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Researcher for Cara McKee MSP

Job Description

Salary: £37,973 - £44,589
Hours:  Full-time, 30 hours per week (happy to consider part-time or job share applications). Note that the Scottish Green Group operate a 4 day (30 hour) full-time work week. 
Location:  Flexible: Opportunity to work from The Scottish Parliament, home working and/or the regional office (planned to open over the summer). 
Date Posted: 24/06/2026
Date Closed: 05/07/2026

Working for a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP):

MSPs are employers in their own right. Under their employment, you will become part of a team supporting them in carrying out their duties. You'll work in a dynamic and fast paced environment to provide an outstanding service for constituents.  

Purpose of this role:

To provide support to Cara McKee MSP by carrying out research and providing timely and succinct briefings on both portfolio and regional issues.  This role will require a high degree of flexibility and will involve working closely with Cara McKee MSP, her team, regional colleagues, and the wider Scottish Green Group in Parliament. You must be fully able to support the MSP in carrying out their aims and Parliamentary duties. 

Responsibilities

  •         Generating and sharing research data that supports my activities. 
  •         Keeping your knowledge of policy areas and local issues up-to-date. 
  •         Obtaining and compiling relevant research documents from external bodies. 
  •         Analysing, evaluating and interpreting data including statistics. 
  •         Preparing and delivering regular briefings and updates. 
  •         Suggesting parliamentary questions and contributing to speeches. 
  •         Engaging with the wider research community to ensure I have access to accurate and contemporary data. 
  •         Collaborating with colleagues from different services areas across the Parliament. 
  •         Developing relationships and liaising with key external stakeholders e.g. think-tanks, NGOs, charities, unions, and other elected representatives. 
  •         Developing effective relationships with counterparts in other UK legislatures and the wider research community. 
  •         Performing casework-related research and preparing responses where necessary. 
  •         Ensuring office is kept up to date with its relevant legislative and compliance obligations.
  •         Ensuring all office research complies with data protection legislation and GDPR requirements. 
  •         Checking for any updates to compliance related legislation and communicating changes to colleagues. 
  •         Undertaking training and peer-to-peer meetings in line with the role and to build on existing skills. 
  •         Assisting Cara McKee with legislation e.g. in the form of interpreting amendments, advising on voting intentions, or supporting the development of a Member’s Bill 
  •         Supporting Cara McKee’s work on the Petitions Committee e.g. by advising on voting intentions and preparing questions 

Requirements 

  •         Deep knowledge and experience of research of the care sector, community health or wider health care settings and issues. 
  •         Be a quick learner with the ability to multitask and work within tight timescales. 
  •         Be a proactive problem solver with the motivation and resilience to adapt and deal with challenges. 
  •         Have skills in developing research networks and communicating complex information to others at various levels. 
  •         Have analytical skills with the ability to identify and investigate trends while interpreting data. 
  •         Have the creative flair and expertise to produce accurate and influential work. 

Desirable 

  •         Have knowledge of the West Scotland region. 
  •         Have work-place experience of health and/or care related research. 
  •         Have an understanding of the political nature of policy decisions and understand political processes. 

Your application must include a supporting statement which should give examples of the following situations in either an employment or voluntary setting, or in your personal life experiences. 

  •         An example of a research project you have completed on a health or community care related topic (this should be either a solo project or a project which you led). 
  •         An example of when you have worked in a tight knit team for a shared project. 
  •         A situation in which you were able to maintain calm and focus when under significant pressure. 
  •         An example of when you sought support from other team members or from your line manager, including what the outcome of the situation was (whether good or bad). 

How to Apply: 

For any questions about the role please contact: ann.mcguinness@parliament.scot

Your CV should include two references and their contact details – referees will only be contacted if a provisional job offer is made and accepted. 

Your supporting statement should outline how you meet each of the requirements detailed above for this role. You should highlight your experience, pointing to specific volunteer, life-experience or employment roles that you have detailed in your CV. 

For more details and to apply: visit the Scottish Parliament jobs portal

Applications that do not include a supporting statement will not be considered.   

Applications (inclusive of CV) longer than 4 sides of A4 will not be considered. 

Closing Date: Sunday 5th July 2026 at 11:59pm.  

Interviews to take place: Wednesday 15th July – Please indicate that you will be available for an in-person interview at the Scottish Parliament on this date.  Provision can be made for an online interview if travel is not possible.