This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence the development of a new non-departmental public body: The Scottish Food Commission. The Commission is being set up to provide an oversight role of provisions made in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. It is expected that the Commission will be formally established by mid-2025.

The Scottish Food Commission will play a significant role in reshaping the Scottish food system. The recommendations and advice provided by the Commission to Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities will be pivotal in ensuring that Good Food Nation Plans are continuously improved.

Responsibilities

As the first members of the Scottish Food Commission, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future and strategic direction of this new public body.

You will work closely with the chair of the Scottish Food Commission to identify the immediate strategic priorities and ensure the long-term viability of the body.

You will also work closely with Scottish Government officials and the Chief Executive, once in place, to enable the new public body to take on its statutory functions and full budgetary control.

Once the body is fully established, as members you will play a key part in ensuring the Commission effectively fulfils its oversight role and provides constructive challenge, that is evidence based, to Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities in relation to their Good Food Nation Plans.

These are high publicity roles that will attract great interest from key stakeholders interested in the Scottish food system.

Role Criteria

Priority criteria – applicants must provide evidence against at least one of the following:

1. Experience of research, analysis or evaluation methods;

2. In depth knowledge of one key food system challenge;

3. Experience of audit, assurance and finance;

4. Expertise in behaviour change.

Essential criteria - applicants must meet all six of the essential criteria.

1. Understanding of the complexity of the food system in Scotland;

2. Seeing the bigger picture;

3. Understanding of good governance;

4. Understanding of how government works at local, regional and national level;

5. Analysis and decision-making;

6. Communication and constructive challenge.

Please read the full details of the criteria in the person specification section of the applicant information pack.

Revenue Scotland is looking for two Members to join its Board. The Board is currently made up of a Board of seven non-executive directors one Chairperson and six Board Members who oversee the work of Revenue Scotland. We also currently have just under 100 staff and a senior leadership team of four, led by our Chief Executive.

Since 2015, Revenue Scotland has been responsible for collecting almost £7 billion from two devolved taxes, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax.

Our Corporate Plan 2024-27 sets out our aspirations for the future and strategic objectives. Over the next three years we will be preparing to introduce two new devolved taxes: Scottish Aggregates Tax and Scottish Building Safety Levy. We are also investing in enhancements of our digital and data services, playing our part in the public service reform agenda and engaging more widely with other organisations involved in tax and related public services to enhance the user experience.

For more information about us, please visit our website or you can watch this short video.

Responsibilities

As a Board Member at Revenue Scotland you will play a key part in the running of the organisation. The role of a Board Member is to work with the other Board Members to fulfil the responsibilities for the Board which are to:

• Have collective responsibility for the actions and decisions of Revenue Scotland;
• Set strategic direction to deliver the functions of Revenue Scotland;
• Ensure effective governance of the organisation;
• Ensure that Revenue Scotland meets staff management responsibilities;
• Provide leadership and promote effectiveness, efficiency, economy and equality throughout Revenue Scotland; and
• Protect and enhance public confidence in Revenue Scotland and in the services that it provides to key stakeholders, taxpayers and their agents.

2025 will be our 10-year anniversary, and we are looking for individuals who see the bigger picture, and have the strategic vision, governance and leadership skills to support us to be the very best we can be as an organisation.

Role Criteria

To help us deliver our strategic ambition, we are looking for people to join the Board who have the relevant experiences and insights to support us through this journey. The successful applicants must be able to demonstrate all four of the essential criteria below:

1. Strategic Thinking;
2. Analytical and Decision-making skills;
3. Governance and Risk Management; and
4. Engagement, collaboration and constructive challenge.

You may also demonstrate evidence in respect of one of the desirable criteria below. This section is optional. You do not have to be able to evidence any of these criteria in order to be considered for these roles:

1. Data and Digital Technology
2. Understanding and knowledge of the tax environment
3. Organisational Development and Change.

REMUNERATION AND TIME COMMITMENT

These positions are remunerated at £303.52 per day (reviewed annually) for every 7.5 hours devoted to performing your functions (as required or requested by the Board) up to a maximum total fee of £10,926.72 per financial year.

Remuneration is non-pensionable and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Members are expected to work up to 36 days per year to perform their functions as and when required.

About us

Public appointments are made by Scottish Ministers. The appointments process is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner. You can find out more about the Commissioner here: Public appointments | Ethical Standards Commissioner

If you require support with your application, please contact the public appointments team at public.appointments@gov.scot.

Do you want to make a positive change to the lives of learners across Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian? Do you want to help Edinburgh College to further enhance its community partnerships and stakeholder engagement in the diverse region it serves? Then come and join the Board of Management of Edinburgh College.

The Edinburgh College Board of Management currently seeks to fill three non-executive vacancies before 26 March 2025.

The Board of Management would particularly welcome applications from individuals with experience in at least one of the following areas:

(i) Education and training (across Tertiary Education, schools, and/or other training providers);

(ii) Government Relations and Public Affairs; and/or

(iii) Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Successful applicants will have the ability to contribute to a dynamic board, which deals with a variety of complex and interesting issues and promotes the highest standards of governance. If appointed to the Edinburgh College Board of Management, you will be provided with appropriate induction and training designed to support you to effectively fulfil your role as a Board member.

Applications are also encouraged from groups currently under-represented on Scotland’s public bodies.

Time Commitment: During the first year of appointment, it is anticipated you may need to devote an average of 1.5 days per month.

Remuneration: All Non-Executive roles are non-remunerated. Incidental expenses will be reimbursed.

Appointment details: Appointments to the Board of Management will come into effect anytime from 24 March 2025 onwards, following approval from the Minister for Higher and Further Education.

The appointment will be for a period up to 3 years, with the possibility of re-appointment subject to evidence of effective performance and to satisfying the requirements of the person specification for the role at the time of re-appointment.

Location: Meetings of the Board will normally be held at one of the College’s four campuses: Granton, Sighthill, Milton Road and/or Midlothian.

Further Information: If you would like to find out more about the role, you are welcome to contact the Board Secretary, Marcus Walker on Tel. 0131 2979326, or by emailing:

Marcus.Walker@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

About the Worker Support Centre

The Worker Support Centre (WSC) is a Scotland based charity that promotes decent work and prevents exploitation. We support marginalised and isolated workers in labour sectors where there is a high risk of abuse and exploitation. We work in partnership with workers to build power to secure and advance workplace rights. We prevent human trafficking for forced labour by acting to reduce the risks of worker exploitation. WSC values include: respect for human rights, representation, transparency, equality and innovation.

WSC support includes advice, mediation, advocacy and assisted reporting to enforcement agencies. Our worker engagement informs policy change activity to address harms faced by those in high-risk work. In 2023 and 2024 WSC activities were targeted at workers in seasonal agriculture on the UK Seasonal Worker visa (SWV). During this time, we provided advice, support, and information to 1031 people in relation to the SWV. WSC is now embarking on a new project to engage workers in health and social care to advance social care workers’ rights through worker education and power sessions. To learn more about work, visit workersupportcentre.org.uk

About the role

This role is focussed on advancing seasonal agricultural and social care workers’ rights by supporting WSC’s policy and advocacy work. In this role you will support WSC meet two of its four core objectives to work together with workers to claim spaces for power and representation in decision making; and to build the field of knowledge about workers and their experiences to influence policy. As well as work delivered directly by WSC, our policy work includes coordinating with coalitions such as the Ethical Trading Initiative, the Seasonal Worker Interest Group and the Scottish Food Coalition.

WSC strives to achieve representation of individuals with lived experience of the issues on which we work at all levels of our organisation and actively promote applications from individuals with experience of the issues on which we work.