Senior Policy Officer

Universities Scotland is the representative organisation for Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions (HEIs). We are highly influential in ensuring that politicians, government, and its agencies make decisions that promote higher education and its contribution to our economy, culture, and society.

We are seeking an energetic and creative individual to fill an exciting Senior Policy Officer role, leading on research, innovation, and regional economic development policy. The role is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of Scottish higher education, working closely with Principals and senior colleagues in universities, government, funders, and other representative bodies.

Universities Scotland is a team of 16 staff covering all aspects of policy that affect a complex, >£5 billion sector. We aim to be a confident, creative organisation, with an emphasis on learning and integrity. In developing evidence-based policy proposals and the promotion of our messages, we aim to achieve a positive and significant impact for our members.

You will have a strong ability to assimilate and analyse large amounts of evidence, understanding members’ and stakeholders’ priorities, and developing policy proposals that can influence our key audiences. You will have the capacity to be authoritative and persuasive in your presentation to senior audiences within and outside Universities Scotland.

The successful applicant will have the flexibility to build and maintain a wide range of stakeholder connections; understand diverse issues and perspectives quickly; build strategic connections between varied policy areas; and work with our specialist public affairs and communications team to turn evidence into persuasive stories. You will also work more broadly across our team to deliver on key policy and advocacy issues across our responsibilities.

This role is based at our office in Edinburgh, but our team works on a hybrid basis between the office, homeworking, and attending meetings in the sector and with other stakeholders.

Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 17 December 2026.

Apply here.