Job title: Specialist
Team: Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS)
Location: Aberdeen/Dundee with home working options 
Grade: 5
Salary: £54,362 (rising to £55,398 from 01 Jan 24)
Hours: Full time with flexible working options considered
Status: Permanent
Closing date: 11 January 2024
Job ref no: R00466

Be part of building Scotland’s future

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Scotland’s national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise. At Scottish Enterprise we are committed to growing the Scottish economy for the benefit of all, creating more quality jobs and a brighter future in every region.

The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) is delivered by Scottish Enterprise and also covers Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise areas.

We’re looking for an innovative manufacturing specialist who’s passionate about delivering a productive, sustainable, inclusive, and fair economy. You’ll be on the frontline helping manufacturing businesses stay competitive in a changing landscape. This means working with them to adopt new technologies and improve supply chains and internal processes.

SMAS works with firms to support investment in productivity, performance and people to deliver sustainable change. We work with our Scottish Enterprise colleagues to support leadership ambition, develop market development strategies and identify global opportunities.

You’ll spend most of your time with clients, guiding them through immediate tactical challenges as well as longer term strategic change. Every client is different, and you’ll be working with them to promote a productivity agenda for sustainable Scottish manufacturing.

The role is based in Aberdeen or Dundee and involves travel throughout Scotland, so you’ll need a full driver’s licence and access to a car.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assessing business needs for efficiency.
• Supporting businesses to make improvements and be competitive.
• Promoting SMAS and Scottish Enterprise business support services.

You’re an effective team player who can work across businesses with ease: you’ll bring credibility, experience and influencing skills. Taking companies on an improvement journey can often last months, or even years – it will be your enthusiasm and tenacity that guides them through.

You’ll bring experience in the manufacturing industry, preferably in a leadership role. Whether you’re keen to share your wealth of experience, or looking to develop your career further, this role offers plenty of variety.

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

• Ability to recognise enterprise-wide investment opportunities to support productivity.
• Experience and delivery of operational excellence & manufacturing problem solving methodology – e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, EFQM, Kaizen
• Delivery of sustainable improvements in an operational environment.
• Knowledge of advanced manufacturing technologies, systems, and digital techniques that combine people, process, technology and data. Using these to increase productivity across the business and support Industry 4.0 service.
• Supply chain management and development.
• Experience leading others through change with effective facilitation, coaching and mentoring skills – such as ILM Diploma.
• Project management skills (with case studies of deployment).
• Ability to work comfortably across all aspects of business enterprise and supply chains.
• Effective communication and reporting skills.

If successful, you'll gain access to the following benefits: 

• Membership of the Scottish Enterprise Pension and Life Assurance Scheme – a pension based on your final pensionable salary, flexible retirement options and generous life assurance cover
• Up to 43 annual leave days a year (including public holidays) with the opportunity to buy additional holidays
• Flexible working arrangements
• A health cash plan
• Our Employee Retail Benefits Scheme
• Our Employee Assistance Scheme

If you're interested in this role, please complete your application form by Wednesday 13 December 2023.

Interview dates:

• w/c 8 January 2024

Being part of Scottish Enterprise means being open to new ideas and trying different ways of working. We support each other to reach our full potential. We celebrate shared success and learn together when things don’t go so well. And we always treat each other fairly, with respect and understanding. Together, we are the difference.

Apply now to keep building your future with us

At Scottish Enterprise, we’re proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience and thought is vital to the success of our vision for the future of every community across Scotland. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

We commit to providing any reasonable adjustments required, not only during the application and assessment process but throughout employment with us.

We have the following networks which are open to all colleagues to help drive inclusion: Disability Positive, Gender Balanced, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Generational and Pride (LGBTQ+).