Job Description

Are you experienced in HR and Resourcing and ready to take the next step in your career?

This role is based in the SAAS People and Performance Team, which comprises eight members of staff (including this post) and delivers people services to around 250 SAAS colleagues. We are a dynamic team providing both operational and advisory services across a wide range of people-related areas, working closely with colleagues to make a real difference in Human Resources, Resourcing and Workforce Planning, Organisational Learning and Development, Employee Engagement, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

The People and Performance Consultant role is a new and exciting post. You will be responsible for managing HR casework and resourcing activity, supporting the SAAS Executive Team, Senior Management Team, line managers, and employees as part of the People and Performance service and the delivery of outcomes from the SAAS People Strategy (2025–30).

You will provide expert HR and resourcing advice across recruitment, workforce planning, HR casework, and policy, reporting to the Senior People and Performance Consultant. This is a fast-paced, high-impact role focused on shaping strategic workforce decisions across SAAS, requiring sound judgement, professionalism, and the ability to balance operational delivery with strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead on and provide expert data-driven resourcing advice and support, using workforce data, to the Chief Executive and ET, line managers and employees on all resourcing-related matters, including recruitment, workforce planning, succession planning and organisational restructuring.
• Manage HR casework, including complex issues and dismissals, by advising line managers on HR policy, risk, and options, while fostering effective relationships with trade union partners.
• Provide expert HR advice, support and coaching to line managers and employees on complex issues (informal and formal) including performance management, sick absence, discipline and grievances - collaborating with Scottish Government HR, Legal and Scottish Government Delivery Bodies.
• Provide professional HR advice and support to managers and employees during organisational change processes. This includes advising on policy, supporting consultation with staff and trade union partners, assessing people impacts, and ensuring that change proposals, communications and implementation plans are fair, legally compliant and aligned with SAAS workforce needs.
• Undertake the SAAS Systems Business Manager (SBM) role on Oracle HR by overseeing position control, governance, and change management, aligning people to professions and leading the organisational structure changes.
• Support the drafting of guidance, reports, and communications for people initiatives by researching, collaborating with experts, and analysing and interpreting data to inform recommendations.
• Lead and co-ordinate activities and initiatives identified in the annual SAAS People Plan, working across topic areas such as Workforce Planning and Continuous Improvement and Performance Management.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Scottish Government HR Shared Services and other Scottish Government Delivery Bodies to share best practice.

Qualifications

You must hold CIPD qualification (or currently working towards).

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical/Professional Skills:

• Understanding key HR policies and processes – Working.

Experience:

• Proven track record of working in an HR casework and Recruitment/Resourcing environment.

Behaviours:

• Communication and influencing – Level 3.
• Making effective decisions - Level 3.
• Working together - Level 3.

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 16 March 2026, however this may be subject to change.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About Us

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for providing information, support, assessment and funding to Scottish Students undertaking a course of Higher Education (HE) within the UK. More information on SAAS can be found on our website https://www.saas.gov.uk.

SAAS administer budgets of around £1.4 billion each year, making payments to both higher education institutions and over 190,000 students a year. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. SAAS have a hybrid working arrangement with colleagues expected to attend the office (Saughton House, Edinburgh) a minimum of 6 days per month.

SAAS have separate Public and Privilege holiday arrangements and are fully closed between Christmas and New Year. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact Peter Hamilton

Security checks Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide Equality statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. Apply before 23:59 on WILL BE ADDED ONCE QA CHECKED.