.

Benefits

Supportive and inclusive working environment

Range of employee benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in planning and delivering significant public or private events.
• Ability to prepare clear, well-structured documents.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing, and revising plans for State Ceremonial events.
• Organizing location reconnaissance and planning exercises.
• Facilitating ceremonial events and liaising with stakeholders.

Skills

Planning

Event Management

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Job Description

Are you interested in an unusual post that puts you at the centre of developing, planning and delivering State Ceremonial events in Scotland and the Scottish contribution to such events elsewhere?

As Ceremonial and Development Officer, you will work in the Court of the Lord Lyon which is headed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms assisted by the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records. The Court comprises two teams. The Court Team, which includes the Ceremonial and Development Officer, Petition Manager, and Lyon Office Manager, is based at HM New Register House in Edinburgh. The Protocol and Honours Team consists of the Head of Team, Deputy Head of Team, and five additional team members, and is based at St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh.

You will work closely with a range of bodies and organisations in Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad to build relationships and enhance understanding of the work of the Court in connection with ceremonial events, heraldry, Scottish clans and families, history, genealogy and Scottish culture more generally.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and revise overarching plans for State Ceremonial events.
• Prepare step-by-step activation plans to deliver the participation of the Lord Lyon, Officers of Arms, Macer and State Trumpeter at ceremonial events in Scotland and elsewhere.
• Organise and contribute to location reconnaissance and tabletop planning exercises.
• Identify, contact and build links with potential participants in ceremonial events.
• Maintain lists of contact details of partners, stakeholders and participants for activation.
• Facilitate delivery of ceremonial events, including drafting, reviewing, and revising written material for use during the events and providing briefing for the Lord Lyon, Officers of Arms and others participating in ceremonial events.
• Represent the Court and its interests at meetings of officials from partner organisations, providing feedback from such meetings.
• Lead on contractual arrangements for provision of travel and accommodation when required.
• Lead on engagement with the public, raising awareness about the work of the Court, its collections and resources.
• Work with the Lyon Clerk, with the Lord Lyon Society (a registered charity), and others on projects to catalogue, conserve, preserve and digitise the Court’s collections and to increase public accessibility.
• Identify, arrange and deliver outreach events (e.g. presentations and speeches by the Lord Lyon, visits to the Court and its collections by interested groups, and visits by the Lord Lyon to external bodies).
• Identify opportunities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Court by improving its administrative processes and developing the Court’s accommodation.
• Liaise with the Scottish Government’s Courts and Tribunals Team in respect of budgetary and accounting matters as required.
  
  

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience

Proven experience in planning, preparing for and delivering significant public or private events to specific time constraints.

Proven experience in preparing clear, well-structured documents that explain complex processes or events in a way that is easily understood by a range of audiences.

Behaviours

• Working together – Level 3.
• Making effective decisions – Level 3.
• Managing a quality service – Level 3.
• Delivering at pace – Level 3.
  
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here

How To Apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and in-tray exercise.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 7 July 2025 however this may be subject to change.

About Us

The Court is responsible for State Ceremonial in Scotland and the Scottish contribution to such events outwith Scotland.

In Recent Years These Have Included

• Opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
• Opening and Anniversaries of the Scottish Parliament.
• Royal Proclamations.
• Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
• Presentation of the Honours of Scotland to The King and Queen.
• Celebration of 900th Anniversary of the Royal Burgh of Edinburgh.
  
  

The Court oversees the involvement of the eight Officers of Arms, Court Macer and State Trumpeters in ceremonial events. The Court works regularly with the Royal Household, the Scottish and UK Governments, Local Authorities, the Armed Forces, the Police, St. Giles’ Cathedral, the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body and Historic Environment Scotland to ensure the effective planning and delivery of State Ceremonial.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

The Court is public facing, with a legal duty to make parts of its collections available for public inspection during office hours on working days. The Court is open to the public from 10:00 until 16:00 on working days throughout the year. The Court receives scheduled and unscheduled visitors most working days, many from abroad. Accordingly, attendance at the Court’s offices during office hours on working days is necessary.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

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

Apply before: 17 June 2025 (23:59)