Child Poverty Project Officer

Job Description

Are you passionate about tackling child poverty in Scotland? The Improvement Service is seeking a dynamic Child Poverty Project Officer to drive collaboration and share best practice across local authorities and the Fairer Futures Partnerships.

In this exciting national role, you’ll support knowledge exchange, facilitate networks, analyse Local Child Poverty Action Reports, and develop learning resources that shape strategic improvements. You'll work closely with local and national partners, including the Scottish Government, to ensure that the most effective approaches to wrap-around support are understood, replicated, and scaled.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Strong background in partnership working, data analysis, and knowledge sharing
• Excellent communication, relationship building and facilitation skills
• Experience engaging diverse stakeholders and managing multi-agency projects
• Understanding of how data and intelligence can be used to identify priorities and measure impact 
• A solid understanding of child poverty and inequality issues in Scotland

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone with a deep commitment to social justice and experience in partnership working, knowledge exchange, and systems change. You’ll be a proactive connector and skilled facilitator – comfortable engaging diverse audiences, leading learning events, and translating complex data into practical insights.

You should be:

• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and written skills
• Analytical, organised, and able to manage information and draw meaningful conclusions
• Skilled at building strong working relationships and networks across organisations
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively, with a flexible and solutions-focused mindset
• Experienced in developing resources, toolkits, or publications for professional audiences.

Knowledge of Scotland’s public sector and current challenges in tackling poverty and inequality is highly desirable.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on tackling child poverty in Scotland, supporting national priorities through local innovation. You’ll work in a highly collaborative environment with supportive colleagues and meaningful partnerships. You’ll be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation and enjoy a progressive, flexible working culture.

Apply now and be part of driving positive, lasting change.

Information

Location: Your primary place of work will be West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6FF. It is anticipated that the role will involve a blended model of office and home working. The post-holder will also spend some of their time working with the wider Scottish Government Child Poverty and Place Based Social Justice teams, and working in local authorities across Scotland, therefore travel across Scotland is anticipated. This flexible approach will be agreed between employee and line manager.

Attendance will be required, in person, at quarterly meetings either in the Livingston office or at another suitable venue.

Duration of Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2026

Hours: Standard working week is 36 hours Monday to Friday. The post is available full time or part time. Hours can be worked flexibly in agreement with the Line Manager.

Advert closing date: 1 June 2025

 

Interview Date

A competence based interview will take place w/c 16 June 2025 (shortlisted candidates will be advised by email a week in advance of the interview).

For more information about competency-based interviews, see our 'Guide to Competency-based Interviews'. You may also find it useful to read our current Business Plan.

Background

The Improvement Service (IS) is a publicly funded company limited by guarantee, with a total annual budget in the region of £12 Million. We exist to support councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all Scottish people through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services.

Working for the IS means joining a team of professionals, who work together to strive for continuous improvement in the public sector and ultimately, better outcomes for Scotland’s communities.

Our company headquarters are based in West Lothian, located conveniently for commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Pay is only one of the benefits of working for the IS, our terms and conditions are progressive and flexible and employees are rewarded with a generous annual leave entitlement of forty one days per year as well as a flexible working policy.

The IS is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all its activities to promote inclusive processes, practices and culture.

The IS is a Disability Confidence Committed Employer. We are committed to interviewing anyone with a disability who meets the essential criteria.