Senior Policy Officer
| Posting date: | 20 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £48,249 to £56,166 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 February 2026 |
| Location: | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Scottish Funding Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
To develop and lead the delivery against SFC’s statutory duties and strategic framework in relation to student interests and high-quality learning and teaching. This role will support SFC to better understand the student, learner and apprentice experience.
Key responsibilities
1. Manage the implementation of SFC’s approach to student interests, in particular:
• The creation of opportunities for students, learners and apprentices to engage with and participate in the work of SFC. This will include the provision of advice and training to staff at all levels of the organisation.
• Identification of current student interest priorities to support focused and meaningful action to reduce or remove barriers to success.
2. Work with others to develop student interests related external communications activity including the development and implementation of a range of engagement events and activities to support SFC to develop its understanding of the student experience.
3. Develop and lead the implementation of the SFC’s approach to reporting on the outcomes of student interests activity, ensuring that students, learners and apprentices, recent graduates and practitioners can engage with the activities themselves as well as the outputs.
4. Support colleagues to understand the impact of funding and wider policy decisions on students, learners and apprentices by working in partnership to review the current use of information and data about the student experience and how this can be used to best effect in the future.
5. Maintain and develop your knowledge of the tertiary system and relevant policy areas and use this information to support the development of SFC’s work to enhance the student experience.
6. Research, produce and present briefing notes, reports, presentations and papers as required for SFC senior management and key internal and external stakeholders to ensure colleagues are well informed advised, guided and updated.
7. Contribute to the management of relationships with, and between, key internal and external stakeholders and represent SFC at external meetings, conferences and other events, including giving presentations, chairing and facilitating discussions when required.
8. Work in partnership with the Internal Communications Officer to lead the student interests internal communications activity in line with SFC’s Internal Communications Strategy.
9. This post may include management of funding through the Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Fund and line management of staff and paid student interns.
10. Contribute flexibly to the work of the wider directorate and other groups in SFC as appropriate and when required. From time to time this may include deputising for your line manager or other colleagues.
Skills, qualifications and experience
Essential
• Experience of community engagement and/or working in partnership with service users and delivering outcomes that enhanced their experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills in order to manage, co-ordinate and influence a programme of activity to deliver a national impact.
• Excellent research, analytical and reporting skills to provide advice and respond to complex issues.
• Strong organisational and project management abilities to manage change and cope with diverse and flexible workload in a politicised environment.
• Experience of managing and developing staff and working collectively and with impact as part of a team.
• Demonstrable policy development or implementation experience.
• Degree level education (SCQF level 9) or equivalent experience relevant to the role as outlined by this job description.
Desirable
• Experience of working in partnership with students, learners and/or apprentices and delivering outcomes that enhanced their experience
• Knowledge of the further and/or higher education sector and good understanding of the current Scottish political and government environment
• Experience of delivering training or similar activities to a wide range of audiences
Key responsibilities
1. Manage the implementation of SFC’s approach to student interests, in particular:
• The creation of opportunities for students, learners and apprentices to engage with and participate in the work of SFC. This will include the provision of advice and training to staff at all levels of the organisation.
• Identification of current student interest priorities to support focused and meaningful action to reduce or remove barriers to success.
2. Work with others to develop student interests related external communications activity including the development and implementation of a range of engagement events and activities to support SFC to develop its understanding of the student experience.
3. Develop and lead the implementation of the SFC’s approach to reporting on the outcomes of student interests activity, ensuring that students, learners and apprentices, recent graduates and practitioners can engage with the activities themselves as well as the outputs.
4. Support colleagues to understand the impact of funding and wider policy decisions on students, learners and apprentices by working in partnership to review the current use of information and data about the student experience and how this can be used to best effect in the future.
5. Maintain and develop your knowledge of the tertiary system and relevant policy areas and use this information to support the development of SFC’s work to enhance the student experience.
6. Research, produce and present briefing notes, reports, presentations and papers as required for SFC senior management and key internal and external stakeholders to ensure colleagues are well informed advised, guided and updated.
7. Contribute to the management of relationships with, and between, key internal and external stakeholders and represent SFC at external meetings, conferences and other events, including giving presentations, chairing and facilitating discussions when required.
8. Work in partnership with the Internal Communications Officer to lead the student interests internal communications activity in line with SFC’s Internal Communications Strategy.
9. This post may include management of funding through the Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Fund and line management of staff and paid student interns.
10. Contribute flexibly to the work of the wider directorate and other groups in SFC as appropriate and when required. From time to time this may include deputising for your line manager or other colleagues.
Skills, qualifications and experience
Essential
• Experience of community engagement and/or working in partnership with service users and delivering outcomes that enhanced their experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills in order to manage, co-ordinate and influence a programme of activity to deliver a national impact.
• Excellent research, analytical and reporting skills to provide advice and respond to complex issues.
• Strong organisational and project management abilities to manage change and cope with diverse and flexible workload in a politicised environment.
• Experience of managing and developing staff and working collectively and with impact as part of a team.
• Demonstrable policy development or implementation experience.
• Degree level education (SCQF level 9) or equivalent experience relevant to the role as outlined by this job description.
Desirable
• Experience of working in partnership with students, learners and/or apprentices and delivering outcomes that enhanced their experience
• Knowledge of the further and/or higher education sector and good understanding of the current Scottish political and government environment
• Experience of delivering training or similar activities to a wide range of audiences
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