6 jobs in Scottish Funding Council

Senior Business Analyst (Grade E3)

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.

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).

• 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.

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

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

• 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. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.
• Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and professional development. Civil Service‑Learning curriculum has thoughtfully designed to cater to various learning preferences, allowing employees to engage in a manner that best suits their needs. All our educational resources are conveniently accessible through the CSL website.
• Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.
• 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 also operate a flexible working scheme to work around a candidate's other commitments such as caring responsibilities. We will consider secondment applications for most salaried fixed‑term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions. If you are interested in applying on a secondment basis and this option is not explicitly mentioned in the job advert, please contact for further information.

Scottish Funding Council in Edinburgh is seeking a Senior Business Analyst (Grade E3) to drive digital transformation by refining business processes and re-designing workflows. This permanent, full-time role features hybrid working and a Civil Service Pension with employer contributions.

The package includes flexible hours and a strong focus on delivering value from digital investments. You will gather requirements, document specifications, collaborate with IT, and help define KPIs to ensure

The Scottish Funding Council invites applications for a hybrid Edinburgh-based policy role within Corporate Services. The post focuses on shaping policy through analysis, engaging with partners, and advising senior leadership.

The appointee will prepare committee papers and high-level briefings while contributing to cross-organisation policy coherence. The role requires strong policy analysis, stakeholder management, and the ability to deliver under time constraints.

Application Deadline: 7 June 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Location: Edinburgh - Hybrid

Compensation: Grade E3 £49,938 - £58,134 Salary. 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.

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 role will conclude in February 2027.

• Lead and/or support (variously) the development of key areas of policy which shape the breadth of SFC’s work, engaging with colleagues from across the organisation.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.

Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and professional development. Civil Service‑Learning curriculum has thoughtfully designed to cater to various learning preferences, allowing employees to engage in a manner that best suits their needs. All our educational resources are conveniently accessible through the CSL website.

Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.

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 candidate’s circumstances. We also operate a flexible working scheme to work around a candidate’s other commitments such as caring responsibilities.

We will consider secondment applications for most salaried fixed‑term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions. If you are interested in applying on a secondment basis and this option is not explicitly mentioned in the job advert, please contact for further information.

Scottish Funding Council in Edinburgh requires an analyst to support Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund (KEIF) delivery. Hybrid working and flexible hours are available, with a 35-hour week and Civil Service pension benefits.

You will analyse data, develop guidance for institutions, and work with universities and government officials to monitor policy impacts and investment outcomes. The role emphasizes collaboration and high attention to detail.