Senior Researcher

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Permanent Senior Researcher, SPICe: Europe, External Affairs and Governance 

Working pattern: This is a full-time post working 35 hours per week. We’re committed to supporting staff to achieve a healthy work-life balance and are happy to talk about flexible working. This is a hybrid role, working from Holyrood, and from home (normally 2 days over Tuesday to Thursday). The role is available on a permanent basis.  

About the Scottish Parliament 

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is responsible for providing the Parliament with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes.  We place a high value on excellence, and we are continually looking to improve how we can deliver the Parliament's core purpose of representing the people of Scotland by debating issues of national importance, passing legislation and holding the Scottish Government to account.  We are a diverse workforce, and our embedded values shape the way we work and treat each other. We have a culture of respect and inclusion, and everyone has the ability to make a difference. For further information about working for the Scottish Parliament, please see our website.  

About the role 

The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) supports the scrutiny and legislative functions of the Parliament by providing impartial, accurate and timely information and briefings to Members of the Scottish Parliament, their staff, Parliamentary Committees and Parliamentary staff. It comprises a research and information service. SPICe forms part of the Parliamentary Business Directorate and is led by three joint office heads. You can find out more about SPICe on the parliament website. To see where the office sits within the organisation, you can view our organisation chart here. 

This is an exciting opportunity to work within SPICe to support the Parliament’s engagement with European, External Affairs and Governance issues – the latter involving grade equivalent support to the Senior Researcher on devolution, constitution and parliament policy – as agreed with your line manager.  

Reporting to the Head of Research and Sustainable Development Scrutiny, you’ll work within the Environment, Rural, Constitution and International research Unit (a team of 12 including this post). The team has a wide-ranging remit, and everyone works closely together. You’ll prepare committee and other briefings and analysis to help MSPs scrutinise the related policies of the Scottish Government, and you’ll publish briefings and blog articles on relevant issues. 

You’ll cover a wide range of subjects including: 

Europe 

• UK-EU Relations including the operation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Withdrawal Agreement 

• Scottish Government approach to European engagement  

External Affairs  

• International affairs, insofar as they affect Scotland  

• Scottish Government international framework and policies 

• Scottish Government international offices 

Governance 

• UK commitment to dynamic alignment/Scottish Government commitment to align with EU law 

• Grade equivalent support to the Senior Researcher on devolution, constitution and parliament policy 

You may also be asked to do some work on areas which are reserved to the UK Parliament, but which may impact on devolved policy, including defence, and immigration policy. You may be expected to cover other relevant topics as required.  

We offer a great range of benefits including: 41.5 leave days (including public holidays), flexible working, paid professional subscriptions, family-friendly policies, Season Ticket advance loans, an onsite gym, Health and Wellbeing Schemes including discounted gym membership, a confidential counselling and information service, and the Cycle to Work Scheme. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to join the Alpha Civil Service pension scheme, where we’ll offer you an employer contribution of 28.97% of your basic salary. 

We are a values-based organisation. Our values are a central part of our working culture and our people management processes. We use these to recruit, manage and develop our staff. For more information on our values and behaviours framework, please visit our values pages in our Employee Handbook.   

About you 

You’ll be an experienced researcher or policy analyst with detailed knowledge of European and external affairs. Some knowledge of devolution, constitution and parliament policy areas would also be beneficial.  

You’ll be able to communicate complex issues with brevity, accuracy and impartiality, both orally and in writing, to tight deadlines and you’ll have a commitment to producing high quality research and analysis.   

You’ll demonstrate a high level of personal credibility with excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships. 

For further information about the role please see the attached job description and application pack. You can also contact the Chair of the recruitment panel, Graeme.Cook@parliament.scot  

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a Minority Ethnic background and Disabled candidates. All appointments will be made on merit. We have a values-based culture of respect and inclusion embedded in our organisation, and everyone has the ability to make a difference. 

How to apply 

Stage 1 

Please apply before 12:00 noon, Wednesday 26 August 2026.  

To find out how to apply and for further information about our recruitment process, please see our recruitment process pages on the website.    

Please note that only your statement will be submitted to Hiring Managers, without any personal details. Hiring managers will then select candidates for further assessment or interview based on their statement which addresses the values within the job description.  

Stage 2 

If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to attend an assessment and virtual interview. Assessments are expected to be held virtually week commencing 21 September. Interviews will be held on week commencing 28 September and will include a presentation. Please note these dates are subject to change.    

Offers will be awarded based on merit. For this role, the following weighting is used to come to a final score on which offers will be based. Application 20%, Assessment 20%, Presentation 20%, Interview 40%.   

All new starts will be appointed to the first scale point of the grade for their role. For information on progression through the scale points, see our Pay and Reward Policy Statement.  

Feedback will only be provided on request to those who attend interview. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please email: careers@parliament.scot