Description Job Description Are you interested in working in a project and programme environment? If you are, then the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) has an exciting opportunity for you to join our Portfolio Management Office (PMO). Weare looking for an individual to fill our Project Support Officer (PSO) role and for someone who can demonstrate strong planning and organisation skills, prioritise workloads to meet deadlines and who can work closely with others in a friendly and supportive environment to drive progress and deliver changes. The PSO is responsible for supporting the project delivery professional through a diverse range of duties. They can be solely focussed on a single project discipline or be expected to provide a broad range of project management processes and co-ordination of business management activities. You will also be responsible for meeting high standards of project support, governance and reporting, ensuring projects are documented in line with best practice and use of Oracle financing system. This post is based within SAAS PMO which sits in the SAAS Policy, Strategy, and Governance Directorate. You will be assigned to a project(s) to support, initially this will be with Cloud Migration which is an exciting digital project in SAAS to move our technologies onto the Cloud Platform. In addition to this you will support the Programme Co-Ordinator and work alongside other Project Support Officers as part of SAAS Portfolio Management Office. This is a 24 month Fixed Term Appointment with the possibility of extension. Responsibilities Responsibilities: Set up project board and project team meetings and support the development of the project board agenda, commission and prepare papers and circulate these within agreed timescales, and take minutes of the project board meeting. Record and monitor actions and decisions from meetings as appropriate, issuing these to project team members, and issue reminders regarding upcoming deadlines and actions support the project manager with key tasks such as assisting in the creation and regular updating of project documentation to enable accurate reporting of project status and activities; support reporting deadlines by working with the project manager to ensure highlight reports, project communications and other regular tasks are completed on time; ad hoc support to the project manager during procurement and supplier onboarding to ensure success; gather information and liaise with project team members where needed support Portfolio Management Office governance and maintenance of project management documentation and reports, archiving project documentation in eRDM. Be a central point of knowledge for projects alongside the project manager and report to Portfolio Management Office on a regular basis to ensure that projects are equipped with the appropriate project templates ad hoc project support duties including a preparer role on Oracle Finance setting up purchase orders and receipting invoices, and co-ordination of finance timesheets Success Profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Professional / Technical Skills: Frameworks and methodologies The ability to identify and amend appropriate project frameworks and methodologies to enable a consistent and efficient approach to delivery at all stages of the project lifecycle. Proficiency level: Working level (Working knowledge and practical experience) Detailed indicators: You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects Experience Experience working in a project delivery or in a PMO support role. Experience and awareness of the key principles of PPM (e.g. planning, risks and issues, benefits management). Experience working in a digital project environment. Experience of the Oracle finance system Behaviours Working together – Level 2 You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here Success Profiles How to apply Apply online 17 February 2025, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 750 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 and Presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 3 March 2025 however this may be subject to change. Qualifications About Us SAAS is an executive agency of the Scottish Government and responsible for assessing and paying student awards for Scottish domiciled students in Higher Education throughout the UK. We administer budgets of around £1.4 billion each year, making payments to both educational institutions and over 190,000 students a year. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. More information on SAAS can be found on our website https://www.saas.gov.uk 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. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. 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. SAAS has separate public holiday arrangements and are closed between Christmas and New Year.