Universities Scotland is recruiting for a role in our Public Affairs and Communications team. This is an exciting opportunity to be a core part of a fast-paced and high-impact team working to influence politicians in Holyrood and Westminster.

Universities Scotland is the representative organisation for Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions. We are highly influential in ensuring that politicians, government and its agencies make decisions that promote higher education and its contribution to our nation's success.

The Public Affairs and Communications Executive is part of a small public affairs team and will provide vital support to the organisation’s influence with Government and Parliament at Scottish and UK levels. The successful candidate will be energetic, highly organised and a strong communicator; someone who is happy working to deadlines and juggling multiple projects and tasks. As a strong communicator, the successful candidate will be comfortable using a variety of traditional and online channels to convey our message. A proven team-worker, the post holder will have excellent organisational and administrative skills, be able to form effective relationships with colleagues across the organisation and the Scottish higher education sector. This role will suit someone with a passion for higher education and strong interest in politics. Previous experience coordinating events of various size and scale would be very advantageous.

Universities Scotland is based in Edinburgh but expect to continue to offer staff a hybrid working pattern long-term with home working (by agreement) available indefinitely.

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.

Working with the leaders of Scotland’s HEIs, we are a team of 15 staff. 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.

We have a vacancy in our team for a Senior Policy Officer. As the successful applicant, you will work in an exciting role at the heart of higher education policy and across multiple areas of expertise, with a particular initial focus on widening access, learning and teaching. You will work with colleagues across our team of 15 on a range of policy issues. You will also have the adaptability to support other areas of Universities Scotland’s policy portfolio as required.