Policy Officer
| Posting date: | 18 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £38,055 to £44,817 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 July 2025 |
| Location: | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Scottish Funding Council |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: |
Summary
To assist in the development and implementation of policy for SFC’s support for Scottish university research and innovation, including provision of data analysis and the co-ordination and implementation of directorate planning.
Key responsibilities
1. Support work in monitoring and understanding the performance of the Scotland’s university research and innovation base, including data analysis and evidence development.
2. Assist in the development and implementation of strategic programmes to deliver SFC’s vision for research and innovation.
3. Undertake data analysis as required to provide advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
4. Assist in drafting Committee and Working Group papers, consultation papers, reports and letters on research and innovation policies and priorities.
5. Co-ordinate and support directorate planning processes, including ensuring timely input into cross-SFC processes and risk register development.
6. Work with and support the Director and the Directorate Leadership Group and its approach to working, planning and implementation.
Skills, qualifications and experience
Essential
• Effective oral and written communications skills, including the capacity to analyse, understand and respond to complex issues in an appropriate manner.
• Experience of liaising/working with external stakeholders.
• Good interpersonal skills in order to build, develop and maintain working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, as well as to work flexibly with colleagues in other parts of the organisation
• Experience in working with data and basic data analysis techniques.
• Excellent organisational abilities to respond to a diverse and changing workload while maintaining a high degree of attention to detail.
• A resilient, positive and flexible approach.
• Qualified to SCQF Level 9 (Degree) or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of UK Higher Education institutions.
Desirable
• Policy development or implementation experience.
• Understanding of research and innovation policy in the Scottish and UK context and of the main policy issues in higher education.
• Evidence of project management experience or a project management qualification.
• SCQF Level 9 (Degree) qualification in a numerate subject or other data qualification or equivalent experience.
Key responsibilities
1. Support work in monitoring and understanding the performance of the Scotland’s university research and innovation base, including data analysis and evidence development.
2. Assist in the development and implementation of strategic programmes to deliver SFC’s vision for research and innovation.
3. Undertake data analysis as required to provide advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
4. Assist in drafting Committee and Working Group papers, consultation papers, reports and letters on research and innovation policies and priorities.
5. Co-ordinate and support directorate planning processes, including ensuring timely input into cross-SFC processes and risk register development.
6. Work with and support the Director and the Directorate Leadership Group and its approach to working, planning and implementation.
Skills, qualifications and experience
Essential
• Effective oral and written communications skills, including the capacity to analyse, understand and respond to complex issues in an appropriate manner.
• Experience of liaising/working with external stakeholders.
• Good interpersonal skills in order to build, develop and maintain working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, as well as to work flexibly with colleagues in other parts of the organisation
• Experience in working with data and basic data analysis techniques.
• Excellent organisational abilities to respond to a diverse and changing workload while maintaining a high degree of attention to detail.
• A resilient, positive and flexible approach.
• Qualified to SCQF Level 9 (Degree) or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of UK Higher Education institutions.
Desirable
• Policy development or implementation experience.
• Understanding of research and innovation policy in the Scottish and UK context and of the main policy issues in higher education.
• Evidence of project management experience or a project management qualification.
• SCQF Level 9 (Degree) qualification in a numerate subject or other data qualification or equivalent experience.
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