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.
Recognising the value and contribution of social care, NES has established a new Social Care Directorate as a dedicated corporate function. The work of the Social Care Directorate builds on and expands the existing education, training, workforce development and workforce data and technology provided by NES to the social care sector.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Head of Programme to join our specialist and highly talented team who are working at NES to help people working in social care get the education and skills they need to provide good quality care for people in Scotland.
As the Head of Programme you will lead a new, talented and growing team as we develop education and training programmes and improve career pathways to equip the social care workforce in Scotland with greater competence, confidence and capability.
As the Head of Programme in the Social Care Directorate you will also provide strategic leadership and direction, working collaboratively across multiple workstreams and liaising with a wide range of stakeholders.
Do you want to play a key role in as we grow and develop our new Social Care Directorate in NES?
Do you want to support the development of the social care workforce and the essential services they deliver to the people of Scotland?
Do you want to work as an innovative leader who responds flexibly to changing requirements and helps others to do the same?
Do you enjoy collaborating and problem solving with a wide range of stakeholders?
Do you thrive in a team that continuously learns from success as well as setbacks?
Do you enjoy the challenge of working across professional and organisational boundaries internally and externally to achieve our objectives?
Working in our Social Care Directorate you will have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and in partnership with to develop creative approaches to meet the learning and development needs of the social care workforce in Scotland, to enhance the quality and sustainability of services and improve people’s outcomes.
Does this sound like you?
What We Love to See
Heads of Programme need to offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we would love you to apply:
- Proven experience leading and delivering on the development, implementation and evaluation of organisational policies, business, management processes and systems to support strategic organisational and programme objectives
- Effective leadership experience with proven ability to deliver key strategic outcomes while engaging with a range of national & international stakeholders to inform policy and programme delivery
- A track record in collaborating, influencing and building key networks and strategic alliances across a complex system of national & international stakeholders within the public, private and third sector
- A clear understanding of the key factors and practices essential to high-quality research, evaluation, education and training including how to embed and continually enhance these within an organisation
- Ability to demonstrate a creative and innovative approach to problem solving
- A strong communicator with extensive mentoring and line management experience
- Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise workloads, and those 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 Head of Programme role right now. You may be returning from a career break eg, 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 Angella Fulton, Associate Director: angella.fulton@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) will take place on 14 & 16 February 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 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