Join our friendly, supportive and creative Aberdeenshire CIAG team and use your professional expertise to make a meaningful difference to people of all ages.

This role is a permanent position located in Aberdeenshire working out of our Aberdeen or Inverurie offices.

Make an impact that lasts

At Skills Development Scotland, we help people develop the skills, confidence and insight they need to make informed career decisions. Working with schools, learning providers, employers and partner organisations, our Careers Advisers support people to move towards positive and sustainable learning or employment outcomes.

This is an opportunity to combine professional career guidance, coaching and partnership working in a role where your contribution can make a real difference across Aberdeenshire.

What You’ll Be Doing

You'll provide high-quality, impartial careers information, advice and guidance, supporting customers one to one and in groups. Using a coaching approach, you'll help people understand their options, set meaningful goals and take ownership of their career journey.

Support school-age young people, post-school customers and adults, depending on service need.
Assess individual needs using approved tools and develop tailored career development plans.
Build career management skills and support effective transitions into learning, training or employment.
Work closely with schools, learning providers, employers and community partners.
Promote SDS services, including My World of Work.
Maintain accurate records and contribute to continuous improvement and high professional standards.

You will help people see what is possible, make confident decisions and take their next step.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for people who are committed to delivering positive outcomes for customers and who can build strong, respectful relationships with a wide range of individuals and partners.

To be eligible for the role of Careers Adviser at Skills Development Scotland, you must hold the Career Development Institute (CDI) UK recognised professional Qualification in Career Development (QCD or its predecessor equivalent) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance and Development.

You’ll bring strong coaching and interpersonal skills, an understanding of career management skills and labour market information, and the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment. A commitment to our National Occupational Standards and Code of Ethics, continuous improvement and ongoing CPD is essential.

About SDS

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills agency, focused on driving productivity and inclusive economic growth by investing in skills and supporting people and businesses to reach their full potential. Through deep partnership working, expert insights and innovative solutions, SDS helps address Scotland’s skills and labour market challenges, ensuring employers can access the talent they need while individuals gain opportunities to develop and thrive. SDS is guided by strong organisational values, placing customers at the heart of everything it does and fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and respect.

Our Values

Our organisational values are created by our colleagues and are the compass that guide our behaviours and actions with our customers and each other. We need our future colleagues to share these values and help us to continue to deliver our bold ambitions for the future;

We put the needs of our customers at the heart of all we do
We make use of our combined strengths and expertise to deliver the best outcomes
We demonstrate self-motivation, personal responsibility, and respect
We continually improve to achieve excellence

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At SDS, you'll be joining an award-winning organisation committed to equality, inclusion and fair work.

Our culture is shaped by our people and the values we share. These values influence how we support the people of Scotland and how we support one another as colleagues. Alongside meaningful and rewarding work, you'll benefit from flexible ways of working, a strong focus on wellbeing, learning and development opportunities, and a workplace culture that encourages collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Whether you're supporting customers to achieve their ambitions, developing your own professional practice, or working with colleagues across Scotland to deliver positive outcomes, you'll be part of an organisation that values your contribution and supports you to thrive.

Find out more about our employee benefits and why SDS is a great place to work.

Where You’ll be Working

This role is for Aberdeenshire and can be based in our Aberdeen or Inverurie office.

Aberdeenshire is a diverse and vibrant region in the north-east of Scotland, combining thriving towns, picturesque coastal communities and stunning rural landscapes. The area is well known for opportunities across energy, engineering, food and drink, agriculture, tourism and the growing renewables sector. With easy access to beaches, parks and the Cairngorms National Park, plus a strong culture, food and events scene, it offers a great quality of life and an excellent base for work and leisure.

Take a glimpse of life in Aberdeenshire and discover the stunning scenery, vibrant communities and wealth of attractions that make it such a great place to live, work and explore.

You’ll be joining a welcoming, friendly and supportive team that values collaboration, learning and continuous improvement. The team has strong connections within local communities and works together to provide high-quality support, making a real difference to the lives of people across Aberdeenshire. Colleagues are always willing to share their knowledge and experience, creating an environment where you can develop and thrive.

Ready to take the next step?

Hear from a Careers Adviser who made the move to Aberdeenshire and see why its stunning scenery, strong communities and family-friendly lifestyle make it a great place to call home.

If this opportunity interests you and you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact amy.gordon@sds.co.uk

The closing date to submit your application is Thursday 29th October 2026. Interviews are due to be scheduled as soon as possible thereafter.

Using AI

AI can be a useful tool for drafting or polishing your application. Please remember to check that everything you submit is accurate and genuinely represents your skills, experience and voice. We value authenticity and want to hear your real story.

One Last (but very important) Thing

At SDS we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you've got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from the right candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. Therefore, while we want to know about your relevant skills and experience, please avoid disclosing any identifying characteristics.

To help you prepare and perform at your best, SDS shares interview questions with all candidates in advance. This removes unnecessary barriers, supports those who benefit from additional preparation time, and helps ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process. This approach is being trialled for 6 months from April 2026.

To find out more about working at SDS and our application process please visit us at https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/work-with-us/

Internal applicants should discuss their application with their People Manager prior to applying for this post.