Help Shape Good Governance at the SLCC

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) is the independent body responsible for handling complaints about legal practitioners in Scotland and providing oversight of the relevant regulatory bodies. We play an important role in maintaining public confidence in legal services and the sector as a whole and are preparing for significant change as we implement the reforms brought in by the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025

We are looking to appoint an Independent External Member to join our Audit & Risk Committee.

This is an opportunity to bring your expertise, insight and independent perspective to support our Board in overseeing governance, risk management, financial stewardship and organisational assurance.

About the Role

The Audit & Risk Committee supports our Board by providing scrutiny, challenge and assurance across a wide range of areas including:

• Governance and accountability
• Risk management and internal control
• Financial reporting and stewardship of levy income and public funds
• Internal and external audit
• Cyber security and information governance
• Business continuity and organisational resilience
• Fraud prevention and whistleblowing
• Health and safety assurance
• Compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements

As an Independent External Member, you will contribute to Committee discussions, review reports and assurance information, ask constructive questions and help the Board gain confidence that risks are being effectively managed and that appropriate controls are in place.

Who We Are Looking For

All applicants should be able to demonstrate:

• experience in at least one relevant area such as governance, audit, risk, finance, compliance, regulation or organisational assurance;
• experience scrutinising complex information and providing constructive challenge;
• sound judgement, independence and integrity; and
• an understanding of effective governance and accountability.

We would particularly welcome experience in:

• audit or accountancy;
• risk management;
• cyber security or information governance;
• health and safety governance;
• regulatory or public-sector environments;
• board or committee membership; or
• organisational, digital or service transformation.
• Operating at senior executive, non-executive, board, committee or an equivalent strategic level.

You do not need to be a lawyer or have worked in legal services.

More important is your ability to analyse information, exercise sound judgement, provide constructive challenge and work collaboratively with Board members and senior staff.

What You'll Bring

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Independence of judgement
• A commitment to integrity, accountability and public service
• The confidence to provide constructive challenge where appropriate
• The ability to work effectively as part of a committee
• Experience of scrutinising complex information, risks and controls, and using that analysis to provide proportionate and constructive challenge.

Time Commitment

The Committee normally meets four times each year, with the option to attend in person or online. Papers are provided in advance. Additional reading or occasional development sessions may be required.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to public service in Scotland, supporting good governance and helping ensure public resources are used effectively and responsibly in what is a key sector for our communities and economy.

You will join an organisation that values openness, integrity, continuous improvement and constructive challenge as we progress much needed reforms in the legal sector.

Remuneration

This role is remunerated at an hourly rate of £35.71 and travel expenses may be claimed.

Help shape our voice, strengthen our profile and make sure our communications have impact.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we’re open on both professional and work experience. We want to build a diverse team, so would positively encourage applications from all candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion, pregnancy or maternity.

Who we are

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) is the independent body responsible for handling complaints about lawyers in Scotland. We play an important role in Scotland’s legal services sector, helping to resolve complaints and driving improvement in how legal services are delivered.

Clear, accessible and effective communication is central to that work. We communicate with a wide range of audiences, from consumers and legal professionals to stakeholders, the media and the wider public, and we want our communications to be engaging, inclusive and easy to understand.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced Communications Manager to lead our strategic communications and help shape how we tell our story.

This is a varied and influential role, combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You’ll develop and deliver our communications strategy, strengthen our organisational narrative and ensure our communications are clear, consistent, accessible and focused on the needs of our audiences.

You’ll work across the organisation, providing trusted communications advice to senior colleagues and our Board, helping us manage our reputation and ensuring our work, priorities and impact are communicated effectively.

This is a role for someone who can see the bigger picture, turn strategy into action and isn’t afraid to get stuck into the delivery too.

What you’ll be doing

As our Communications Manager, you’ll:

• develop and deliver our communications strategy, ensuring it supports our wider organisational objectives
• shape and maintain a clear and consistent organisational voice and narrative
• provide strategic communications advice to senior colleagues and the Board
• lead communications planning for key organisational priorities, projects and campaigns
• lead the development of corporate publications, including annual reports and other key publications
• oversee media relations, including press releases, public statements and responses to media enquiries
• create and oversee clear, engaging content for a range of audiences and channels
• help ensure our website and digital communications are current, accessible and user-focused
• champion plain English, accessibility and inclusive communications
• support effective communication with stakeholders and wider audiences
• manage relationships with external communications, design and digital suppliers
• monitor the effectiveness of our communications and use insight to continually improve our approach.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who can combine strong communications expertise with strategic thinking, sound judgement and excellent writing skills.

You’ll be able to take complex information and turn it into clear, accessible and engaging communications, adapting your approach for different audiences and channels.

You’ll bring:

• experience of developing and delivering effective communications strategies
• excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
• sound judgement when dealing with reputation, messaging and sensitive communications
• confidence in advising and constructively challenging senior colleagues
• experience of corporate and external communications
• an understanding of media relations and reputation management
• a strong commitment to plain English and accessible communication
• excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• strong relationship-building and influencing skills
• a creative and proactive approach, with a willingness to challenge how things have always been done and look for better ways of communicating.

Most importantly, you’ll understand that good communication isn’t simply about getting information out.

It’s about understanding your audience and making sure what we say is clear, useful and has impact.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping how the SLCC communicates.

You’ll have the scope to bring ideas, influence our approach and help us build a strong, consistent and trusted organisational voice. You’ll also be close enough to the work to bring that strategy to life and see the difference effective communication can make.

If you enjoy combining strategy, creativity and practical delivery, we’d love to hear from you.

Where and how you’ll work

We support hybrid and flexible working, giving you flexibility while making sure you have plenty of opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues.

You’ll spend at least one-third of your working time each quarter in our Edinburgh office, which for a full-time colleague will usually work out at around two days a week. There may also be occasional meetings or events where you’ll need to attend in person.

We know starting a new job is easier when you have the right support around you, so you’ll spend more time in the office during your induction while you get to know the SLCC, your colleagues and your new role.

This is a full-time role of 35 hours over five days, with flexibility to consider 28 hours over 4 days.

We also offer a flexitime scheme. When working from home, you can work between 6am and 10pm, and on office days between 7am and 7pm, giving you flexibility around how you structure your working day.

What we offer

As well as flexible and hybrid working, you’ll receive:

• 42 days’ paid holiday, including public holidays
• Group Self-Invested Personal Pension
• company sick pay
• life assurance
• cycle to work and travel loan schemes
• volunteer days
• confidential employee assistance programme
• opportunities for learning and development
• staff charity and social activities
• a staff-led Wellbeing and Inclusion Group.

We pride ourselves on providing a supportive and enjoyable place to work. In our most recent staff survey, 97% of colleagues said they have a good working relationship with their colleagues.