Senior Business Analyst (Grade E3) in Edinburgh

Application Deadline: 2 August 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Edinburgh - Hybrid

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

Description: 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 the role is to support Scottish Funding Council's (SFC) business owners become more actively involved in the design of the digital solutions that will automate manual processes, drive up efficiency and empower them to create measurable added value.

Virtual interviews will be held week commencing 10 August 2026 (via Teams).

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct research and analysis of SFC operations, processes, and systems to identify areas for improvement and optimisation that align with our digital goals and strategic ambitions.
• Gather, analyse, and document business requirements from stakeholders and develop functional specifications.
• Collaborate with cross-directorate teams to develop and implement new processes and systems to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identify and analyse trends, patterns, and insights to make informed decisions and develop actionable recommendations for process improvements that support digital and modernisation.
• Work with IT to design, develop, and implement automated workflows and reporting solutions to support business operations that align with the goals of SFC.
• Working with a project manager to support the development of project plans, timelines, and deliverables that align with the strategic goals of SFC.
• Develop and maintain project and process documentation, including requirements, design, test plans, and user manuals, that support the delivery of Digital Transformation.
• Support the development and maintenance of key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor business performance that quantifies value and return of our digital investments.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise:

It is important through your CV / cover letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Extensive experience in business analysis, project management, or related fields.
• Effective analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify trends and insights from complex data sets.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to develop and manage project plans, timelines, and deliverables that align with the goals of SFC.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel and PowerPoint.
• Degree level education (SCQF Level 9) or equivalent experience, preferably in business, finance or a related field.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience with SQL and/or data visualization tools such as PowerBI would be an advantage.

Terms and Benefits:

• 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.
• Support for continuous professional development.
• Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Support for travel to and from work, including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest‑free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking for employees on a first‑come basis.
• Although most salaried roles are advertised as full time positions (35 hours a week), we are happy to discuss part‑time or compressed hours to suit a candidate's circumstances.
• We will consider secondment applications for most salaried fixed‑term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions.