Governance Analyst

Job Title: PMO Governance Analyst

Grade and Salary range: Grade 7, £38,448 to £48,337 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full-time (35 hours per week), Open-Ended

Organisation Name: University Governance & Operations

Purpose of Role

The PMO Governance Analyst plays a key role in establishing and embedding the University's operational governance capability. The role provides governance, assurance, performance reporting and support that enables effective oversight of operational activity, strategic initiatives and organisational performance.

Working across a complex stakeholder environment, the postholder supports governance forums, maintains governance controls and reporting, and provides insight that supports informed decision‑making and organisational accountability.

Heriot-Watt University is a leading UK university recognised for world‑class teaching and impactful, industry‑relevant research, with a strong reputation for innovation and enterprise. The University operates across five campuses in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia, offering specialist programmes in science, engineering, design, business and languages, and is Scotland's most international university by student cohort.

University Governance & Operations governs and directs both the University's global commercial operations and the governance arrangements that underpin its charitable status and professional services functions.

The Central Operational PMO sits within the Change, Performance & Transformation Directorate, which is responsible for establishing and embedding the University's change, planning, performance and transformation capabilities. The directorate supports Strategy 2035 through a university‑wide approach to governance, operational performance management, prioritisation and change delivery.

• Support the development and maintenance of governance frameworks, standards, templates and guidance to ensure consistent governance practices.
• Provide support to governance forums, including agenda management, meeting coordination, action tracking and decision recording.
• Prepare governance reports, dashboards, board papers and briefing materials for senior leaders and governance bodies.
• Produce and analyse management information to support governance oversight, performance monitoring and decision‑making.
• Analyse governance and performance information to identify trends, themes, risks and opportunities, providing insight and recommendations to support decision‑making.
• Maintain governance artefacts including action logs, decision registers, risk registers and issue logs.
• Monitor governance actions, commitments and decisions, escalating issues and overdue actions where appropriate.
• Support prioritisation and governance processes through analysis of proposals, risks, dependencies and impacts.

• Degree qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Experience working within a PMO, governance, programme, portfolio or operational management environment.
• Experience supporting governance forums, committees or boards through reporting, coordination, analysis and governance activities.
• Experience producing reports, dashboards, briefing papers and management information for senior stakeholders.
• Experience maintaining governance artefacts including actions, decisions, risks and issues.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to interpret information and provide evidence‑based insights.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and manage sensitive…