Funding Policy Officer

**Description**:
To assist in the development, preparation and delivery of all student support related policies and associated funding allocations. 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.

We are happy to consider this role as a secondment opportunity.

**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- Develop and maintain policy advice, and draft guidance, on matters relating to all Further Education (FE) student support funding, including Bursary, Childcare and Discretionary funding.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 Awards 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.

**Skills, Knowledge and Expertise**:
**It is important through your CV / Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria**:

- Essential_
- 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).
- Qualified to at least SCQF Level 9 (Degree), or equivalent level 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.

**Terms and Benefits**:

- 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 2 years’ continuous service. 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