Place - Associate Director

Job Description Role: Associate Director - Place Team: Place, Housing & Economic InvestmentReports to: Associate Director – Place Application requirements - Please provide a tailored CV and covering letterCLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 28 JULY 2025 Job PurposeTo support SFT’s day-to-day Place activity, working closely with SFT’s team lead to shape, enshrine and deliver SFT’s approach to the Place Principle, and how this relates to our corporate objectives and activities and the delivery of our wider programmes and initiatives with partners.LocationBased in Edinburgh (based upon a hybrid working approach, with a minimum attendance in the office of 1 day per week) with travel to attend meetings, workshops, site visits and training & conferences.PositionThe appointment will be at Associate Director level.ResponsibilitiesNo direct reports. No budget responsibility.Principal AccountabilitiesSupport the team’s day-to-day activityAssist in shaping and enshrining the team’s approach as a framework for outcome-based change and investment, building on the ambitions of the Place Principle,Work with, and support, other teams across SFT and other partner work (including Scottish Government) on change through the Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard, investment and public sector reformAssist in building on the SFT Place Guide, focusing on supporting partners to advance outcomes, impacts and measures of local outcomes through the development of blueprints, exemplars, templates, standard documents and guidance;Lead and / or support wider partners in the development of a series of programmes and strategies to shape investment propositions and implementation mechanisms. This will include the identification of investment and funding opportunities working with other teams. This activity will focus on a number of locations and programmes with the successful candidate leading our input, and co-ordinating wider organisational capacity and capability;Support the team in the development of outcome focused investment models,Be our representative on key stakeholder bodies and policy forums;Prepare and participate in the creation and collation of key documents and workstream outputs; andPrepare and participate in key presentations to senior management teams.Contextual InformationThe Place, Housing and Economic Investment team has a strong outcomes focus. It builds understanding of what it is, develops strategies, helps use land and public assets effectively to deliver joined up services and promotes economic activity through sales and transfers. It also creates and deploys arrangements and structures to draw wider public and private investment, enabling development with a particular focus on creating sustainable places with housing of all tenures.The role holder will be responsible for supporting (and leading on elements of) our activity and the delivery of a series of programmes, working with key public, private and third sector partners. They will work closely with the wider PHEI team and alongside SFT’s other workstreams, e.g. Housing and Economic Investment, Asset Strategy, Education, Net Zero, etc. The role is part of a dynamic, innovative, multi-disciplinary team who work closely together on all aspects of new initiatives, as well as practical aspects of existing ones.Knowledge, Skills & ExperienceAn understanding of public policy, economic drivers and collaboration;A sound understanding of the Place Principle and shaping outcomes, and using that to shape appropriate impacts and measures ;Evidence of the development and the delivery of successful programmes and outcomes;Experience of working successfully with senior personnel and decision makers;An understanding of shaping proposals for investment around outcomes and an understanding of funding and finance options around the needs, priorities and outcomes;An understanding of the current funding environment and the identification and application of funding and investment to enable and support activity;Capability as regards supporting facilitated sessions and engagement with groups in similar situations;Experience of working with public / private / third sector / community groups;Experience of working effectively as part of a small team;Excellent communication ability, both verbal and written; andBe a self-starter, willing to originate and cultivate opportunities and activity.CompetenciesDrive for Results: Support the delivery of SFT’s current and future Place activity, working with key partners to successfully enshrine it and its programmes’ principles in their wider activity.Innovation: Look at how Place can drive opportunities for investment, innovation in the delivery and the sustainability of Scotland’s communities and infrastructure.Impact & Influence: Assist key partners to understand the importance of Place and support their thinking, approaches and investment to drive sustainable communities and locations.Working with Others: Work internally and with Scottish Government and other partners to further embed and progress Place Principle across policy and infrastructure programmes.

Created: 2025-07-23