Advocacy and Engagement Lead

Key information   

Salary: £36,000.

Contract type: This is a full-time position and a one-year fixed term contract, with the possibility of extension depending on funding.

Benefits: Flexible working hours; 8% employer pension contribution; 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays; and a commitment to staff training and development.

Hours: 32 hours Monday-Thursday. Future Economy Scotland is a 4-day week accredited organisation, and the organisation is closed on a Friday. 

Location: Within reasonable commuting distance from Edinburgh due to regular meetings at Parliament and with other associated stakeholders. Please note, employees currently work from home, but should you prefer to work from an office, we are open to resourcing a co-working space, budget permitting

Reporting to: Co-Director. 

About the organisation

Future Economy Scotland is a non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. We believe that Scotland cannot overcome the intertwined challenges it faces by making minor tweaks to the status quo, or by simply ameliorating the worst excesses of a broken model. Instead, we must embrace bold new ideas to transform the economy. Our mission is to develop transformative policies that aim to decarbonise, democratise and decommodify Scotland’s economy. Future Economy Scotland has organisational values that underpin our work.

These values are:

Solidarity: understanding different but often interconnected struggles;

Generosity: operating in a movement-generous way that amplifies the voices of others; and

Respect: rooting the way we work in care, compassion and sustainability.

We are an accredited Living Wage employer, and have been accredited as a Gold Standard 4 day week employer by the 4 Day Week campaign. Future Economy Scotland is not aligned to any political party and does not have a stance on Scotland’s constitutional future. 

Role summary

Future Economy is looking for an experienced Advocacy and Engagement Lead to build strong working relationships across political parties in Scotland, shaping policy in Scotland and achieving political change. This role will also involve creating, maintaining and building strong relationships with MSPs and other policymakers, as well as key stakeholders in civil society, campaign groups and trade unions. The role is an opportunity to join a small, dynamic and purpose-driven team focused on driving progressive change across Scotland. The role involves working closely with the Co-Directors in a fast paced environment to support the delivery of a democratic, sustainable and just future. This role is Scotland-based with regular meetings in Edinburgh. Candidates have to live or be willing to relocate within a reasonable commuting distance to Edinburgh.

To note, this job is not a campaign role and does not involve movement or coalition building. Instead, the aim of the role is to ensure that Future Economy Scotland’s work successfully shapes the policy and political agenda in Scotland, and is informed by and useful to wider climate and economic movements and campaigns. 

Role responsibilities

Co-designing and implementing an advocacy strategy for Future Economy Scotland

Cultivating and deepening relationships with MSPs from all parties in Holyrood, elevating support for Future Economy Scotland’s objections in policy and legislative change

Leading the day-to-day oversight of developments in Parliament, identifying opportunities for strategic intervention

Staying on top of future policy and legislative developments and key publications

Building and developing relationships with key civil servants and relevant government teams to help shape their agendas

Leading engagement with broader civil society, campaign groups and trade unions e.g., arranging one-to-one calls with allies and representing the organisation on coalition and coordination meetings

Carrying out parliamentary and government engagement e.g., drafting government consultation responses and writing political briefings for MSPs

Political engagement to influence manifestos for all political parties ahead of the 2026 election

Coordinating events at political party conferences 

Organisational responsibilities

Undertake the duties in the job description with the operational policies of Future Economy Scotland

Maintain good relationships with team members and wider stakeholders

Represent the organisation in an appropriate and professional manner at all times when engaging with external stakeholders

Contribute to the development of the organisation through working in accordance with its wider objectives, organisational culture and values

Work out of usual hours if necessary, with a time-off-in-lieu policy

Actively contribute to Future Economy Scotland’s commitments to creating a culture of anti-oppression, equity and inclusion 

Personal specification 

Essential experience

A strong commitment to Future Economy Scotland’s mission and values

A proven track record in a similar or related role (this does not need to be at a think tank or in the third sector)

A history of achievement of identifying opportunities for policy interventions and successfully influencing policy and legislative outcomes

Accomplished at working effectively across the political spectrum, operating professionally in a non-partisan way, with the ability to tailor advocacy approaches to different political parties

Demonstrated success in building relationships with varied civil society organisations

Accomplished at being politically persuasively, turning analysis and policy recommendations into compelling written and verbal communication

A strong understanding of Scotland's policy and political landscape, particularly in relation to climate and economic policy 

A strong understanding of Scotland’s parliamentary processes and the varied ways to influence governmental decision-making

The ability to work effectively in a small team and an excellent interpersonal communicator

A commitment to anti oppression in the workplace 

Nice to have but not essential

Expertise in economic and climate policy in Scotland

Experience drafting government consultation responses

Experience in events management