Portfolio Analyst

Scottish Government; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

A public sector organization in Scotland is seeking a Portfolio Analyst to enhance the Portfolio Office function. This role involves mastering portfolio planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will have strong analytical skills, proficiency with Microsoft 365, and experience within project management. The position is hybrid, requiring a minimum of 2 days a week in Glasgow or Dundee. This fixed term role offers a chance to make a positive impact within the social security sector.

Benefits

Supportive working environment

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture

Qualifications

• Experience working within a Portfolio, Programme, or Project Management Office (PMO).
• Working knowledge of portfolio management.
• Ability to handle project data and communicate complex information.

Responsibilities

• Support measurable improvements management and track post-delivery.
• Assist in risk management ensuring clear articulation and stakeholder involvement.
• Provide accurate portfolio reporting for senior audiences.

Skills

Analytical expertise

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Microsoft 365

SharePoint

Job description

• Locations: Glasgow, United Kingdom; Dundee, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Requisition Process: Standard
• Hire Type: Fixed Term Appointment - Fair and Open
• Number of Openings: 1
• Apply Before: 02/25/2026 11:55 PM

Are you interested in having a positive effect on the lives of Scottish citizens whilst dealing with some high profile but rewarding challenges? Social Security Scotland’s Portfolio Management Office are looking for a Portfolio Analyst to support with the development and ongoing enhancement of the function. This role will play a crucial part in defining and maintaining the portfolio level planning, risk, reporting, benefits management, and governance responsibilities across the overall transformation portfolio within Social Security Scotland.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment Opportunity for a period of 23 months with the possibility of extension or permanency however this cannot be guaranteed and will depend on the needs of the business.

Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, is undertaking the largest and most complex IT and digital change programme since devolution. With a lifetime budget of over £300m, Social Security Scotland is delivering a social security system that will support the people of Scotland for decades to come.

We aim to develop within Social Security Scotland, a positive and inclusive culture, which supports our people to flourish, by embedding a working environment where we all treat each other with dignity and respect, and recognise each other’s contributions.

Profile Overview

Portfolio Analyst, you will support the development of a relatively new Portfolio Office function within Social Security Scotland, in accordance with Management of Portfolios (MoP) and Portfolio, Programme & Project Offices (P3O) principles.

Working directly to, and supported by, the Senior Portfolio Analyst, the Portfolio Analyst will collaborate proactively within the Portfolio Office team to support all P3O functions including planning, risk, change control, measurable improvements (benefits) management, and reporting. Building trusted and credible relationships with critical stakeholders across Social Security Scotland is a key part of this role, as well as ensuring the implementation of best practice and enabling consistency across the portfolio.

This role requires analytical expertise and a high-level of proficiency in working with the standard Microsoft 365 suite (including Excel and SharePoint), to provide high quality portfolio support, ensuring effective assistance in resource planning, risk management, and other portfolio management activities. This will promote positive outcomes, and through proactive communication, facilitate interaction between complimentary projects and teams across the division.

Ideally, you will have experience working within a Portfolio, Programme, or Project Management Office (PMO). It is expected that the Portfolio Analyst will have working knowledge of at least one technical competency of portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Measurable Improvements (Benefits) Management: Support the Senior Portfolio Analyst in ensuring projects and programmes track their measurable improvements, and tracking these post-delivery.
• Risk Management: Support the Senior Portfolio Analyst in ensuring portfolio risks proposed by colleagues are proportionate, clearly articulated, and have involved all key stakeholders.
• Reporting: Support the Senior Portfolio Analyst in the accurate and timely reporting of collated portfolio updates for senior audiences within Social Security Scotland and across the wider Scottish Government.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with all operational areas, delivery, and PMO colleagues, including Social Security Scotland Digital Portfolio Management team, Social Security Programme PMO, and Social Security Programme Risk Team to ensure an integrated plan and clearly articulated risks and issues.
• Management Control: Support the Senior Planning Analyst in ensuring the Portfolio Office can employ management by exception, tracking delivery against plan and escalating as required.
• Resource Management: Support the Senior Planning Analyst in maintaining role/resource profiles and capacity plans to ensure alignment with Programme benefit deliveries and Social Security Scotland projects.
• Planning & Scheduling: Support the Senior Planning Analyst in the development and continuous improvement of Portfolio Planning.
• Continuous Improvement: Supporting the team in the implementation and improvement of portfolio management functions.
• Deputising for the Senior Portfolio Analyst and other colleagues when required.

Success Profiles

We use an assessment framework called Success Profiles which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements.

Essential Experience

1. Experience at working level in ONE of the following as listed in Project delivery competencies - Government Project Delivery : Planning; Scheduling; Resourcing Management; Risk and Issue Management; Change Control; Benefits Management; Governance; Assurance.
2. Experience of handling project data and communicating complex information to a variety of audiences.

Behaviours

• Changing and improving (Level 3)
• Working together (Level 3)

How to Apply

Apply online. You must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the Experience, Behaviours and Technical skills required for the role as outlined in the Success Profiles above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you’ve done that showcase your relevant experience.

Artificial Intelligence tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

In the event that we receive a high volume of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the CV and Supporting Statement based on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who successfully pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to attend an interview and assessment (scenario based presentation) which will further evaluate the Experience, Behaviours and Technical skills relevant to the role. You will receive full details of the skills to be assessed and assessment methods used prior to your interview/assessment.

Following the application sift, there may be a telephone interview as part of the assessment process before the main interview.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)

• Sift – By 13 th March
• Interview – 18/19 th &/or 25/26 th March – these dates are subject to change
• Location – In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List

In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us

Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here.

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 and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality Statement

Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer support and recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Right to Work in the UK

Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice on Gov.UK – Skilled Worker visa: Overview – GOV.UK.

Further Information

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition – Recruitment – Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk).

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at [e-mail] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.

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.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via [e-mail].

Application Deadline

Apply before 23:55 on Wednesday, 25th February 2026.

Contact Name – Resourcing Team
Contact email – [e-mail]