Senior Civil Service recruitment: candidate guide
A detailed guide for applicants interested in applying for a Senior Civil Service role with the Scottish Government.
About the Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. Our work impacts on every aspect of society and the everyday lives of the people of Scotland.
We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including:
- health
- education
- the economy
- social security
- culture
- rural affairs
- transport
We work collaboratively to deliver the commitments made in the Programme for Government and measure our impact with the National Performance Framework.
We employ over 9,000 people, at locations across Scotland in a diverse mix of roles and professions. We strongly believe in diversity and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a workforce that is reflective of our diverse population.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, Stonewall Diversity Champion, and holder of an Investors in People accreditation.
Our mission, vision and values
At the Scottish Government, we share a clear mission, vision and set of values. They guide everything we do, day in and day out, in the service of Scotland.
Our mission
To improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
Our mission sets out the core purpose for everyone who works in the Scottish Government. It describes why our organisation exists.
Our vision
A trusted, high-performing civil service.
Our vision describes the organisation we must be to support the government of the day, in the service of Scotland. It sets the direction for the meaningful action we will take in the coming years to change our organisation for the better.
Together we achieve this when we are:
Collaborative: we build genuine partnerships, working across diverse teams, organisations and communities, towards shared goals and outcomes.
Innovative: we are curious, looking for opportunities to learn and improve, taking measured risks in pursuit of better outcomes, and protecting time for learning and development.
Adaptable: we are supportive, embrace change, focus our efforts where they are most needed, and take ownership and accountability for our work.
Our values
Our values guide the decisions we take, our actions, and how we work together across all parts of the Scottish Government and with our partners to improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Impartiality
- Objectivity
- Inclusion
- Kindness
They align to the Civil Service Code and National Performance Framework.
Contact
If you have a specific question relating to Senior Civil Service recruitment at the Scottish Government, e-mail us at: SCSresourcing@gov.scot. Read more on our careers website.
You can also keep up-to-date with recruitment news and notifications on our social media channels.
Facebook: ScotGovjobs Facebook page
X (previously Twitter) at: @scotgovjobs