Local government officer
Plan and supervise important services like education and housing to make sure that people get good services that meet their needs.
Also known as: policy officer
About the job
What it's like
You would plan and supervise important public services like education and housing. You’d make sure that people get good services that meet their needs and are value for money. The councillors - who are elected by local people - will decide the aims of the council and it would be your job to work out how to achieve these aims.Â
You would deal with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You could work in a variety of departments and roles, such as planning the services, or leading a team which puts the plans into action. You would have to stick to budgets and make sure the money is spent carefully.Â
Your day-to-day tasks would vary according to the department you work in and your level of responsibility.
You could:
Analyse and interpret information
Use information to plan services and projects
Set up and lead projects
Check the progress of projects
Write reports and briefing papers for colleagues and councillors
Deal with enquiries and advise colleagues
Do presentations at meetings
Supervise administrative work and manage clerical staff
Keep records
Prepare and manage contracts
Liaise with other public agencies
Oversee budgets and funding
Hours
In a full-time job you would work 35 to 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to work extra hours to complete a project, or go to evening meetings. Part-time work may be available.
Environment
You would be based in an office that may be open to the public.
Travel
You may need to travel within your local authority area to go to meetings, or to visit other council offices or sites.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- policy development
- housing policy
- public affairs
- community planning
- policy analysis
- policy proposal
- energy policy
- energy production
- climate resilience
- economic development
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- problem solving
- working with numbers
- written communication
- verbal communication
- analysing
- understanding
- attention to detail
- filtering
- developing a plan
- delegating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Administration and Information Technology
Business
Economics
Modern Studies
Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies - RMPS
Foundation Apprenticeship: Business Skills
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There is no fixed entry route to become a local government officer. The skills and experience that you need will vary depending on the duties and level of responsibility you have in the job.
You could enter a role directly with National Certificate (NC) or National Qualification (NQ) in administration or business studies.
Many entrants now have a degree in subjects such as:
Economics
Politics
Social administration
Business studies
Some roles may require a degree or job specific qualifications such as town planning, urban design or historic building conservation, for example for a conservation officer post.
To enter a NC or NQ requires four National 4s or National 5s.
Entry to a degree usually requires four to five Highers including English.
You could also start as a local government administrative assistant and work your way up to more senior roles.
Qualifications that show ICT, administrative and financial skills such as Skills for Work Financial Services (SCQF level 5).
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