Job Advert
INTERNAL ADVERT
Applications are open to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) staff only
Flexible Location: Based throughout Scotland, NES is a remote friendly employer supporting office and hybrid working. We’re happy to talk about how you want to work.
Work Pattern: Permanent Full Time, 37 hours per week
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.
It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form
Who We Are
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.
The Dental Directorate is responsible for the management, funding and provision of Postgraduate Education for Dentists and Dental Care Professionals within Scotland and pre-registration training for dental nurses. Postgraduate Education is provided for practitioners within the General Dental Service, Public Dental Services and the Hospital Dental Service. The Directorate is responsible for overseeing the provision of Foundation Training for new dental graduates, and CPD courses for general dental practitioners and the dental care professionals. In addition to this the directorate oversees the dental training grades in the Hospital service and is responsible for the management of Dental ACT and student outreach funds.
The Optometry workstream sits within the NES Dental Directorate and supports the provision of General Ophthalmic Services community eyecare practices across Scotland.
NES Optometry’s Business Support team, sitting within the Dental Directorate, delivers essential administrative support across the breadth of the Optometry Education and training Portfolio.
The Opportunity
We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join our small, but highly talented Optometry workstream. Working within the business support unit you will be experienced in the delivery of effective business support and in driving the implementation of improvements to process and protocols across the business.
Do you want to support access to education resources, which enhances the learning and development experience of the Optometry Profession?
Do you enjoy working with a wide range of stakeholders and across a multidisciplinary team?
Do you want to improve business processes that support the education and training of the Optometry Profession?
Do you enjoy working at pace and being adaptive to an ever-changing environment?
Do you thrive working in partnership with a range of people?
Do you enjoy problem solving and collaborating with others?
Working within the Optometry team you will have the opportunity to bring your unique skills and experience to the table, collaborating across multiple workstreams to support the Dental Directorate and the wider NES.
Does this sound like you?
What We Love to See
Deputy Managers offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:
- Ability to support a diverse team of education professionals
- Well-developed digital knowledge and skills and experience of business administration systems
- Experience of working with a broad range of partners in health and social care settings
- Aptitude for building key networks and strategic alliances across multiple stakeholders
- Ability to collaborate effectively and flexibly within your own team and across wider workstreams
- Highly effective communicator who knows how to make complex, technical information and language engaging for diverse stakeholders
- Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary
- Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads and that of others, and to meet strict deadlines
Benefits Which Matter
As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:
- Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and remote working
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
- Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
- NHS discounts and more
Diversity and Inclusion
Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.
We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience – regardless of the outcome.
It’s not essential to be in a Deputy Manager role right now. You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work.
If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact Penny Crowe, General Manager – Dental, penny.crowe@nhs.scot
Next Steps
**NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.
Our recruitment process is currently 100% remote and if successful you would initially work remotely, working from our offices as operationally required.
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.
Online interviews (including a presentation/exercise) will take place on 26th August 2025 The presentation topic will be sent to candidates selected for interview.
For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.
Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CV’s will not be accepted.
If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: EoS.ERRS@nhs.scot