Principal Officer - Staffing (Education)

Vacancy Information

Hourly rate of pay: £30.02 - £33.79

Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday
Flexi time is applicable, and starting and finishing times are flexible.
To start 13th July 2026.

An exciting opportunity has arisen in our central education Strategy & Operations team for an experienced Principal Officer - Staffing to provide a strategic and operational lead role in workforce planning. This role provides advice to school leaders and education managers to maximise efficiency, facilitate business continuity and achieve best value service delivery within approved budgets, in accordance with Council policies and in line with SNCT and Local Government standards and legislation. The job holder is accountable to the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers and responsible for managing the management side of the SNCT Job Sizing Team, developing and maintaining policy to ensure consistency and equity of all promoted posts across the authority. The job holder plays a key role in continuous improvement of the staff support function and implements a comprehensive solution focussed workforce support service to all Education Service leaders to assist them in achieving Directorate priorities.

The job holder has direct line management for one Business Support Officer - Staffing post and is supported by a small administrative team of Council Support staff.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in workforce planning, be familiar with teachers and support staff employment terms and conditions, be able to interpret and apply policy equitably and be numerate with good IT skills for assembly of data driven decision making. The role involves supporting Head Teachers with solutions for individual employees that match the business need of the school. Professional integrity, the ability to negotiate with management, employees and trade unions and a high degree of confidentiality are required.

Interviews for this position will take place on the 10th of June 2026.

Home / Hybrid Working Consideration
Applications for home or hybrid working will be considered for this post in accordance with East Lothian Council’s Home Working and Worksmart Policies which can be found here. Home or Hybrid working options can be discussed with candidates invited for interview.

Please Note:
All home/hybrid workers must live in the UK. Where an application for home-working is supported, it will be subject to a satisfactory trial period. Employees will be expected to attend Council offices for the duration of induction, and be on site in East Lothian workplaces, as required. Employees with a hybrid working arrangement in place will be office based and able to work from home, with permission, on an ad hoc basis.

Job Details

Strategic lead on the oversight and challenge of workforce planning across the Education Service, co-ordinating all aspects of staffing to maximise efficiency, facilitate business continuity and achieve best value service delivery within approved budgets, in accordance with Council policies and in line with SNCT and Local Government standards and legislation.

Accountable to the LNCT, the Jobholder is responsible for managing the Management side of the SNCT Job Sizing Team, developing and maintaining policy to ensure consistency and equity of all promoted posts across the authority.

To develop and implement a comprehensive solution focussed workforce support service to all Education Service leaders to assist them in achieving Directorate priorities.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Relevant degree or equivalent in the field of Business Management, Human Resources or Education and/or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and competencies gained through previous experience.

Driving Licence
A full current driving licence and/or access to a vehicle are desirable for this post.

Level 1 Disclosure Clearance
This role requires Level 1 Disclosure Clearance to allow access to the Public Sector Network. ELC will submit a Police Act Disclosure application on behalf of the preferred candidate and receipt of the subsequent certificate will be required prior to commencement.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living out with the UK in the last 5 years then you will also be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.