Job Opportunity: Policy Officer
Introduction
Community Land Scotland is a membership organisation which represents the interests of community landowners throughout Scotland, and which currently has over 140 Members. It is the national voice for community ownership and land reform in Scotland, the aim of which is to diversify the pattern of land ownership to ensure many more people can benefit from Scotland’s land. Land ownership matters because it significantly influences how land is used and crucially who benefits.
Community Land Scotland operates by taking the real lived experiences of communities and using it to influence positive change.
About the role
Community Land Scotland has a UK wide reputation for promoting community empowerment through the democratic ownership of key assets in local economies, building community wealth and resilience. We are regularly asked to speak nationally within Scotland, within the UK and internationally, on land reform and community empowerment. We are the only civil society organisation that exists to fulfil this advocacy function.
This role would suit a candidate with some experience of policy development, research and campaigning. The role will require the ability to work autonomously and build upon existing skills and experience whilst learning the details of the land reform and community ownership policy environment. Although some experience is expected for the role, training and development will take place alongside gaining a wide range of experiences, all of which will support career development.
As Policy Officer you will have a specific role within the policy and advocacy team to help research and shape policy development whilst sharing our message with a wider audience.
We are looking for a Policy Officer who is a strong oral and written communicator with strong organisational and administrative skills, who can digest and synthesise complex information and then present it in an engaging format and who has a passion for community-led approaches and land reform.
The main objectives of this post, and outcomes to be delivered are to:
Job Details
Job title:
Policy Officer
Salary:
£33,500
Reporting to:
Director of Policy and Advocacy
Hours:
37.5 hours per week
Start date:
1 April 2026
Location:
Anywhere in Scotland, but regular attendance at Scottish Government/Parliament meetings and events in Edinburgh and Glasgow will be needed
Closing date:
Sunday 1 March at 17:00
Interview date: Wednesday 11th March
Documents (click on text for links):
- Help support the organisation’s significant policy agenda with a focus on developing policy to deliver more community ownership, further land reform in Scotland and to help communities deliver their sustainable development objectives
- Promote awareness and benefits of community land ownership across all communities in Scotland and particularly spread our message to new demographics
- Demonstrate how more community ownership creates more communities in control of their own sustainable development
- Develop, facilitate and promote networking among a range of partner organisations that promote community ownership and land reform in Scotland
- Work with the Director of Policy and Advocacy to represent Community Land Scotland’s members from Holyrood to local political discussions and in wider forums
- Stand in for the Director of Policy and Advocacy as appropriate
See full details and person specification in Policy Officer Job Description linked under “Documents”.
How to apply:
Please complete our online application process by 12:00 pm on Sunday 1 March 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please email Josh Doble at josh.doble@communitylandscotland.org.uk.
Applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for interview by Wednesday 4 March and interviews will be held in person in Glasgow on Wednesday 11th March 2026.
Before you apply, please read about our recruitment process here.
The application form is run through Microsoft Forms. You will be able to save your answers in the form, but you may also wish to prepare your answers to the form ahead of time. This document will provide you with the questions the form will require.