Senior Public Affairs and Communications Officer

Senior Public Affairs and Communications Officer

Universities Scotland

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.

This is an important, fixed-term, position for 12-months in a small but high-performance public affairs team. The role will involve broad responsibilities for the development and maintenance of effective relationships with the Scottish and UK Parliaments, the Scottish media and stakeholders in the interests of our member institutions. The post holder will play a significant role in the development of persuasive communications, briefing materials, events and other actions in pursuit of the organisation’s policy and funding objectives.

The role will suit a creative and outcomes focused individual with previous experience in a campaigning organisation, someone with good political knowledge and someone with a passion for higher education.

Universities Scotland is a team of 16 staff covering all aspects of policy that affect a complex, >£5 billion sector. 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.

Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 14 December 2026.

Universities UK (UUK) is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join UUK.

Find out more about working at UUK and our equality, diversity and inclusion action plan on our website.

Universities UK operates a hybrid working framework involving the opportunity to work from home and in the office. There will be a small number of roles where employees will be required to work from an office, but typically the majority of employees will be able to work remotely on average 60% of their working week. All employees are welcome to use their contractual office for their whole working week if that is their preference.