Events and Engagement Manager

The Scottish Government USA team is seeking an Events and Engagement Manager to support its work to promote Scotlands interests through political, cultural, and economic diplomacy. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team of four comprised of two Scottish diplomats and one other Country Based Staff member, working closely together to:

• Ensure our economic, diplomatic, and cultural activity contributes to the Scottish Governments priorities of eradicating child poverty, growing the Scottish economy, tackling the climate emergency and improving public services across Scotland.
• Showcase Scotlands ambition on climate and the environment, positioning Scotlands climate and environment work on the global stage.
• Maximise people to people connections by promoting the full offering of modern Scotland including our economic interests, education, innovation and research, culture, and potential for policy exchange.
• Showcase Scotland as a hub for innovation, trade, and investment — strengthening existing trade and investment links and seeking out new opportunities — all underpinned by our shared values and principles.

You will play a critical role in delivering the above activity by planning and delivering high quality events that promote Brand Scotland and contribute towards our strategic objectives. This will include Scottish cultural events like Burns Night, showcasing Scottish exports, networking events, partnerships with Scottish organisations and other formats that help us reach new audiences.

You will also manage the offices approach to external engagement, with a focus on public diplomacy and the Scottish diaspora community. You will be responsible for implementing Scottish Connections - the Scottish Governments Framework for diaspora engagement - in the US market.

Roles and responsibilities:

This job is highly operational and focusses on three key strands of work: delivery of events, implementation of Scottish Connections framework, and external engagement.

Events (33%)

You will lead on planning and delivery of all logistical components of Scottish Government USA virtual and in-person events, with responsibility for:

• Ensuring Scottish Government events are delivered smoothly, within budget, and in line with our business plan.
• Maintaining positive relationships with suppliers, sponsors, event participants, event partners, and other stakeholders.
• Regularly engaging with our network to support partner projects and events, either directly through office support or indirectly with access to our networks.
• Escalating any concerns about the deliverability of planned events to the Deputy Head of Office.

Scottish Connections (33%)

Using your relationships and engagement with cultural and diaspora organisations, as well as Scottish policy teams and other key stakeholders, you will ensure the office plays its part in delivering the Scottish Connections framework by:

• Leading on design and delivery of Scottish Connections implementation plan for the US market, which will involve both scoping new activity and identifying opportunities to realign existing plans and projects.
• Maintaining and growing a positive network of relevant stakeholders and organisations aligned with the Scottish Connections framework.
• Assessing the alignment of grant applications made against the objectives of Scottish Connections and providing advice to the Head and Deputy Head of Office on this.
• Managing the grant award process for successful applicants.
• Monitoring the outcomes of grants made against the objectives of Scottish Connections and ensuring that appropriate records are kept.

External engagement (33%)

You will support the Scottish Government to engage external stakeholders through public diplomacy activity, with emphasis on reaching under-represented constituencies including children and young people; older people; ethnic minority communities and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This may include:

• Engagement with local schools or youth groups.
• Exchange as part of Sister City partnerships.
• Capitalising on visiting Scottish sports teams, performing companies and talent to promote Brand Scotland.

Due to the nature of this role, some evening and weekend work will be required to support the delivery of events. Expectations will be discussed well in advance.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

You will assess and administer applications for Scottish Government grants made to external organisations for projects that contribute towards our business plan (approx. $50k per annum).