CEO

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as its next CEO. This is an exciting and high-impact opportunity to shape the future of Scotland's education, skills, research and innovation landscape at a moment of profound transformation. As CEO, you will lead SFC at the heart of national reform, helping to deliver a more prosperous, inclusive and globally competitive Scotland.

SFC is the national body responsible for funding and overseeing Scotland's education, skills, research and innovation system. Operating at the intersection of education and economic development, it plays a critical role in enabling Scotland's people, places and economy to thrive. With the implementation of the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Act 2026 from April 2027, SFC's remit will expand significantly. The organisation will evolve from primarily a funding body into a strategic influencer with a mandate to shape, drive and invest in the skills, education and research and innovation system required to deliver Scotland's wellbeing economy.

As Chief Executive of SFC you will provide clear, visible and strategic leadership through this period of significant change. Working closely with the Board, the Scottish Government and a wide range of partners, you will set and deliver a compelling long-term vision for SFC. You will lead the organisation through a major programme of transformation as its remit expands, ensuring the effective investment of public funding across universities, colleges and, from 2027, training and apprenticeship providers.

Building trusted relationships across government, education, business and industry will be central to the role, as will positioning SFC as a proactive and influential strategic body. This is a role that demands both system and organisational leadership: the ability to influence at the highest levels while building a high-performing, inclusive and forward-looking organisation.

You will be a credible, values-driven and resilient leader with the ability to operate effectively in a complex and high-profile public environment. You will bring a strong track record of strategic leadership within a large and complex organisation, together with experience of leading significant, organisation-wide transformation and delivering measurable outcomes. 

This is a unique opportunity to shape national policy and delivery at scale, lead a major public body through a defining period of change and make a lasting contribution to Scotland's economic and social wellbeing. At SFC, we value diverse perspectives and are committed to building an inclusive organisation. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those with non-traditional career paths.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Scottish Funding Council on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference DCAIA. Alternatively email belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on Tuesday 11 August 2026.