Job Advert
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: Fixed-term, Full Time, 37.5 hours per week.
Fixed-term or Secondment** until 31 March 2026
**For NHS applicants, an NHS secondment will be offered in the first instance. For non-NHS applicants, a fixed-term or secondment would be considered.
You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.
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.
NES Technology Service (NTS) has created a strategic programme for the transformation of digital based services to allow NES to become a leading digital organisation in Scottish Health, digital by default and fully aligned with the Scottish Government’s technology strategies.
Our Technology
We are in the business of providing safe, secure and innovative technology products and services that aim to improve outcomes across education, training, workforce, health and care in the public sector in Scotland. Using modern cloud-based technology we deliver sustainable products and services for the future.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Head of Service (Infrastructure & Operations) to join our highly talented and growing organisation to enable delivery of the NES Strategy 2023-2026, and assist NTS in our contribution to delivering against the Scottish Government Digital Health and Care Strategy and Data Strategy. NTS is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Head of Service to lead the Infrastructure & Operations business unit and oversee the three key verticals Infrastructure, Operations and Cybersecurity.
Do you enjoy playing a senior leadership role in multi-disciplinary teams to bring technology products from inception to production and sustained service operation?
Do you want to play a key role in transforming how technology is delivered in the public sector in Scotland?
Do you have a keen interest in IT Service Management techniques with a proven track record in applying them?
Do you enjoy working at pace and being adaptive to an ever-changing yet very rewarding environment?
Heading up the Infrastructure & Operations services, you will have the opportunity to assist the Associate Director build successful Infrastructure, Operations and Cybersecurity teams with a focus on excellence and nurturing clear career development pathways. Your work will directly influence the development of impactful technology services for health and care professionals and the general public.
Does this sound like you?
What We Love to See
Heads of Service offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:
- Proven leadership experience within Service Design and Delivery
- Highly experienced in all aspects of modern, cloud-first technology architecture, design and delivery
- Ability to collaborate effectively and build networks and communities of practice
- Proven experience of building and leading multi-disciplinary teams including hiring, coaching, developing and supporting colleagues at all levels
- Strong experience of leading and delivering a large scale operational change programmes
- Proven track record at identifying and implementing service process improvements and building successful teams through understanding team styles and influencing and motivating team members
- Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workload and that of your teams, and to lead and deliver to strict deadlines
- Proven track record in leading lead and facilitating programmes of work across organisational boundaries
- Ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, encouraging creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Highly effective communicator knowing how to make complex technical information and language simple for diverse senior internal and external stakeholders (both verbally and in writing)
- Senior Leadership role and experienced people manager
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 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 Head of Service (Senior Infrastructure/Operations) 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 David Wilson, Associate Director for Infrastructure & Operations, david.wilson@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, only working from our offices once official guidance supports this.
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.
Online interviews (including a ten minute presentation) will take place between the 10 and 12 January 2024. 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 application portal or the recruitment process, please contact the East Region Recruitment Service: EoS.ERRS@nhs.scot