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The Finance Directorate’s Funding Team (12 staff members) is responsible for the annual allocation of circa £2bn to colleges and universities for teaching, research, student support and capital, and the policy development and modelling that underpins those allocations. The team is also responsible for the management of funding allocated to controlled subjects (both health-related and teacher training). Working within this Team, you will lead and support the development and implementation of all aspects of SFC student support funding/policy for Further Education students at colleges and initial teacher education (ITE) funding/policy for universities.

The postholder will report to the Senior Policy Analysis Officer, Funding and will assist in the development, preparation and delivery of all student support related policies and associated funding allocations. The postholder will also respond to enquiries relating to student support guidance from the college sector, students already studying and prospective students seeking information regarding accessing funds to support their studies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain policy advice, and draft guidance, on matters relating to all Further Education (FE) student support funding, including Bursary, Childcare and Discretionary funding.
• Provide advice, guidance and support, and develop close working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Represent SFC on relevant committees and working groups as necessary.
• Draft documents, including reports, papers and minutes, as necessary for Senior Management and other stakeholders. Prepare agendas and advice for meetings and committees as required.
• Liaise with key agencies involved in student finance and student welfare. Work collaboratively and in partnership with colleagues in Scottish Government, Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS), Colleges Scotland and College Development Network.
• Plan and coordinate events as necessary, such as sector workshops, working groups and SFC’s annual Further Education Student Support Advisory Group (FESSAG).
• Develop a basic understanding of the interaction between the SFC’s student support policies (and the associated allocation methods) and broader contextual policies including from the Scottish Government, the equivalent policies for Higher Education (HE) student support operated by SAAS, FE and HE institutional funding systems, the benefits system (including tax credits) and residency regulations.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to undertake such duties commensurate with their grade or that may reasonably be required of them.

Person Specification

Essential Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Good level of oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to plan complex pieces of work and coordinate their implementation with a number of different stakeholders.
• Effective organisational skills (including good personal management).
• Good interpersonal skills (able to deal with student funding queries in a professional and sensitive manner).
• Ability to think about how the work of the Finance Directorate (particularly the Funding Policy and Student Support teams) can have wider implications for other policy areas.
• Ability to work well under pressure, with the flexibility to manage a diverse range of priorities and react positively to change.
• Good IT skills (MS Outlook / Word / Excel).
• Degree level education (SCQF level 9) or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Experience of policy development or implementation.
• Knowledge of the further and/or higher education sector in Scotland.
• Familiarity with Universal Credit and other aspects of benefits / social security systems.

• • 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.

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