Senior Policy Officer (Energy Poverty) - Citizens Advice Scotland

The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is the largest independent advice service in the country. Citizens Advice Scotland is a charity within this network – we act as a national organisation supporting and representing the service as a whole and the interests of citizens. At the heart of the network there are 59 individual citizens advice bureau across Scotland, all operating as independent charities in their own right, which focus on providing support and advice directly to clients. Each of these organisations is a member of Citizens Advice Scotland. We believe that every citizen should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice that helps them make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however, they choose to access it.

Our vision is for a Fairer Scotland where everyone has the advice and information they need to realise their rights, and that the barriers to accessing those rights are effectively challenged.

About the role

In this role you will take the lead across our energy poverty policy. Your focus will be ensuring Citizens Advice Scotland is responsive in the face of the energy crisis and you will raise awareness of fuel poverty faced by CAB clients, advocating for change at a national level. In addition to this you will lead on work ensuring Scotland meets its climate change mitigation and fuel poverty targets by ensuring a just transition to net zero that is inclusive, person-centred and adaptable, and where possible, protects consumers from experiencing detriment and ensures redress.

You will use your policy skills to influence at a national level and will represent the views of CAS on relevant Government groups as well as influencing decision makers pro-actively. Working alongside the Policy Officer you will develop excellent relationships with the CAB network, developing their capacity to respond to the just transition on behalf of their clients.

This role offers you the opportunity to work at the heart of supporting Scotland's largest independent advice network and to make an invaluable contribution to citizen’s lives. 

Policy at CAS

The Impact team has access to the incredible wealth of data generated by CABx as well as social policy feedback. This enables us to develop policy that is evidence based and grounded in the experiences of CAB clients. We use this, along with our knowledge of national policy, to engage with policy makers across Parliament, Government and stakeholder organisations to influence change. We do this to inform and empower individuals and communities and to change policy, law and practice.

Our goals are:

• To improve standards of living
• To increase equality
• Empower individuals to help themselves
• To build a better future.

Our impact teams are Financial Health, Stronger Communities and Social Justice. This role sits within Social Justice which is responsible for policy on social security, housing and employment and there are many opportunities to work collaboratively across the different areas.

For more information, please refer to the Job Pack which can be downloaded from our vacancies page.

Employee benefits 

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions. We want our people to have a great work life balance and we have designed our working practices and benefits to support this.  Here are some of things our employees benefit from:  a 35-hour full time working week, 40 days annual leave, genuine flexibility in working hours with a flexi-time system, and blended/hybrid working opportunities for every role. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the job pack.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion.  We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

CAS provides options for blended working to allow employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home.  The number of days you will be able to work from home each week will be dependent on your job role and can be discussed as part of the recruitment process.

happy_to_talk_flexible_working_logo_01.jpg

dc_badge.png

emma_mary.jpg