Director of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement

Crown Estate Scotland’s purpose is investing in property, natural resources, and people to create lasting value for Scotland.  Crown Estate Scotland seeks to maintain and enhance the value of the assets which it holds on behalf of the Monarch (“in right of the Crown”) and to pay its net revenue profit for each year to the Scottish Consolidated Fund.

Our vision is that the Scottish Estate supports a thriving and sustainable Scotland where land and resource under management benefit communities, environment and economy, both now and in the future.

Crown Estate Scotland is a unique business with a diverse portfolio that includes real estate, rural estates and the management of the seabed and the foreshore.

The Director of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, provides the essential link between Crown Estate Scotland’s strategies, policies and corporate objectives, and our key external stakeholders, including the Scottish Government. As a trusted advisor to the CEO, the Director will lead the Corporate Office and provide a lead on policy (internal development and external response), co-ordinating strategies’ development and delivery, stakeholder management and co-ordination; internal and external communications; statutory compliance and returns and reporting. The Director will work with the CEO and the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) to ensure coordination between (and pro-active management of) the Executive and Non-Executive functions of Crown Estate Scotland and the Scottish Government and other external bodies and customers.

The Director will be a member of the CLT along with the CEO, Chief Asset Management Officer, Chief Finance Officer and Chief Operating Officer and will attend the Crown Estate Scotland Board and Committees.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead Crown Estate Scotland’s strategic engagement with the Scottish Government, Board, ministers and key external stakeholders, shaping policy, strategy and organisational priorities.
• Direct corporate affairs, communications and stakeholder engagement, ensuring a compelling and consistent profile that supports delivery of the Corporate Plan.
• Provide strategic advice and support to the CEO and Corporate Leadership Team, including horizon scanning, policy development and organisational planning.
• Lead corporate governance, statutory reporting and performance reporting, ensuring compliance with legislative and Scottish Government requirements.
• Oversee Board and government reporting, business case development and accountable officer processes.
• Drive alignment across corporate strategies, business planning, policy, risk management and regulatory obligations.
• Contribute as a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, providing organisational leadership, championing change and delivering continuous improvement across the business.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering an inclusive culture, strong performance, effective collaboration and a commitment to health, safety and wellbeing.

You will bring significant senior leadership experience, with a track record of leading a business unit or directorate and contributing as part of a wider leadership team. Educated to degree level or with equivalent professional experience, you will have a strong understanding of stakeholder engagement, corporate policy development and the Scottish Government landscape, alongside experience of shaping an organisation’s external profile and representing it at senior levels.

A politically astute and emotionally intelligent leader, you will combine strategic thinking with evidence-based decision making, resilience and a collaborative approach. You will have experience across areas such as policy development, communications, executive support, statutory reporting or government engagement, gained within government, public bodies or related environments. Committed to integrity, accountability and high performance, you will lead with credibility, inspire others and champion continuous improvement.