Police Scotland has defended a jargon-filled job advert for an £80,000 a year post.
The new post of Head of Design Authority with Police Scotland was advertised this week, with a salary ranging from £70,815 to £79,641.
The successful applicant, who will be based at Police Scotland’s Tulliallan headquarters, will be responsible for ensuring any new technology or property the Force invests in is suitable for future requirements outlined in the Police 2026 strategy.
Police Scotland is hoping to recruit a graduate with a minimum of five years’ experience in a relevant field but the language used in the job advert has left some people scratching their heads.
It begins: “The Design Authority (DA) is the custodian of the Target Operating Model ensuring alignment to the strategic vision for the organisation taking an end to end view using a business value focused perspective.
“The Design Authority function will work in conjunction with Programme and Project Managers and teams to ensure benefits and business value is optimised and achieved.
“The Head of Design Authority role will lead the Design Authority function to ensure all design activities, architectural requirements and change initiatives are strategically aligned, so that the vision, and end benefits are protected.”
David Hamilton, vice-chairman of the Scottish Police Federation Tweeted: “Can somebody please explain in plain English what this £80k post actually does?”
Can somebody please explain in plain English what this £80k post actually does? #Bingohttps://t.co/5S4J8uWR0o pic.twitter.com/QsVeVyiJBP
— David Hamilton (@VChairSPF) August 23, 2017
Dozens of people responded to Mr Hamilton disparaging the advert.
Twitter user Martin Findlay said: “The role will be to take something that works and create something that doesn’t and which appears so complex that no-one will understand it.”
The role will be to take something that works and create something that doesn't and which appears so complex that no-one will understand it.
— martin findlay (@martingfindlay) August 24, 2017
Kevin Paterson said: “That’s made up surely? It is pure gobbledygook.”
That's made up surely? It is pure gobbledygook
— Kevin Paterson ☮ (@kippertshirt) August 24, 2017
But David Page, deputy chief officer of Police Scotland, said: “Policing 2026 recognises the demands on policing are changing.
“It is our responsibility to identify and respond to these changes.
“To support this journey we have been provided with transformation funding by the Scottish Government to support the programme of reform and change. We are building a team of people with experience, expertise and an innovative approach to lead this work.
“Some are seconded from our workforce and some, with specific professional skills, are being recruited externally.
“A design authority is a key part of large scale and ambitious change processes involving a number of different programmes and projects, as is the case with Policing 2026.
“It exists to make sure investments in, for example technology, estates and process changes support one another and contribute to more effective changes in operational policing and corporate services.”