Deputy Director, Strategic Institutional Support; Grade M2

Final date to receive applications: 18 October 2026

Department: Institutional Performance

Employment Type: Permanent
- Full Time

Location: Edinburgh
- Hybrid

Compensation: Grade M2 £ 80,421 to £93,936. Civil Service Pension. 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.

In this role, you will develop and lead the new Strategic Institutional Support team, building the skills and capacity within SFC to develop and deliver specialist advice, focused on those institutions experiencing stress or distress with a view to supporting informed decision making at senior management, executive and board level, and to inform internal and external reporting and guidance to internal stakeholders.

• Lead and oversee activity carried out by the team, in its engagement with, and support given to, institutions experiencing stress or distress through the analysis of information and data.
• Working closely with all SFC directorates, Scottish Government and external advisors to lead or support a project response through the provision of specialist support and advice.
• Lead a review of business plans, governance arrangements and cash flow forecasts and to apply commercial judgment to develop stabilisation, restructuring and/or turnaround options and detailed contingency plans.
• Provide accurate, expert, and professional advice with use of sound judgement, evidence, and knowledge to enable informed decision making by institutional senior management teams including, executive officers and boards.
• Advise on the preparation of contingency plans to ensure continuity of supply where there are concerns regarding the financial sustainability of an institution.
• Manage multiple cases and being part of multiple project teams, ensuring that senior individuals within SFC and Scottish Government are engaged and briefed on key issues.
• Identify issues, situations, and challenges where the expertise of the Strategic Institutional Support Team can be applied to support the work of other SFC directorates and teams.

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

Essential:

• Understanding of the further and higher education sector.
• Current or recent experience of accounting, and/or legal and governance practices and frameworks.
• Proven leadership skills
  - Managing and engaging people with integrity to create positive, professional, and trusted working relationships.
• Excellent commercial experience, including assessment of business plans, governance and legal frameworks and cash flow forecasts, options analysis and contingency planning.
• Strong written and oral communication - the ability to communicate complex scenarios with clarity and conviction to stakeholders and non-experts, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions as part of a team and with colleagues at all levels.
• Proven ability to plan, lead, prioritise, and deliver complex projects.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills focused on building strong relationships with, and influencing stakeholders in challenging situations.
• Adaptability to rapidly changing circumstances.

Desirable:

• Broader experience in areas such as mergers and acquisitions and financial due diligence.
• Knowledge of insolvency and governance regulation and…