Work Experience Graduate - Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Pullar House, Perth - PKC13706

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Work Experience Graduate, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (Fixed Term until 30 November 2026) - PKC13706
£28,812 - £31,346
Pullar House, Perth

Are you enthusiastic about climate change and interested in learning more about how climate change policy is developed at the local government level?

If so, we are looking for someone who has a good understanding of carbon emissions data and the methodologies around carbon management; and who is able to “tell a story”, using the data in a simple and easy-to-understand way. 

The main activity for this role is gathering data and providing analysis and insight to inform the production of the Council's statutory Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report.

There will also be opportunity to get involved in various policy development, implementation activities and project work.

Public bodies in Scotland are required to report annually on their compliance with climate change duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.  This includes reporting on governance, emissions, projects, climate change adaptation, procurement, and wider influence.  The report must be submitted to the Scottish Government by 30 November 2026 following the end of the reporting period.  The report provides an overview of the body's progress and actions taken to fulfil its climate change duties, including a target date for achieving zero direct emissions of greenhouse gases or other targets demonstrating how the body contributes to Scotland's emissions reduction targets.

This role will gather data from teams across the Council and will provide analysis and insight to assist in the production of the Public Body Climate Change Duties Report, with guidance and support from the Team Leader.

There will also be an opportunity to get involved with wider environmental policy development and some project work. The team are involved with a range of projects including working with partners to provide a free energy advice service for Perth and Kinross residents, overseeing grant funding processes for community groups, and working with several teams across the Council. These are only some examples of the areas the successful applicant would gain experience in.  

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

• Graduate level - Degree in a relevant discipline e.g. environmental management, sustainability, carbon management.
• Data analysis skills.
• Microsoft 365 (word, ppt, forms, excel) literacy.
• Carbon data expertise.
• Report writing skills.
• Communication skills as this role involves working with colleagues out-with the immediate team.
• Being a team member and being willing to help others.
• Time management.
• Ability to communicate complex data in a simple, easy-to-understand way.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs

We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Eirini Kourtesi, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Team Leader via email at ekourtesi@pkc.gov.uk to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses.  One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

Internal applicants applying for secondment must obtain line manager approval through the secondment form available under My Forms – Secondment Request Form on MyView. Please note that secondment requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.