Scottish Prison Service
Principal Analyst - Population Insights
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Principal Analyst - Population Insights
Principal Analyst – Emergency Data & Analysis
Location: Edinburgh (Hybrid & Flexible Working patterns available) Contract: Temporary, 12 Months
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is facing unprecedented challenges with escalating prison population pressures and a suite of urgent operational initiatives to manage these conditions. Emerging data demands arising from Operation Anchor and contingency measures demand rapid, high-quality analysis to support joint working with justice partners.
In response, there is an immediate need to strengthen internal capacity in data assurance, analytical leadership, and crisis reporting. Reporting to the Office of the Chief Executive, the Principal Analyst will collaborate with the Data & Analysis team to steer insight generation on prison population trends and operational resilience—ensuring SPS fulfils its obligations both as an Executive Agency and as a public body.
Key Responsibilities
- Data Leadership & Assurance
- Oversee data assurance, analysis, and reporting for emergency operations and resilience measures.
- Ensure data integrity and fitness-for-purpose across legacy and operational systems.
- Develop and implement performance frameworks to measure the impact of actionable insights.
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Cross-Directorial & Partner Collaboration
- Engage proactively with SPS stakeholders across all directorates to embed collaborative reporting.
- Work with justice sector partners to deliver joint governance actions, responding rapidly to evolving operational demands.
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Modelling & Ministerial Support
- Coordinate with Justice Analytical Services (JAS) and Scottish Government Policy teams to produce robust analysis aiding parliamentary scrutiny and Ministerial decision-making.
- Support forecasting models and scenarios to inform strategic contingency.
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Team Leadership
- Line manage a junior Analyst, shaping a cohesive team to meet urgent deadlines.
What You’ll Need to Thrive
- Qualifications & Experience
- A degree-level professional qualification (or equivalent experience in data/analysis leadership) with hands-on expertise in business improvement.
- Proven experience as a senior manager in analytical, statistical, or policy-related roles.
- Ability to critique complex qualitative/quantitative data from diverse sources.
- Strong reputation for building cross-functional partnerships, translating technical expertise for non-technical audiences.
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- Essential Skills
- Keen eye for spotting data trends critical to crisis-fumbled operations.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management when working under time-sensitive constraints.
Why Join Us?
- Work-Life Harmony
- Hybrid and flexible working options in a fast-paced role with no commute to prison sites.
- Health & Development
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, lifestyle screenings, and Mandarin language classes.
- Competitive Packages
- 37 days of annual leave (prorata), a generous Civil Service Pension, onsite gymnasiums / fresh dishes in Edinburgh offices, plus discounts from partner providers.
For full details, including person specification and application guidance, visit the SPS Careers Page by 20 July 2026.
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