Growth & Scale Strategist for Scale‑Up Ecosystem in Edinburgh

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates financial services firms in the UK to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective.

Role Responsibilities

• Shape the FCA’s approach to the scale‑up sector by offering strategic leadership that clarifies risk appetite and guides Strategy25 direction.
• Develop and lead a robust evidence‑gathering programme, translating insights into clear policy and regulatory proposals for executive committees.
• Establish and track key metrics alongside qualitative evidence to measure delivery against growth objectives and demonstrate tangible impact.
• Build and lead a cross‑FCA expert group while deepening stakeholder relationships to ensure effective and timely support for scale‑up cohorts.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex portfolio issues, engaging leadership and delivering innovative, collaborative solutions.
• Represent the Unit as a trusted ambassador across internal and external forums, including major events and international engagements.
• Promote a positive team culture by sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues and working toward collective goals against shared objectives.
• Advance the FCA’s growth agenda through cross‑functional collaboration, gaining senior exposure while developing innovative fintech solutions that support the UK’s position as a top scale‑up destination.

Minimum Skills Required

• Significant experience within financial services, management consultancy or regulated technology environments, combined with ability to solve complex problems and manage delivery of initiatives without established blueprints.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, including boards, founders and C‑suite executives, with clear, credible and effective communication.
• Professional public speaker with experience delivering presentations and representing organisations in external forums and high‑profile settings.

Essential Skills

• Sound judgment with the ability to make well‑evidenced decisions in ambiguous or novel situations while balancing innovation with pragmatism.
• Demonstrable written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex regulatory and policy issues to both specialist and non‑specialist audiences.
• Ability to build and maintain trusted relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in financial regulation, supervision or implementing policy and procedures within a regulated environment.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop proposals that align with and support organisational objectives.
• Experience supporting growth and scaling within a regulated firm alongside exposure to investment funding, fundraising processes or investment cycles.
• Good awareness of the broader political and media landscape in which the organisation operates.

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid model: minimum 40 % office work each month (expectation 50 % for senior leaders; 50 % for Directors and Executive Directors from September).
• Non‑contributory pension (8 – 12 % depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary.
• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection and 24/7 Employee Assistance.
• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually.
• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle.

Disability Confident Employer

The FCA is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer; we give priority to applicants with disabilities and long‑term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role. In cases of high application volumes, we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.