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 31st 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. It is in pursuit of this aim that NTS are working with partners to develop the National Digital Platform.
The National Digital Platform
In the future, the first point of contact for many health and social care services will be digital. This requires technology that enables innovation and communication between systems in order to ensure these services are delivered in the most effective way.
The National Digital Platform (NDP) is an open, standards-based platform, supporting technology for the health and social care environment. It underpins our commitment to making health and care information and services more accessible. Working with those delivering solutions across health and social care to bring new and existing digital components onto the platform, for re-use.
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 Software Engineering Manager (Head of Service) to join our highly talented and growing organisation to guide teams in the delivery of cutting-edge technology solutions that will help to deliver on the Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care Strategy.
Do you enjoy playing a leadership role in multi-disciplinary teams to bring technology products from inception to production and sustained operation?
Do you want to play a key role in transforming how technology is delivered in the public sector in Scotland?
Do you enjoy working at pace and being adaptive to an ever-changing yet very rewarding environment?
Leading the delivery of the National Digital Platform, you will have the opportunity to build teams with a focus on technical 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
Software Engineering Managers offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:
- Proven experience of building and leading development teams including hiring, coaching, developing and supporting software engineers
- A clear understanding of what it takes to get complex technology solutions from inception to production
- Ability to confidently lead and facilitate programmes of work across organisational boundaries
- 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
- 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)
- 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 workload 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 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 senior engineering management 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 daniel.mccafferty2@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.
Interviews will consist of a presentation component and a values-based questioning component and will take place between the 13th and 17th November 2023. The presentation topic will be sent to candidates selected for interview, along with details of the values-based questions.
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.