Job Advert
About the Organisation:
Public Health Scotland launched 1st April 2020 as a national health board, employing around 1200 people, and with an annual budget of around £101 million. Public Health Scotland wants to see a Scotland where everybody thrives, a Scotland where life expectancy improves and the difference in life expectancy between our poorest and wealthiest areas gets smaller.
The Post:
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Strategy, Governance and Performance (SGP) Directorate and play a pivotal role in supporting PHS to deliver on its new 10-year strategy. As a Strategy & Transformation Portfolio Standards Manager, you will help shape and assure how PHS delivers change through its Portfolio Organisational Programmes.
This role sits within the Strategy & Transformation Service, working at the heart of organisational change. You will be responsible for designing, developing and assuring project, programme and portfolio (3PM) practices across PHS ensuring our methods are high‑quality, evidence‑based and aligned to PHS strategic priorities. A key part of the role is building capability across the organisation.
You will lead the design and delivery of training, support our Community of Practice and coordinate access to professional development opportunities, including our partnership with the Association for Project Management (APM). You will influence colleagues at all levels, providing expert guidance, coaching and assurance to strengthen how PHS delivers change.
As Portfolio Standards Manager you will contribute to maintaining strong governance, assuring standards and supporting colleagues to deliver high‑quality outcomes across our Portfolio.
Please refer to the additional information attached for further information on the remits associated to these posts.
The Candidate:
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated professional who brings strong project, programme and portfolio (3PM) expertise and is passionate about improving how PHS delivers change. You will hold a Master’s level qualification in a relevant field or have equivalent, demonstrable experience gained in a complex organisational environment.
In this role you must be able to make sense of complex, evolving areas of work and respond constructively to challenge. The ideal candidate will be confident influencing and constructively challenging the status quo, while championing high‑quality, evidence‑based standards and new ways of working across the organisation.
You should be an excellent communicator, able to engage with senior leaders and present complex information clearly to a range of audiences, including executive level. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills are essential.
You will be committed to personal, team and organisational development with experience in building workforce capability through training, coaching and sharing best practice. Above all, you will bring the confidence, creativity and professional expertise needed to strengthen project, programme and portfolio practice across PHS.
If you choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced by AI or similar technologies.
Location and Working Pattern:
The post is based in either Gyle Square, Edinburgh or Bothwell Street, Glasgow.
We are currently hybrid working; therefore, you will be expected to attend your base location 2 days per week and be required to attend both offices for in person meetings as required by the role.
Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week.
PHS is a flexible employer, and we are happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns
During times of public health emergency, or other urgent business need, you may be required on a temporary basis to work your normal contracted working hours over 7 days including weekends, in order to meet the needs of the service.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PHS.
Benefits:
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. Click here to view the full range of the PHS Employee Benefits.
Further Information:
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Vicky Dabek, Organisational Lead (Portfolio) at vicky.dabek@phs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is 25th May 2026.
Further information on PHS is available from: www.publichealthscotland.scot
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
Public Health Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.