Senior Policy Lead (18-Month Contract) – Education & Innovation

Temporary Senior Policy Officer (Grade E3) 18 Months Fixed Term Contract

Application Deadline: 7 June 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Edinburgh - Hybrid

Reporting To: AD Policy

Compensation: Grade E3 £49,938 - £58,134 Salary. 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 policy team is responsible for bringing coherence to SFC’s policy reviews, analysing and developing policy positions for the future that contribute to wider economic and education impacts, and supporting SFC’s strategic relationships with relevant UK stakeholders. In practice this includes shaping specific areas of policy which span the breadth of SFC’s work, supporting key national consultations or policy reviews that require cross-organisation coordination, and working with key partners across the UK to act as a channel of intelligence on external developments and advising on the implications for SFC. This post will be heavily involved in the ‘College Sector of the Future’ project. This post is expected to last around 18 months.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and/or support the development of key areas of policy which shape the breadth of SFC’s work, engaging with colleagues from across the organisation. This will include leading workstreams underpinning SFC’s contribution to the ‘College Sector of the Future’ project.
• Take responsibility for engagement with key partners, ensuring SFC’s policy positions are clearly understood and that there is effective and proactive stakeholder management.
• Horizon-scan and provide advice, support and guidance to internal and external Scottish stakeholders, producing briefings, reports and committee papers as required for SFC senior management and key stakeholders.
• Provide advice and guidance to institutions and stakeholders (both internal and external) as required. Draft and present policy and strategy papers at committee and board level. Draft high-level briefings, speeches and other materials for senior SFC staff and board members.
• Represent SFC at external meetings, conferences and other events, including giving presentations, chairing and facilitating discussions when required.
• Provide effective line management to other team members as required.
• Contribute flexibly to the work of the wider directorate and other groups in SFC as appropriate and when required. From time to time this may include deputising for your line manager or other colleagues.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

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

• Experience of leading on, or having direct input to, analysis-based policy development, stakeholder engagement and influencing within a complex political environment.
• A proven track record of delivering high quality and effective outputs within time and resource constraints.
• Effective organisational and project management abilities to cope with a diverse and changing workload in a politicised environment.
• Proven ability to analyse, understand and respond to complex issues in an appropriate manner, demonstrating good judgement.
• Ability to interpret, analyse and explain complex information to audiences with varying degrees of expertise.
• Resilient and adaptable in periods of uncertainty.
• Degree level education (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 9) or equivalent experience.

Desirable Skills

• Previous experience of strategic planning in the college sector.
• Evidence of subject matter experience relevant to the role.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating projects/programmes.
• A proven track record of leading and managing people.
• Knowledge of the further and/or higher education sector.
• A demonstrable understanding of the current Scottish political and Government operating environment.

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. With its low member contribution rates and generous employer contributions, this gives you a secure, inflation-proof pension for life with no investment uncertainty.
• Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and 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.
• We provide support to SFC employees with Volunteering Days.
• 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 candidates circumstances.
• We will consider secondment applications for most salaried fixed-term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions.