Assistant Director of Outcomes (Learning and Quality)

Edinburgh/Hybrid

Everything we do at the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) aims to create the right environment for colleges and universities to thrive individually and collectively.

The Scottish Funding Council is Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority. Our ambition is to make Scotland an outstanding place to learn, educate, research, and innovate – now and for the future. So, naturally, we have a clear focus on recruiting the best people and developing them throughout their career. 

We invest around £2 billion every year, and our funding enables colleges and universities to provide life-changing opportunities for over half a million people. 

We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but also people who will connect with our guiding principles which include working in partnership, championing diversity, and supporting sustainability for future generations.

By fostering our guiding principles, we are very proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created.  We are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds: we want our colleague base to reflect the people and communities that we serve.

Job Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the Scottish Funding Council’s policy work around learning and quality. The role includes leading engagement with key stakeholders in Scotland (such as the Quality Assurance Agency, Education Scotland, College Development Network and sparqs) as well as across the UK. You will work flexibly across a broad range of areas from the new approach to quality assurance and enhancement in Scotland’s universities and colleges at a sectors-level, through developing learning and quality policy areas (such as the national student surveys and microcredentials), to leading engagement with individual institutions on a range of matters. You will lead a small, friendly and supportive team that delivers high quality work across the range of its policy brief. The successful applicant will have effective organisation, and project management skills to cope with a diverse and changing workload.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of SFC’s Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability, particularly as it pertains to learning and quality.
• Support the Deputy Director Assurance and Outcomes on the development and implementation of the common approach to quality in universities and colleges.
• Lead and manage key stakeholder engagement, ensuring positive relationships are developed; support the strategic ambition and work of SFC.
• Work in partnership with SFC’s Policy, Insight and Analytics Directorate to drive out and detail key management information requirements to support SFC’s learning and quality interests.
• Work in partnership with SFC directorates and teams to ensure joined up approach to engagement with stakeholders and an SFC view of assurance, accountability and risk at institutions.
• Work effectively with other colleagues, including external consultants, delegating work appropriately both to direct reports and those who are supporting key projects.
• Lead SFC engagement for a portfolio of institutions, including maintaining current knowledge on your portfolio and use this information to support the development and monitoring of outcome agreements and to brief colleagues.
• Advise the Senior Management Team, the Board and relevant Committees by providing briefings and high-quality papers and discussion pieces to stimulate and direct dialogue and recommendations.
• Represent SFC at a senior level on external committees and fora, as required, interacting with senior leaders from across the college and university sectors.

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

• Experience of policy development, stakeholder engagement and influencing within a complex political environment, particularly with institutions, national and local governments and agencies. 
• Experience of learning and quality in a university or college context.
• A proven track record of leading and managing people.  
• A demonstrable understanding of the current Scottish political and Government operating environment. 
• Good awareness of further and higher education issues in Scotland.
• A proven track record in the development and implementation of policy, with the ability to think strategically and creatively. Demonstrating good judgement when analysing and responding to complex issues.
• High-level oral and written communication skills, including experience of representation and negotiation at a senior level.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well as part of a team.
• Qualified to SCQF Level 9 (Degree) or equivalent experience.

 Desirable

• Effective analytical skills and considerable experience of analysis-based policy development. 

Alongside your salary of £56,409, Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council contributes
£15,230 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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 26.5 days pro-rata, rising to 30 days pro-rata after 4 years’ continuous service. Public and privilege holiday entitlement of 11.5 days pro-rata.
• A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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Job contact :

• Name : Hannah.Foster@reed.com
• Email : Hannah.Foster@reed.com

Recruitment team

• Email : Hannah.Foster@reed.com