Job Purpose

The Planning Officer will support the work of the Planning, Insight & Analytics (PIA) directorate at the University of Glasgow. PIA sits at the heart of University Services and provides data and analysis to support decision-making at the highest level. This role sits within PIA’s Policy & Planning team, which leads on providing higher education policy and data analysis to the institution, as well as supporting the University’s internal planning. The successful candidate will support decision-making across a wide range of stakeholders at the highest levels - including leads on Learning & Teaching, Research, Innovation, and Sustainable Development Goals amongst others.

The post requires the holder be comfortable interpreting higher education policy, extracting and analysing related data, and effectively communicating the stories found in both the data and the policy considerations relevant to university decision-making. In return for your valuable expertise, you will benefit from working within a supportive department, and in close collaboration with subject matter experts and colleagues in leadership roles across the university.

Main Duties

• Proactively monitor and advise senior PIA colleagues, Senior Management Group and others on Scottish Government HE policy, particularly in relation to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), ensuring broad understanding of policy and legislative developments.

• Provide analysis and responses to regular and ad hoc SFC and Scottish Government requests, e.g. SFC funding recovery and setting intake targets in consultation with College and School heads.

• Coordinate with the University’s Government Relations team and the Principal’s Office in their engagement with Scottish Government, SFC and other sector bodies.

• Support the annual Intake Target setting process, working with Admissions colleagues and Colleges to set targets which are compliant with our SFC funding allocations and providing analysis across the University’s full suite of intake targets.

• Support colleagues across the institution in fulfilling the reporting requirements of the SFC’s Outcomes Framework & Assurance Model (OF&AM), particularly in drawing from PIA’s data analytics to support key arguments with data, ensuring that the institution maintains our reputation as forward-thinking and compliant.

• Proactively engage with UK Government HE policy issues that affect the University e.g. Immigration and research policy developments.

• Production of ad-hoc papers and summary documents as required.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Planning, Insight & Analytics function to present and issue analysis and insight across the University. Contribute to the wider Planning, Insight & Analytics strategic direction.

• To undertake training and development relevant to the requirements of the post.

• Represent the team at meetings, external groups/conferences and seminars to keep up to date with national developments and gain and share information/knowledge of working practices in the higher education context.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Either: Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Knowledge of principles and practices of policy and data analysis.

A3 Thorough understanding of the role of data in supporting decision-making, and experience in the application of specialist knowledge to guide and inform decision-making at senior management level.

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge of university structures and policy practices.

B2 Knowledge of the Scottish, UK and Global Higher Education landscape.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Proven business analysis skills, evaluating evidence to provide insight.

C2 Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.

C3 Able to engage with people, build credible relationships and influence stakeholders.

C4 Ability to multi–task and use own initiative.

C5 Proven ability to work as part of a team.

C6 Ability to identify process weaknesses and develop solutions.

C7 Ability to collaborate cross-functionally.

C8 Ability and commitment to work calmly under pressure in a busy environment and achieve high quality work standards.

C9 Excellent IT skills including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

C10 Ability to adapt in a changing environment.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant relevant experience in a similar or analogous role.

E2 Experience of writing executive level reports and clearly presenting complex subject matter to a range of colleagues at all levels.

E3 Experience in informing and influencing strategic decision-making.

E4 Experience of working across multiple complex data sets and delivering a range of data analysis and insight.

E5 Experience in a role that requires attention to detail and an awareness of the importance of accuracy.

Desirable:

F1 Experience working with data through BI platforms (e.g. PowerBI, Tableau, etc).

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

Closing Date: 23:45 9th July 2025

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.