The University of Glasgow has been changing the world for more than 572 years. Today, we are one of the world's top 100 universities and ranked 13th in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Impact Rankings 2023, demonstrating that we are not only one of the best universities in the United Kingdom, but one of the best universities for the world. Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation, and our past achievements inspire our current world changers.

An exciting short-term opportunity (6 months, with potential for extension) has arisen at the University of Glasgow for a talented Government Relations Officer to play a key role in developing and delivering the University’s engagement with government, political stakeholders, and policymakers.

This role will help shape the University’s reputation in public policy and government affairs, ensuring alignment with its strategic objectives. Sitting within the Principal’s Office, you will work closely with senior leaders, academics, and external stakeholders to ensure the University’s voice is heard at Westminster, Holyrood, and in local government.

You will be responsible for monitoring political and policy developments, coordinating political visits and events, drafting high-quality briefings and submissions, and supporting colleagues in engaging with policymakers. As a key member of the small Government Relations team, you will contribute to a busy and high-profile public affairs function, engaging with civil servants, elected officials and their teams. You will also play a central role in maintaining effective planning and engagement processes, including supporting internal Government Relations Group and ensuring timely internal and external communications.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with strong communication and event management skills, political awareness, and experience in public affairs or government relations. If you are passionate about policy engagement, event delivery, and influencing decision-making at the highest levels, we encourage you to apply. This role will be based at the Gilmorehill Campus, with an expectation of on-campus presence 3 days per week.

This post is full time and fixed term for 6 months from start date

The essential criterion however is for you to have an appropriate level of commitment, knowledge and experience to add value to the deliberations and strategic work of the Board of Management.

The time commitment is approximately 15 days or 105 hours per year, with hybrid meetings held mainly afternoon/early evening, time for reading meeting papers, for team building and for self development. The initial appointment would normally be four years, with potential for a second term of four years. There is no remuneration for the post, however reasonable expenses will be reimbursed, and IT equipment loaned as required.

It is the intention that following the closing date of 01 May 2025, interviews will be held during the week beginning 19 May 2025.

The interview and candidate assessment process may include opportunity to informally meet with existing College Board members, students and staff, including the Executive Leadership Team.

There will be a presentation and Q&A session with some of our existing College Board Members, held on the evening of 2nd April 2025 at 6pm via Microsoft Teams. Should you be interested in joining the Board of Management, and wish to better understand the role and commitment, please register here to attend.

If you wish to discuss the role of the Board Member further, please contact the Board Governance

Adviser, Hilary Denholm, at hilary.denholm@ayrshire.ac.uk

Where the role fits in our organisation

Our Communications and Impact Group are responsible for communications, media, training and event planning plus engagement with the third sector and partners across Dumfries and Galloway. The group also leads on systems, data and insights, evaluation and impact, storytelling, regional and national sector promotion and internal communications. The team includes Development Officers, Support Officers, Coordinators and external partners and advisors.

What You'll Do

We are looking for a colleague who is talented in creating effective and impactful communications, who can use data and insights to tell compelling stories about our third sector and communities, who has creative interests and who enjoys being part of a successful and developing team. With a good understanding of digital tools, social media and creative platforms for design, the successful candidate will be keen to learn about our sector and be motivated by the opportunity to share impactful stories to a range of audiences, including our sector, partners, funders and the wider community.

What You’ll Do

• Design and deliver a range of communications for various audiences, including bulletins, newsletters, case studies, reports and presentations.
• Build on our online presence and levels of engagement with our audiences across various channels.
• Introduce creative and engaging ways to communicate key information, messages and use of our brand assets to increase reach and connections.
• Maintain and update our website and online channels.
• Identify and implement ways to better understand our communications reach and engagement.
• With colleagues, translate data, insights and external information to share stories of influence and impact.
• Lead the re-design of our key organisation publications and annual reports to maximise engagement.
• Participate in the design and delivery of regional events and workshops.

More about you

• You will be able to evidence experience and knowledge of building effective communications
• You will be able to show how you have evaluated the use of online channels and available tools or similar engagement measurements
• You will bring excellent organisation, planning and prioritising skills
• You will be able to show how you’ve effectively used your positive relationship building skills and experience
• You will be able to demonstrate your experience and approach to effective design and presentations
• You will be able to show you have used a range of standard Microsoft and other tools, such as Office, collaborative and design tools
• You may bring experience of brand design and development, website build and design or other related creative design and communication skills

Read more about working with us

More on our ways of working and benefits here

Find out more about our recruitment and selection process

If you’d like to talk to us about this opportunity to join us, get in touch…….

We have an opportunity for a Strategic Planning Manager to join the Strategic Planning team on a full-time fixed term contract for 12 months. This is a dynamic role where you will co-ordinate the key components of the strategy management system.

It’s an exciting time to join the Fund as we implement our 2030 strategy ‘It Starts with Community’. Our ambitious 3-year Corporate Plan sets stretching goals to guide the organisation’s delivery of the strategy. The Strategic Planning team plays a key role in driving the Fund to achieve our overarching strategic ambitions. Through our strategy, we aim to build resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable. We’re committed to focusing our efforts where the need is greatest, particularly with people, places and communities who experience poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination. We’re eager to make a significant impact in the years ahead.

You will be part of a small, dispersed team working flexibly to meet the needs of our key stakeholders. The team oversees the Fund’s corporate planning, business planning and project/programme management processes to ensure we achieve our strategic ambitions.

You will bring expertise in strategic planning to facilitate the annual business planning process within senior leadership teams across the Fund, supporting directorates to deliver our strategic aspirations. We are looking for someone with a keen eye for detail who can also see the bigger picture. Through a continuous improvement approach you will regularly review our ways of working and be empowered to identify and implement innovative solutions. With your strategic thinking and analytical skills you will contribute to reports to senior leaders to provide assurance, raise issues and support effective decision making.

You will work collaboratively with our wider network of colleagues from across the organisation to deliver our key corporate processes, including the Finance team to ensure alignment between planning and budgeting.

You’ll play a key role in reporting against our strategic transformation and delivery programme, helping the Fund to assess whether we are on track to achieve our goals. You will have a strong background in project delivery, helping to develop and strengthen our internal project management capabilities by rolling out project management tools and templates, and providing coaching and guidance to project leads.

With strong organisational skills you will manage your workload and priorities throughout the year, ensuring that team priorities are met and aligning your efforts with the overall goals of the team. Your strong communication skills and passion will help raise the profile of the team and our work with colleagues across the Fund. There will be some travel expectations, with quarterly face-to-face team meetings within one of our offices.