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- Tasks: Shape the future of student support by delivering impactful policies and collaborating with key partners.
- Company: Join the Student Awards Agency Scotland, a vital part of the Scottish Government.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, a supportive environment, and a diverse workforce.
- Other info: Opportunities for growth and professional development await you!
- Why this job: Make a real difference in student support while developing your career in a fast-paced setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in public sector roles and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Do you want to help shape the future of student support in Scotland? We’re looking for a motivated Policy Delivery Officer (B3) to play a key role in delivering high-impact policy across SAAS and with external partners. In this fast-paced role, you’ll work closely with Scottish Government, the Student Loans Company, and colleagues across Policy, HR and Finance to drive forward some of our most important programmes.
You’ll lead discreet policy areas, support key cross-government projects, strengthen governance through key MoUs and help ensure Scotland’s interests are represented. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy building strong relationships and want to make a real impact on how student support is shaped and delivered, we’d love to hear from you.
The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for the assessment and payment of student financial support for Scottish Students studying within the UK. SAAS administers budgets of around £1.4 billion each year, making payments to both higher education institutions and over 190,000 students a year. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.
Responsibilities
- Build and sustain effective working relationships across Scottish Government, Students Loan Company (SLC), CNOD and other key delivery partners, resolving emerging issues early through clear communication, shared understanding and accurate representation of SAAS interests in cross-government discussions to ensure alignment between policy intent and operational implementation.
- Produce high-quality reports, risk assessments, progress updates and audit trails, maintaining clear policy rationale and visibility of delivery risks to inform senior decision-making and provide robust oversight across complex programmes including Core System Replacements (CSR), SLC transformation and CNOD-related activity.
- Work closely with the Core Systems Replacement programme to ensure policy requirements and processes are clearly articulated, fully understood and embedded within future service design.
- Support briefing development and cross-government coordination for Ministerial engagement, ensuring information is accurate, timely, aligned with wider SG policy direction and supports effective oversight and decision-making.
- Own end-to-end Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) development, coordinating negotiation, consultation and approval processes across SAAS, SG and delivery partners to ensure agreements are robust, auditable and aligned with SAAS’s operational, financial and statutory responsibilities, with clear service expectations and financial arrangements.
- Deliver analytical insight and policy interpretation for CNOD’s Financial Review and its integration into SAAS’s annual Change of Session programme, ensuring policy requirements for change are fully assessed, understood and appropriately reflected in delivery planning.
- Lead policy design, assurance and implementation for new Confirmation of Payee (CoP) processes, coordinating with operational colleagues to assess impacts, embed new controls into service delivery, improve payment accuracy, reduce fraud risk and protect students.
- Work collaboratively with SLC and Scottish/UK Government partners on priority programmes including LLE, Enable IT Transformation, Loan Plan changes and Student Loan Service Enhancements (SLSE), interpreting policy, assessing operational impacts, shaping delivery options that reflect Scotland’s policy objectives, and undertaking other duties as required to support effective policy delivery, organisational readiness, delivery confidence and co-production.
Qualifications
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Professional / Technical skills
As this is a Professional role you will be required to have experience in the following technical success areas – information on this criteria can be found here: Policy Profession Standards Annex Participation and Engagement - Practitioner Policy Delivery and Systems - Practitioner.
Experience
Experience of delivering in a government or wider public sector role.
Behaviour Being Tested – Level 3
- Changing and improving
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
You can find out more about Success profiles Behaviour’s here: Behaviours Framework, Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot and Career Framework.
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 1 June 2026, however this may be subject to change.
About Us
The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for providing information, support, assessment and funding to Scottish Students undertaking a course of Higher Education (HE) within the UK. More information on SAAS can be found on our website. SAAS administers budgets of around £1.4 billion each year, making payments to both higher education institutions and over 190,000 students a year. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits.
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Working pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Please note, SAAS have separate public holiday arrangements and are fully closed between Christmas and New Year.
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. This post is open to Internal Scottish Government candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only. Closing date for applications: 23:59 - 18/05/26
Policy Delivery Officer in Edinburgh employer: Scottish Government
Contact Detail:
Scottish Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Policy Delivery Officer in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Networking is key! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to SAAS or the Scottish Government. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews like a pro! Research common questions for policy roles and think about how your experiences align with the responsibilities listed. Practising with a mate can help you feel more confident.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for student support! When you get the chance to speak with interviewers, share why this role excites you and how you can contribute to shaping policies that make a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at SAAS.
We think you need these skills to ace Policy Delivery Officer in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is tailored to the job description. Highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Policy Delivery Officer. We want to see your unique perspective on how you can contribute to shaping student support in Scotland!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Showcase Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous roles; showcase specific examples of how you've delivered in a government or public sector role. We’re looking for evidence of your ability to build relationships and drive policy forward, so make those experiences shine!
Check Your Work: Before hitting submit, double-check your application for any typos or errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial for the Policy Delivery Officer role. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Government
✨Know Your Policy Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the current policies affecting student support in Scotland. Familiarise yourself with recent changes and how they impact students. This will not only show your interest but also your ability to engage in informed discussions.
✨Build Relationships Virtually
Since this role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, practice how you would build rapport with them. Think of examples where you've successfully worked with different teams or organisations. Be ready to discuss how you can foster strong relationships in a fast-paced environment.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, especially regarding policy delivery and stakeholder engagement. Prepare by thinking through potential challenges you might face in the role and how you would address them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Policy Delivery Officer, analytical insight is key. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data to inform decisions in past roles. Bring examples of reports or assessments you’ve produced that demonstrate your ability to analyse complex information and present it clearly.