Senior Data Analyst

Job summary

Scottish Forestry are the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations.

The Senior Data Analyst will champion the benefits of using data and insights to support business practices across the organization, lead the development and implementation of an achievable strategy for SF’s data management, and support colleagues to make the most of the tools and insights available to them.

The Senior Data Analyst is part of the Digital Transformation team which provides development, maintenance and support of operational delivery systems, particularly our case management system, as well as delivery of business intelligence and management information services.

Key Job Criteria:

• An ability to build good relationships with a variety of stakeholders at all levels and grades and to understand the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations
• Experience with data management and the analysis and design of business intelligence
• Experience in data analytics and reporting software, such as MS Fabric, PowerBI, Business Objects.

Please review the Job Description for more information on this role, applications are received through our recruitment portal by way of an application form.

It is planned for interviews for this post to take place the 21st, 22nd & 23rd July 2026.

Where a vacancy attracts a higher number of applications, only ‘Behaviour 1 - lead criteria’ will be assessed at sift stage.

You can view our Privacy Notice on our website at https://www.forestry.gov.scot/privacy-notice

Job description

You will take a lead role within the Digital Transformation team for Scottish Forestry’s data and insights. Covering data management, business intelligence and our reporting capability, with specific responsibility for improving corporate management information and reporting against corporate KPIs.

You will champion the benefits of using data and insights to support business practices across the organisation and support colleagues to make the most of the tools and insights available to them. Take an active role in the Scottish Government’s Data Maturity Network, collaborating with colleagues across the sector and adopting best practice.

You will use your business analysis skills and expertise to develop a thorough understanding of Scottish Forestry’s corporate functions and organisational priorities to improve our reporting capabilities.

You will collaborate closely with stakeholders across Scottish Forestry to identify, prioritise and implement improvements to reporting processes, tools and capabilities.

Main Duties

• Carry out detailed user research and requirements analysis with regards to management information to support corporate decision making and to track our performance at organisational and programme level.
• Lead the development and implementation of a pragmatic and achievable strategy for SF’s data management and business intelligence which meets SF’s business needs.
• Collaborate with the wider team and business stakeholders from across Scottish Forestry to develop and implement prioritised improvements to corporate management information, data management and underpinning processes.
• Ensure that data is captured and processed in a way that allows effective monitoring and communication of our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other business critical information and data.
• Lead/coach junior colleagues on requirements gathering, analysis and design of reporting solutions.
• Facilitate a cross-organisation ‘Data Users Community of Practice’ to offer peer-support and informal learning opportunities to colleagues from a range of roles and professions.

Person specification

Experience

Essential:

• Experienced in engaging and communicating with senior staff.
• Experience in a similar role with a track record of gathering business requirements and modelling business processes.
• Experience with data management and the analysis and design of business intelligence.
• Experience in working with different areas of a business and developing a broad understanding of how the organisation operates.
• An understanding of the role that management information and KPIs have in corporate decision making and organisational performance monitoring.
• An ability to build good relationships with a variety of stakeholders at all levels and grades and to understand the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations.
• The ability to communicate meaningful, clear, consistent and concise information tailored appropriately for a range of audiences.

Desirable:

• Understanding of Scottish Government Digital Scotland Service Standard.

Technical

Essential:

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline, such as Data or Information Science, Data Analytics,or Computer Science, or significant work experience in a similar field.
• Good understanding of business analysis tools and techniques, and the appropriate point at which to use them effectively.
• Experience in reporting data analytics and reporting software, such as MS Fabric, PowerBI, Business Objects.
• Proficient in methods and techniques for effective management of projects (e.g. Agile/ Prince2).

Desirable:

• Knowledge of technical concepts for the design and development of business intelligence and data warehousing.
• Understanding of or experience working with relational database systems – such as PostgreSQL

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,796, Scottish Forestry contributes £15,584 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please apply using the online application form link

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot
• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : hr@forestryandland.gov.scot

Attachments

Job Description for Senior Data Analyst (2026) Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)