Job Description
Bridging the gap between frontline services and technical solutions.
We are looking for a Senior Systems Application Officer to join our team.
This role would suit someone who understands the importance of getting systems right to enable great public services.
You will be part of the team ensuring our systems and applications are fit for purpose, secure, and designed around the people who use them. From gathering complex requirements for a new/replacement system to redesigning workflows that save staff time, your work will have a direct impact on how we delivery high-profile customer-facing services.
You will lead on the "what" and "how" of key systems, spending time talking to frontline teams to understand their challenges, mapping out better ways of working, and then making sure the technology supports those goals. You'll also use your expertise to provide guidance to teams on the procurement and development of the wider system architecture within the services.
Your Responsibilities
* Requirements and analysis: Lead on gathering business requirements for key systems. Mapping out processes, identifying where things aren't working, and recommending technical solutions
* System implementation and upgrades: Lead technical projects for upgrades and new implementations of key systems, ensuring they are tested thoroughly and delivered on time
* Procurement: Support the procurement of new key systems to ensure we are getting fit-for-purpose solutions
* Expert advice: Providing advice and guidance to non-technical service leads investigating systems and developments
* Project leadership: Lead on technical initiatives coordinating colleagues from different departments and external suppliers to hit key milestones and improvements
* Training and support: Facilitating training and creating documentation that helps staff at all levels get the most out of key systems
* Technical communications: Translate and communicate complex technical details into simple, non-technical terms ensuring that it is accessible to everyone
Working With Us
This role offers a platform to use your technical skills for the public good. It is about making sure our frontline staff have the right tools to do their jobs. You'll have the opportunity to influence how we deliver service to the public through ensuring our systems are robust, compliant, and fit for purpose.
* Systems management: Significant experience leading the development, implementation, and ongoing management of business systems
* System requirements: Proven track record in gathering and defining complex business requirements, translating user needs into clear functional specifications for system development
* Procurement and selection: Experience navigating system procurement processes, including drafting specifications and evaluating tenders against business and technical needs
* Technical integration: Strong understanding of system architecture and integrations, with the ability to align technical setups to business workflows and assess the impact of changes
* User-centric design: Experience designing initiatives that meet unique stakeholder needs through a research-led, customer-centric approach
* Project leadership: Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders to deliver complex initiatives
* Collaboration: Highly collaborative approach, with experience of working effectively across divisional and organisational boundaries to deliver outcomes
* Political awareness: Recognising the Council is a public sector organisation requiring diplomacy to deliver organisational objectives whilst navigating regulatory and committee‑led frameworks
* Experience managing and developing small teams
* Contributing to the strategic design and implementation of major organisational initiatives
* Experience of managing systems within frontline, operational services
Knowledge, Skills and Understanding
* Process and workflow design: Skills in business process mapping, including documenting, designing, and optimising workflows
* Technical communication: Ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences and vice‑versa, ensuring clarity between developers and end‑users
* Critical challenge: Ability to provide constructive challenge to project scopes to ensure they meet the actual needs of the business and remain compliant
* Data protection and security: Knowledge of system security and data compliance legislation (e.g. UK GDPR), with the ability to navigate data protection impact assessments during system implementation
* Desirable that you have excellent negotiation and influencing skills to align stakeholders on system requirements and procurement choices
Qualifications and Training
* Educated to degree level or possesses equivalent professional experience.
* Desirable: Hold relevant professional qualifications and training
Other
Given the nature of the services supported, there should be a willingness to work flexibly, including work location and on occasion may include working outside standard hours when required to meet operational needs to deliver projects.
About Us
THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
About Us:
Are you keen to shape the future of Scotland’s capital city? The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to work with us and deliver key services across our capital city. We’re the second largest local authority in Scotland with a workforce of over 19,000 who all play a crucial role in maintaining and supporting vital services to over 500,000 residents. We offer an incredible variety of career opportunities across a broad range of sectors. Join us and you’ll find a role where you can make a difference and grow your career.
Our Culture:
Our Behaviours, respect, integrity, and flexibility guide everything that we do, and we strive to make sure all colleagues feel valued and have a sense of belonging in the workplace. We want to make sure that we bring people into our roles who demonstrate Our Behaviours and are dedicated and committed to our purpose of serving our community. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service to meet citizens needs and make the city a better place.
We recognise the benefits that diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds bring to our organisation, and we’re committed to employing a workforce that represents the population of the city we serve. We particularly encourage applicants from under‑represented groups including women, LGBT+ people, racially minoritised groups, people with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent.
As part of our commitment to inclusive recruitment, we’re delighted to announce that we have extended our guaranteed interview scheme to include all applicants who are or have been care experienced, and who meet the essential criteria for the post. This extends our current arrangements of being a Disability Confident Employer, that guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the criteria for the post and who declare a disability.
Happy to talk flexible working.
Colleague Support and Wellbeing
As outlined in our People Strategy 2024-27, we aim to nurture a healthy workforce where we can all thrive. We offer regular events, initiatives and learning opportunities covering a range of different health and wellbeing topics.
We’re committed to supporting employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. There are several policies in place to support this ranging from flexible work options to career breaks. Our full suite of employment policies can be found here.
We have a range of support options available including access to counselling, a mental health support service, an occupational health service, speak up supporters and a colleague listening service.
Reasonable Adjustments:
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience at work for all our colleagues and we’ll work hard to ensure that we meet the changing needs of colleagues throughout their time with us. We’re also geared up to support all candidates who may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Candidates invited for interview, should let the hiring manager know what they need, and they will do everything they can to accommodate your request.
Job Info
* Job Identification 13397
* Job Category I.T. / Systems
* Posting Date 02/11/2026, 08:47 AM
* Apply Before 02/25/2026, 11:55 PM
* Degree Level SCQF 9 - SVQ 4, Degree (Ordinary), Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
* Job Schedule Full time
* Locations Waverley Court
* Contract Type Permanent
* Annual Working Duration 52 Weeks
#J-18808-Ljbffr