Skip to content

Jobs

As a progressive organisation we offer engaging employment opportunities for people who share our passion for unlocking data and improving lives.

Illustration of a person riding a scooter and a person riding a bike.

Current Vacancies

There are no current vacancies. Please check back at a later date or sign-up to the RDS newsletter to be the first to know about new opportunities.

Please note that you must have existing right to work in the UK as we do not have a Sponsor Licence.

View our Candidate Privacy Policy to find out how we handle your data safely and securely.

Why work for us

There’s never been a better time to join Research Data Scotland and work alongside others who share the same passion for unlocking data and improving lives. Enabled by our positive culture and driven by our values of collaboration, courage, humility, integrity and transparency, we strive to build a working environment founded on equity, respect and inclusion.  

We’re privileged to work collaboratively with colleagues from organisations and public bodies across the country who share our values. We’re in constant conversation with members of the public and researchers to seek their views and further our work.  

We celebrate diversity and appreciate the unique attributes each individual brings to our organisation and our work. We value people for who they are and how they treat others.  

No matter your background, age, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, level of experience, (or your board-game ability!), we welcome and respect each person who joins our team. And as part of the RDS team, you will help to shape our culture and future direction. 

Find out more about the RDS team

Work from where you want

We recognise everyone has different circumstances, which is why we promote a culture of flexibility and strive to make great work-life balance a reality. As a progressive digital-first organisation, we promote hybrid working and flexible hours from day one: you're empowered and trusted to deliver your outputs in the best way possible and from where you work best.

We share a modern office space in the Edinburgh Futures Institute with partner organisations to provide important human contact and ample opportunity for collaboration. We simply ask that you attend our office (at least) once per month to join an all-colleague day.

Other options include:

Illustration of a desktop computer with two keys on the screen.

A four-day (32 hour) working week (for full-time colleagues)

33

days’ annual leave (maximum) based on length of service, with no set closure dates (pro-rata for part-time and fixed-term contracts) 

Illustration of a man with a beard and a backpack climbing a hill with a dog leading the way.

Part-time hours

3

days' annual paid volunteer leave

You'll also benefit from our:

Illustration of a flower growing out of a stack of coins.

Competitive pay

Illustration of a person riding a scooter and a person riding a bike.

Generous pension plan with enhanced employer contributions

Illustration of a line graph made to look like mountains.

Life assurance scheme

Illustration of a lightbulb that has been split like a pie chart.

Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity/ partners, adoption and shared parental leave 

Illustration of a woman with a stethoscope and clipboard looking at a man standing behind an x-ray screen.

Enhanced sick pay

We also offer flexible benefits including a wide range of discounts, a cycle to work scheme, dental insurance and 'give as you earn' charity donation plans. An Employee Assistance Programme with free and confidential advice on legal financial and consumer rights is also available, as are Confidential counselling services.

Learning every day

Our organisation, the work we do, and the skills of our colleagues are evolving every day. This means purposeful learning is a core aspect of working at Research Data Scotland. It’s how we’ll all grow and thrive.  

We provide varied project experience, the opportunity for secondments, and in-role skills development to support you to advance your career.

We also support your development with:

Illustration of a desktop computer with two keys on the screen.

Online learning, giving you the flexibility to learn at a time that suits you

Illustration of a lightbulb that has been split like a pie chart.

Individual learning fund to allow you to find learning that develops skills relevant for your personal career aspirations

Illustration of two people fixing a set of three giant gears.

Project opportunities to learn from others across Research Data Scotland and partner organisations

Illustration of a man lifting a covered plate to reveal a bar chart.

The opportunity to represent Research Data Scotland at conferences and events, to fine-tune your public speaking skills and hear from experts in their fields

Illustration of a woman and man sitting on empty speech bubbles facing each other.

Online “(Not) Lunch and Learn” events, where we invite speakers to share insight and experience, and colleague drop-ins

Our recruitment process

We like to keep our application processes as simple and human-centred as we can.

To apply for a role, simply click on a vacancy link and you’ll be invited to upload your CV and a cover letter. Your letter should explain why you are interested in joining us and how your skills and experience to date match the job and person specifications.

We are piloting an approach of providing candidates with competency questions ahead of their interviews. This helps them focus on providing great examples of their past experiences, rather than spend preparation time guessing what they could be asked.

Disability confident committed badge

Was this information helpful?