The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) administers pensions for Scottish Teachers, Police, Firefighters' and National Health Service employees on behalf of the Scottish Government.
We're responsible for protecting the financial futures of over half a million people , that’s around 1 in 10 people in Scotland.
If you’re looking for meaningful work, a supportive environment and a career with purpose, you’ll find it at the SPPA.
Our office is based in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders, the train station is a short two minute walk away and offers regular services to and from Edinburgh Waverley, making it a convenient and well connected location for commuters.
The surrounding area offers access to green space, walking routes and a strong sense of local community, supporting wellbeing both in and outside of work.
Our modern office building is designed to support flexible and collaborative working, with spaces for teamwork, quiet focus and hybrid working. Colleagues benefit from a comfortable, welcoming environment that reflects our commitment to wellbeing and inclusion.
As Lead Business Analyst, you will provide strategic leadership for business analysis across SPPA, shaping the delivery of business and digital transformation that supports Scotland's public service pension schemes. Working with senior stakeholders across the organisation, you will drive the identification of opportunities, influence strategic decision-making, and ensure that change initiatives deliver measurable benefits. Your leadership will help shape services, systems and operating models that enhance outcomes for hundreds of thousands of members while supporting SPPA's long-term transformation ambitions.
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.
This post is aligned to the Business Analyst at the Lead Business Analyst level in the Product & Delivery family. Please read the technical skills for this role in the GDD role and capability information.
Demonstrable experience of leading business analysis capabilities across a variety of large and complex projects, working across different stages of the delivery lifecycle, to deliver solutions within digital initiatives or programmes which support organisational objectives.
Broad experience in designing stakeholder management strategies that engage stakeholders, build relationships, and resolve conflict where required.
Evidence of providing effective advice, guidance and recommendations to senior leaders across a wide range of digital projects enabling the successful resolution of business problems.
Find out more about Success Profiles.
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 750 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours and experience listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.
Stage one (CV & Supporting Statement review):
An initial review will be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on the above experience and behaviours in the Success Profile.
Stage two (interview and assessment):
If successful at application review, you will be invited for assessment which will consist of an in-person interview and GDD Technical Assessment at the SPPA office in Tweedbank, where we will test the majority of the Technical / Professional Skills listed in the GDD role and capability information.
The interview will also test the Experience and Behaviours in the above success profile.
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.
Sifting will commence from 10 November 2026
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 23 November 2026 , however this may be subject to change. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in-person interview and presentation at the SPPA office in Tweedbank.
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
At the SPPA, we are committed to The Fair Work Framework
This means offering:
We support flexible working and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, including those starting their careers, changing careers, or returning to work.
We are committed to removing any barriers to applying for our jobs and aim to offer support and make reasonable adjustments to allow full participation in the recruitment process.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Code and 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.
You can also find out more about careers at the SPPA here - SPPA Careers | SPPA (pensions.gov.scot)
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
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.
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
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.
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.
We will hold a reserve list for this post for 12 months.
Apply Before: 10 November 2026 (23:59) - This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only.
The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for matters that are devolved from Westminster. Areas of responsibility include the economy, health, education, justice, rural affairs, environment, and transport.
