Policy and Planning Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented planning professional to join our vibrant and expanding team at the heart of the University. The role will have a key focus on collaboration and will provide the opportunity to lead on and contribute to a range of projects in support of the University's new Strategic Plan, due to launch in spring 2024.

As the Policy and Planning Officer, you will work with colleagues across the institution to build a culture of strategic planning across faculties and professional services, developing use of management information to support decision making. You will be an enthusiastic and proactive individual with experience of data analysis and will have the ability to digest and organise complex information quickly and accurately to produce reports and analysis for senior managers across the University.

You will bring the initiative to work proactively and independently, will be highly organised and will have a flexible approach with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

The post-holder will report to the Deputy Head of Policy and Planning and will work closely with colleagues across the University.

Description of Duties

• To play a key role across student number forecasting and modelling activities and to contribute towards the development of the University's tuition fee budgeting exercise


• To lead on the setting of regulated student intake targets and support the associated population modelling and forecasting


• To develop a sound understanding of Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funding policy and allocations


• To lead development of the Outcome Agreement between the University and the SFC


• To investigate and analyse the external environment and report on the potential impact and opportunities for the University


• To support the implementation and evaluation of the University's new Strategic Plan


• To support the delivery of the planning and budgeting cycle working closely with faculties and professional services


• To undertake policy research and data analysis, providing reports and support to senior managers where required


• To work collaboratively to monitor and enhance the University's performance in national and international rankings and surveys, and to analyse benchmarking information


• To manage and support the work of University committees, working groups and strategic projects as appropriate, including the preparation of committee papers, discussion documents and statistical reports


• To co-ordinate and where appropriate contribute to the development of the University's responses to requests for information from external agencies, such as the Scottish Funding Council, Universities Scotland and Universities UK


• To manage and support business process/quality improvement processes supported by Policy & Planning as required


• To contribute to the overall work of Policy and Planning as required by the Head and Deputy Head of Policy and Planning
  
  Degree level or equivalent experience


• Experience of working in a policy and planning environment, with a knowledge of the higher education sector


• The ability to network and interact well with colleagues at all levels, both within and outside the University


• Excellent written communication, interpersonal and analytical skills, including a high level of IT proficiency


• Excellent analytical skills with proven ability to present results and strategic advice in the most effective formats to inform policy decision-making and strategic planning


• Experience of working independently and proactively, with limited supervision, to resolve complex issues and complete tasks and projects


• A demonstrable ability to prioritise effectively and balance a demanding and varied workload


• A sound understanding of the appropriate use of performance indicators and targets to drive improvement


• Experience of producing, manipulating and analysing complex datasets from a variety of sources to provide consolidated and meaningful management information


Desirable Criteria

• A background in Higher Education strategic planning


• Experience of coordinating complex projects