Job Opportunity: Inclusive Ownership Policy Officer
Introduction
Community Land Scotland is recruiting a Policy Officer for the Inclusive Ownership project.
Inclusive Ownership is a new five-year UK-wide partnership funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. The project brings together Community Land Scotland, CLES (Centre for Local Economies), The Ubele Initiative, Shared Assets, Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Cwmpas to support more communities to take ownership of land and buildings.
The project focuses on urban and post-industrial communities and aims to make community ownership more accessible, particularly for communities facing higher levels of deprivation and Black and Minoritised communities. Through direct community support, policy development, learning and partnership working, the project will help communities develop sustainable, income-generating assets and contribute to community wealth building and local economic resilience.
About the role
The Policy Officer will lead policy development, research and evidence gathering for the Inclusive Ownership project in Scotland.
Working closely with the Inclusive Ownership Manager, Community Land Scotland’s Policy and Advocacy Team and partners across the UK, the postholder will ensure that learning from community-led delivery informs policy development and wider system change.
The role will focus on identifying barriers to community ownership, gathering evidence from communities and delivery partners, developing policy proposals and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders. The Policy Officer will play an important role in ensuring that the experiences of communities are reflected in policy and practice relating to community ownership, community wealth building and local economic development.
The postholder will contribute to policy development in Scotland while supporting cross-nation learning and collaboration across the wider partnership. They will work to translate grassroots experience into meaningful policy change and help shape the future of community ownership across Scotland and the wider UK.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about community-led development, policy change and ensuring that the voices and experiences of communities help shape future approaches to ownership, regeneration and community wealth building.
The main objectives of this post, and outcomes to be delivered are to:
Job Details
Job title:
Inclusive Ownership Policy Officer
Salary:
£33,500
Hours:
35 hours per week (Full-time)
Reporting to:
Inclusive Ownership Manager
Start date:
1 September 2026
Location:
Hybrid – home/office.
Anywhere in Scotland, but regular attendance at Scottish Government/Parliament meetings and events in the Central Belt will be needed.
Closing date:
Tuesday 28 July at 17:00
Interview date: Thursday 13 August 2026
Documents (click on text for links):
- Policy development to increase community ownership of land and buildings and strengthen community wealth building across Scotland.
- Gather evidence and learning from communities and project delivery to inform policy and system change.
- Identify barriers to community ownership and develop practical policy solutions that support more inclusive ownership models.
- Work with communities, policymakers, public bodies and project partners to influence policy and practice.
- Contribute Scottish insight and evidence to a UK-wide partnership working across Scotland, Wales and England.
- Produce policy briefings, consultation responses, reports and research outputs on community ownership and local economic development.
- Support the development of new ownership and economic models that strengthen local economies and increase community control of assets.
- Work with Community Land Scotland's Policy and Advocacy Team to engage MSPs, MPs, civil servants and key stakeholders.
- Help ensure the experiences of communities facing higher levels of deprivation and Black and Minoritised communities are reflected in policy development.
- Represent Community Land Scotland and the Inclusive Ownership project at meetings, events and policy forums.
See full details and person specification in Policy Officer Job Description linked under “Documents”.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Community Land Scotland is committed to building a diverse team and creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and able to contribute.
We particularly welcome applications from people who are currently underrepresented within the community ownership, land reform and community development sectors, including people from Black and Minoritised communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and people with lived experience of the communities this project aims to support.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, skills and experiences.
We Encourage You to Apply
We recognise that excellent candidates do not always meet every requirement listed in a person specification.
If you are excited by this role and believe you have the skills, experience or potential to contribute to the Inclusive Ownership project, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every criterion.
We are interested in hearing from people who are passionate about community-led development, community ownership and creating positive change.
Flexible Working
Community Land Scotland is committed to supporting flexible and hybrid working. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements with successful candidates where practical and compatible with the needs of the role.
How to apply:
Please complete our online application process by 17:00 on 28 July 2026.
If you have any questions about the role or the application process, please email Heather Yearwood, Inclusive Ownership Project Manager, Community Land Scotland – heather@communityland.scot.
Applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for interview by 5 August 2026. Interviews will be held on 13 August 2026. It is unlikely we will be able to offer alternative interview dates.
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.