Vacancy Type Temporary/Fixed Term Duration 2 years Location Headquarters/Hybrid Pay Band F Salary £52,356 - £55,886 Closing Date 16/07/2025, 12:00 Hours of work Normal Office Hours Full or Part Time Full-Time Weekly Hours 35 Job Purpose SPS is committed to putting the people who live and work in Scotland’s prisons at the heart of outcomes focused and evidence based design, delivery and improvement of services. SPS’s corporate Data and Analysis team is at the forefront of this commitment, supporting development and delivery of the SPS Improvement Framework, and helping SPS to meet its obligations as an effective prison service, as an Executive Agency of Scottish Government, and as a public body. The Jobholder will sit within this small Data and Analysis team (reporting to the Head of D&A) and will directly support the work of the Operations Directorate (OD) on a range of data issues related to prison population pressures. Acting as a single point of contact for data related to the custodial population, they will contribute to building capacity and capability in relation to reporting across OD, and ensure that all local and functional data-related processes and tools align with the work ongoing corporately to improve data quality, accessibility and completeness. Responsibilities Lead organisational efforts to more effectively interpret the needs & interests of operational colleagues - to visualise & communicate SPS data in new and compelling ways, enabling evidence-based decision-making around strategic or tactical opportunities within SPS. Close working with OD HQ – and the PPU within it – to scope and develop high-level, complex information dashboards. With a particular focus on population pressures - spanning volume and complexity - this will include links to modelling, risk management and contingency planning processes, and to forthcoming incident management and intelligence monitoring tools. Offer advice and/or mentoring support to operational colleagues in data-related or analytical roles to support their professional development. Support Management Information assurance and improvement across SPS, with contributions to data quality and documentation efforts as part of SPS’s data strategy project. Drafting of reports and/or responses to Ministerial Correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests and any other official correspondence relating to MI or Analysis for approval of the Head of Function. Deliver regular formal presentations to communicate trends / patterns to operational leads and/or senior managers, making recommendations to address any issues arising. Person Specification SPS recruitment and selection practice is based on the fundamentals of our Competencies for Success Framework. This identifies behaviours and standards required both of applicants seeking to join us, and our staff in their respective roles. Assessment of specific behaviours, of which there are eight, will be determined by the role you are applying for. Whilst it is unlikely you will be assessed on all of them, you will be assessed on those identified as key to role. Qualification Requirements The post holder should be educated to Higher (or equivalent level) or have significant relevant experience of data analysis in support of business improvement. ESSENTIAL A specialist qualification in data analysis, statistics, modelling or related disciplines. DESIRABLE Knowledge, Skills and Experience Requirements Data Preparation & Analysis: Experience of data cleaning and preparation, quality assurance, analysis and exploration, to facilitate the production of high-quality data visualisations, dashboards, products and/or reports. The post holder should be an experienced user of advanced Excel. (ESSENTIAL), and experience of PR2, Business Objects, R and/or Power BI would be beneficial (DESIRABLE). Critical Analysis & Report Writing: Experience of collating and analysing complex information into high quality and balanced products / reports, identifying and effectively communicating trends and patterns to facilitate evidence-based decision-making. ESSENTIAL Creating New Data Products & Metrics: Experience of designing, developing and implementing data products and/or metrics to support continuous business improvement. The post holder should be able to convene and lead discussions within stakeholders across the business, interpreting needs and designing creative solutions. ESSENTIAL Behaviour Requirements Solve Problems & Make Decisions Relationships & Collaboration Plan & Organise Change & Improve Selection method 1 Presentation Selection method 2 Interview