Job Advert
Three Rare Senior Leadership Opportunities in One of the World’s Most Beautiful Places to Live and Work
This is an exceptional moment to join NHS Highland’s Psychology Leadership Team. Opportunities at this level are rare; to have three available at the same time creates a unique chance for ambitious senior psychologists to shape the future of services across a remarkable region.
We are seeking three outstanding Associate Directors of Psychology who are ready to lead with vision, influence and purpose across one of Scotland’s largest, most geographically diverse and most rewarding health systems.
These newly configured Band 8D posts offer genuine scope to make a difference. Working alongside the Director of Psychology, Clinical Director CAMHS and Senior Service Managers, you will influence strategy, lead transformation and help shape high-quality psychological services for communities across the Highlands.
The roles also offer something increasingly valuable: the opportunity to build a senior leadership career while living in one of the most stunning and iconic parts of the world. The Scottish Highlands combine professional challenge and impact with dramatic mountains, lochs, coastlines, vibrant communities and outstanding opportunities for family life, outdoor adventure and personal wellbeing.
Lead Strategy - Drive Change - Shape the Future
We are looking for professionally qualified psychologists who are ready to step into visible, influential and rewarding senior leadership roles.
These posts are ideal for leaders who want to work at strategic scale while staying connected to the values and purpose of psychological practice. You will bring professional credibility, strategic vision and the confidence to influence complex systems, lead change and contribute to corporate decision-making across NHS Highland.
Successful candidates will have experience in strategic development, organisational change, workforce planning, governance and performance improvement. You will be comfortable using financial, operational and workforce data to support better decisions, strengthen assurance and deliver meaningful improvement.
As part of a collaborative Psychology Leadership Team, you will help set direction, support innovation, strengthen governance and contribute to wider organisational priorities. There will also be opportunities, where required, to deputise for the Director of Psychology.
The Opportunities
We are recruiting to three distinct portfolios - there are 3 x 36hpw posts available:
Portfolio 1: Associate Director - Adult Services (Adult Mental Health Psychology, Workforce, DARS Psychology and Digital Therapies) - leading a broad and influential portfolio providing strategic and professional leadership across adult mental health psychology, inpatient and rehabilitation services, workforce psychology, drug and alcohol recovery services and digital therapies. The role also provides professional leadership for psychology provision in forensic services, perinatal mental health and prison health services.
Portfolio 2: Associate Director - Adult Services (Acute and Specialist Services) - leading a broad and influential portfolio providing strategic and professional leadership across specialist adult services, including neuropsychology, stroke, major trauma, post-infection services, older adult psychology, clinical health psychology, chronic pain psychology, gastroenterology psychology, gender identity psychology and adult learning disability psychology. The role also includes leadership for education, research and Public Services Delivery Scotland funded activity.
Portfolio 3: Associate Director - Child and Adolescent Services (CAMHS) - leading a broad and influential portfolio providing strategic and professional leadership across a diverse CAMHS portfolio including core CAMHS, eating disorders, learning disability CAMHS, care-experienced young people’s services, paediatric health psychology, paediatric liaison, paediatric neuropsychology, unscheduled care, intensive CAMHS, drug and alcohol pathways, neurodevelopmental assessment pathways, PSDS trainee placements and CAMHS-funded roles.
Each role has a distinct portfolio, but all three Associate Directors will work together as system leaders, supporting one another and contributing to the continued development, visibility and impact of psychology services across NHS Highland.
About You
You will be an experienced senior leader who brings professional credibility, warmth and ambition, with:
- A strong track record in strategic leadership and service transformation.
- Experience of leading change in complex healthcare or public sector environments.
- Well-developed business, financial and operational awareness.
- Expertise in using performance, workforce and financial data to inform strategy, assurance and improvement.
- Excellent communication, partnership-working and stakeholder management skills.
- The credibility, confidence and judgement to influence at senior organisational and system levels.
Why NHS Highland?
Few senior leadership opportunities offer this combination of scale, influence, professional purpose and quality of life.
At NHS Highland, you will help shape services that make a meaningful difference to people and communities across a vast and varied region. You will also be part of a leadership culture that values collaboration, innovation, compassion and the contribution psychology can make across the whole system.
If you are ready for a role with reach, challenge and genuine impact - and if you are excited by the prospect of living and working in the Highlands - we would be delighted to hear from you.
For further information regarding psychology Portfolios 1 and 2 (Adult Psychology), please contact Dr Allyson Turnbull-Jukes, Director of Psychology NHS Highland; email: allyson.turnbull-jukes@nhs.scot
For further information regarding the Child and Adolescent psychology (CAMHS) Portfolio, please contact Duncan Clark, CAMHS Clinical Director; email: duncan.clark2@nhs.scot
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
Additional information for candidates
Flexible Working
- Flexible working options may be available, depending on the role and service needs. If this is important to you, please discuss it at interview.
How to apply
- Apply online through Jobtrain
- Please note that this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a high number of applications are received. Early application is therefore advised.
- Please ensure the address on your application form reflects your current place of residence for your present workplace and can be verified through your identification documents.
- Do not upload a CV – CVs are not used for shortlisting
- Applications close at midnight on the stated closing date
Once submitted, applications cannot be changed
Keeping in Touch
- We will contact you by email
- Please check your email (including junk folders) and your Jobtrain account regularly
Support and Accessibility
- Help with applying: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/
- Jobtrain technical support: https://knowledge.jobtrain.co.uk/jobseeker
- Jobtrain accessibility statement:
https://www.eess.nhs.scot/jobtrain-accessibility-statement/ - If you need adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please tell us
Internal candidates
- Some posts are internal only
- If you work for NHS Highland, make sure your Jobtrain profile shows this
What is it like to work for NHS Highland?
- Visit https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/careers/ to find out more about living and working in our area
- Applications are welcome from Gaelic speakers
Tha fàilte air tagraidhean bho luchd‑labhairt na Gàidhlig
Care and compassion | Dignity and respect | Openness, honesty and responsibility | Quality and teamwork |
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