Temporary Senior Policy Officer; Grade E3

Final date to receive applications: 22 November 2026

Department: Strategic Transformation & Skills

Employment Type: Fixed Term
- Full Time

Location: Edinburgh
- Hybrid

Compensation: Grade E3 £ 49,938 to £58,134. Civil Service Pension with Employer Contribution of 28.97%. Flexible Working Hours. Hybrid Working.

Our ambition is for Scotland to be the best place in the world to learn, educate, research and innovate, so that all of our nation can flourish.

Our purpose is to create and sustain a world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation that changes lives for the better, enriches society and supports sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The purpose of this role is to support the implementation of the Tackling Child Poverty funding project and other strategic skills policy areas.

The post will provide policy and delivery support, working with internal and external stakeholders to support effective implementation.

We expect that this role will end in July 2027.

• Working as part of a team, contribute to the development of SFC operational policy in relation to the implementation of strategic skills policy programmes.
• Prioritise policy and delivery implications for SFC and support delivery to ensure implementation meets SFC's strategic objectives.
• Actively identify and manage problems, risks and issues which may affect the successful delivery of key policy functions.
• Lead engagement and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide briefings, advice and guidance to Deputy Director Skills and Coherent Provision, senior leaders, governance boards and Scottish Government.
• Represent SFC at external meetings, conferences and other events, including giving presentations, chairing and facilitating discussions when required.

It is important through your CV / Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria:

Essential:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including experience of representation and building/developing and maintaining work relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to foster a culture of trust, co-operation and team working to ensure projects are delivered to scope and time.
• Proven ability to research analyse, understand and respond to complex issues appropriately, demonstrating good judgement.
• Ability to explain complex information to audiences with varying degrees of expertise. High-level oral and written communication skills.
• Strong policy development or implementation experience.
• Strong organisational and programme management abilities to cope with diverse and changing workload in a politicised environment.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a public body, college or university sector, or within education and skills policy.
• Degree level education (SCQF level
  9) or equivalent experience.

• Normal full-time hours of work are 35 per week. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi-time system is in operation.
• Annual leave entitlement of 30 days pro-rata, plus public and privilege holiday entitlement of 13 days pro-rata.
• A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home anywhere in the UK for some of the time while also maintaining regular in-person contact with colleagues.
• Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government's Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with our recognised trade union, Unite. Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. With its low member contribution rates…