Analytical Support Officer

Job Description

Are you passionate about using data to improve outcomes and performance in Scotland?

The Improvement Service are seeking an Analytical Support Officer to provide support within the National Planning Improvement team. The team is responsible for monitoring the performance of planning authorities and providing advice to them on what steps might be taken to improve their performance.

The National Planning Improvement team aims to ensure that:

• The planning system enables the delivery of sustainable, liveable and productive places
• Planning services are equipped to work effectively and efficiently, embedding continuous improvement
• Users are able to engage constructively with the planning system and planning service

In this new and exciting role, you’ll be responsible for supporting the analytical strategy of the team. To identify and analyse intelligence, evidence, and data generated through the National Planning Improvement Framework, such as insights on challenges facing planning authorities, the improvements they are looking to make, and their impacts.

You will develop surveys and reporting templates to efficiently support planning authorities to complete annual Improvement Action Plans and maximise the ability to analyse these.

You can read more about the work of the NPI and the National Planning Improvement Framework here

This is a unique opportunity to join a small team driving improvement in planning authorities. You’ll work in a highly collaborative environment with supportive colleagues and meaningful partnerships. You’ll be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation and enjoy a progressive, flexible working culture.

We’re seeking someone who is passionate about using data and intelligence to help drive forward improved outcomes. You will be confident in creating surveys, collecting, collating, analysing data and producing outputs.

We would welcome applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds who are interesting in gaining new knowledge, skills and experience.

Information

Key accountabilities

• Support the NPI’s analytical strategy to identify and analyse intelligence, evidence and data generated from the National Planning Improvement Framework (NPIF), such as insights on challenges facing planning authorities; their strengths and weaknesses; the improvement actions identified by planning authorities; progress made implementing improvements and their impacts; and lessons learned from the process.
• Support the Improvement Lead to develop surveys and reporting templates to efficiently support planning authorities to complete annual Improvement Actions Plans and maximise the ability to analyse these.
• Support the Improvement Lead to develop surveys and reporting templates to efficiently support planning authorities to complete tri-annual Performance Assessment Reports and maximise the ability to analyse these.

Key Skills and Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience in gathering and analysis quantitative and qualitative data.
• Ability to effectively communicate research findings to a range of audiences, including report writing and presentations.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload, multi-task and work to deadlines
• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, statistical software or programming languages would be highly advantageous for this post.
• Good collaborative working skills
• Demonstrate ability to use Microsoft Office products, including Power BI, Excel and experience of undertaking statistical analysis in Excel
• See attached job description for further details

Interview Date

Interview information:

A competence based, in-person interview will take place on Monday 25th May 2026. (shortlisted candidates will be advised by email a week in advance of the interview).

For more information about competency-based interviews, see our 'Guide to Competency-based Interviews'. 

Additionally, you may also find it beneficial to watch our Working at the Improvement Service Video and read our current Business Plan 2025-26.

Background

The Improvement Service (IS) is a publicly funded company limited by guarantee, with a total annual budget in the region of £12 Million. We exist to support councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all Scottish people through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services.

Working for the IS means joining a team of professionals, who work together to strive for continuous improvement in the public sector and ultimately, better outcomes for Scotland’s communities.

Our company headquarters are based in West Lothian, located conveniently for commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Pay is only one of the benefits of working for the IS, our terms and conditions are progressive and flexible and employees are rewarded with a generous annual leave entitlement of forty one days per year as well as a flexible working policy.

The IS is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all its activities to promote inclusive processes, practices and culture.

The IS is a Disability Confidence Committed Employer. We are committed to interviewing anyone with a disability who meets the essential criteria.