THE SCOTTISH Government is seeking a new permanent secretary as Leslie Evans’s term ends.
Evans is due to stay in post until March 2022, but a job advert for her replacement has now been posted online.
The job of Scoland’s most senior civil servant will pay between £162,500 and £180,000 a year.
Nicola Sturgeon will make the final decision on who gets the role and said in a foreword to the application pack that she is looking for an “exceptional candidate”.
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The permanent secretary is the principal adviser to the First Minister and Secretary to the Scottish Cabinet, and is in charge of allocating a £49 billion budget in 2021-22.
Evans came in for criticism over her role in the Government’s handling of harassment complaints made against Alex Salmond.
Salmond won a pay-out of more than £500,000 in 2019 following a court battle with the Government.
It was reported in June this year that Evans intended to step down from the role, and now the full job advert has been released by the Scottish Government.
Nicola Sturgeon will make the final decision on who will replace Evans
Evans shared the advert on Twitter, and wrote: “As my term as Perm Sec comes to an end recruitment begins for my successor. Outstanding opportunity to be at heart of Scottish Government, principal policy advisor to First Minister, manage c.£49B budget, deliver #NPF & lead talented @scotgov team.”
The 37-hours a week role will be based in Edinburgh, with the closing date for applications midday on September 13.
As my term as Perm Sec comes to an end recruitment begins for my successor. Outstanding opportunity to be at heart of Scottish Government, principal policy advisor to First Minister, manage c.£49B budget, deliver #NPF & lead talented @scotgov team: https://t.co/EKtJnz4BFm
— Leslie Evans (@PermSecScot) August 12, 2021
The job advertisement reads: “As permanent secretary, you will provide leadership and direction for the Scottish Government in support of Ministers.
“You will play a key leadership role across Scottish public services, including communicating the Scottish Government’s priorities and values within and beyond Scotland.
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“You will lead the Scottish Government’s relationship with the civil service in Whitehall and the other devolved governments, in an evolving constitutional context.”
It adds that the government is looking for a leader who can build “trusted relationships” and has “proven strategic and financial abilities”.
In a foreword to the job specification, Nicola Sturgeon said she was looking for an “exceptional candidate who understands the political landscape in Scotland”.
The Permanent Secretary will be based in Edinburgh
She said: “In leading a workforce which is embracing a new vision and set of and values ‘In the Service of Scotland’, you will support me and the Scottish Cabinet in achieving an ambitious programme which builds on Covid recovery whilst also negotiating a complex set of wider policy issues, including around constitutional reform, reducing inequalities, economic growth and addressing the climate emergency.”
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The role involves overseeing 7000 staff within the Scottish Government and overseeing around 125 agences.
The job advert also says that the new top civil servant will be expected to ensure the Scottish Government is “equipped to make the most of the new powers which have been devolved to it by the UK Parliament over the past 5 years”.
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