Senior Economist - Head of Information Management and Strategic Insights Unit

Ready to shape strategic decisions across Scotland's education system?

The IMSI Unit builds on the work currently undertaken by the Information Management and Insight and Evaluation Unit (IMIEU). The existing team is responsible for the delivery of key education statistical collections, GDPR and information governance compliance, management of data access requests, and the development and maintenance of school improvement tools and analytical dashboards. The team is also overseeing the transition from SEEMIS to a new Management Information System (MIS), a significant programme that will shape the future quality, availability and usability of education data.

The creation of the IMSI Unit reflects an increasing need for strategic analysis and insight generation. While continuing to oversee and evolve core information management and statistical functions, the new unit will expand its role in providing evidence-based insights to support Ministers, senior leaders and policy teams. This will involve a focus on economic analysis of public service reform and value for money assessment to inform the Scottish budget and spending reviews. It will also involve reviewing and building upon in-house economic modelling capability so that economic models can be deployed at pace to inform investment decisions.

The unit already delivers valuable products such as the National Improvement Framework Interactive Evidence Dashboard (NIFIER) and the Insights Tool, which provide schools and stakeholders with accessible performance and benchmarking information. The successful candidate will build on these foundations by developing innovative approaches to analysis, research, data linkage and performance reporting, generating new insights to support decision-making across the education system.

The postholder will lead a multidisciplinary team of approximately 10 staff, including direct line management responsibility for two C Band staff and one B Band staff member. The current team consists primarily of statisticians and data analysts, with plans to further strengthen multidisciplinary working through increased economic and social research capability.

As the senior economist within EAS, the postholder will provide professional leadership to economists across the division and ensure that economic evidence is effectively applied to support policy development, resource allocation and delivery decisions. The role offers significant opportunities to influence policy at a strategic level and communicate analytical evidence to senior officials, Ministers and external stakeholders.

The postholder will provide leadership across a broad programme of analytical work, ensuring that EAS continues to deliver robust, credible and independent evidence to improve outcomes across the education system.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Insight

• Lead the Strategic Insights and Information Management Unit, setting the strategic direction for analytical work and ensuring delivery of high-quality evidence, insight and analysis.
• Develop and deliver a programme of strategic analysis to support education reform, post-school reform, public service reform, spending reviews, budget processes and wider government priorities.
• Identify opportunities for analytical innovation, research and data linkage, maximising the value of existing evidence, data assets and analytical resources.

Analytical Delivery

• Oversee the delivery of statistical publications, research projects, data products and wider analytical programmes of work.
• Ensure the continued development and effective use of analytical tools, dashboards and performance reporting products, including NIFIER and the Insights Tool.
• Provide strategic oversight of information management and data governance activities, ensuring compliance with legislative and professional standards.

Leadership and People Management

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure staff have clear objectives, development opportunities and appropriate support to deliver high-quality analytical outputs.
• Manage resources effectively, prioritising work and allocating capacity to meet changing business needs and strategic priorities.

Professional and Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the senior economist within EAS, providing professional leadership and support to economists across the division.
• Communicate complex analytical and economic evidence clearly and persuasively to senior officials, Ministers and external stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with policy, operational and analytical colleagues, public bodies- Education Scotland, Qualification Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, academia, and other UK Government departments to maximise the impact and value of analytical work.
• Promote the use of evidence in policy development, implementation and evaluation.

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

As set out in the job profile Senior Economist – 472 – C2.docx

Government Economic Service Technical Framework to Level 3 Expert (Grade 7 equivalent)

Experience

• Proven experience as a professional economist and a strong understanding of economic concepts and analytical techniques, gathering, analysing and presenting economic data.
• Experience of leading a team and working with other professions to develop a shared evidence base to inform and influence policy.

Behaviours

• Leadership - Level 4
• Changing and Improving - Level 4
• Developing Self and Others - Level 4
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 4

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV (No more than 2 pages) 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. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview, presentation and written task.

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.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 21st or 28th September 2026 however this may be subject to change.

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

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 .

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.

Working Pattern/Location

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

You will be based in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

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 .

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

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.

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.

This post is open to Internal Scottish Government candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only. 

Please apply by 23:59 - 06/09/26