Project Officer

Scottish Government OGD Recruitment; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Scottish Government OGD Recruitment is seeking a Project Officer on an Expression of Interest basis to support the Major Events Unit with the 2027 Tour de France delivery in Scotland. This maternity cover role is for 10 months, with potential extension, and is open to substantive colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only.

The post requires strong project management, planning, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement skills, and offers a hybrid working arrangement with 40% in-person attendance

Qualifications

• Expression of interest invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only.

Responsibilities

• Line management of staff and support for the Team Leader to ensure rigorous project management.
• Engage with key partners and stakeholders to deliver the 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart.
• Coordinate planning, budgeting, assurance and social impact elements of the project using core PPM principles.
• Provide clear briefing for senior officials and Ministers and manage responses to correspondence and FoIs.
• Support cross-SG and Ministerial engagement for policy development and project delivery.
• Identify lessons and drive continuous improvement across SG events projects.

Job description

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Job Title - Project Officer

Business Area/Directorate - Major Events Unit

Location - Victoria Quay

Working Arrangement

Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy

Grade -B3

Advert type - Level Transfer

Duration -10 months (August 2027) with a possibility of extension.

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Job Description

We have an opportunity for a B3 Project Officer to join the Major Events Unit on a temporary basis as maternity cover to support the delivery of the 2027 Tour de France.

The Major Events Unit are looking for maternity cover for a Project Officer until at least August 2027, that will primarily be responsible for supporting the planning and delivery of the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ in Scotland.

The Project Officer is responsible for supporting the Project Manager and Project Director to enable the delivery of the project. This broad role will include leading on and coordinating elements of the six aspects of a project (scope, schedule, finance, risk, quality and resources) primarily through responsibility for maintaining and presenting key documentation, engaging with key partners and stakeholders and general coordination of day-to-day project tasks.

The post holder will work with the Team Leader focusing on project planning, budgeting, assurance, and social impact elements, working alongside a wide range of key delivery partners and stakeholders to ensure the success of the project. Utilising core PPM principles, the post will have a key role in ensuring that the event’s aims, objectives and deliverables are tracked and managed, ensuring that the 2027 Tour de France delivers strong outcomes for the people of Scotland. It will require the ability to build close working relationships, strong planning and organisational skills, and balance competing priorities whilst ensuring delivery of high-profile work.

Whilst the main focus will be on the 2027 Tour de France, there may also be opportunities to be involved in other events where responsibility lies elsewhere within the team and wider division such as annual golf events, World Rally Championships, the UEFA European Football Championship in 2028 and wider events strategy and policy work. On this basis, the post-holder should be open to working flexibly across the division if the need arises.

This is a great opportunity to join a high performing, supportive Division, with the Unit consisting of a C2, 2xC1, 2xB3 (one of which is this role) and 3xB2. The post provides an opportunity to use and enhance operational delivery, problem solving, and project management skills in a fast paced, challenging environment.

Responsibilities

• Line management of 2xB2 members of staff.
• Support the Team Leader to ensure rigorous project management and provide assurance for senior officials and Ministers for major events projects funded by the Scottish Government across all areas, including comms, budget, risk assessment, resourcing, policy benefits management and operational delivery. This will include leading for the team on programme assurance - working and reporting across all grades.
• Contribute to cross-SG and Ministerial engagement work to ensure a collaborative approach to policy development and project delivery in relation to major events.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in major event planning, develop success measures and carry out appropriate impact assessments for projects as appropriate.
• Support the Team Leader in external engagement, representing the Scottish Government with senior stakeholders and contributing to the review and preparation of grant agreements and reporting arrangements.
• Provide clear, succinct, accurate advice and briefing for senior officials and Ministers. Oversee responses to correspondence, FoIs, FMQs and PQs, ensuring timely and high-quality responses.
• Develop and implement plans to identify lessons from all stages of the planning and delivery of major events, supporting continuous improvement across SG supported event projects.
• Provide support to other areas of the Major Events Unit and Division as required.