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 hours per week
Fixed-term or Secondment** until end of June 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 innovate 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 have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced, skilled and motivated Data Protection Officer (DPO) to join our data protection team within NTS Data and Assurance. Providing a practical and pragmatic approach to ensure data protection compliance across the organisation.
Do you have the expert knowledge and experience to ensure the delivery of a robust data protection programme ensuring the accountability, transparency, and secure use of personal identifiable data in the delivery of NES core objectives?
Do you want to improve the secure and transparent use of personal identifiable data in the delivery of essential heath and care digital systems?
Do you want to play a key role in ensuring that citizens data in the NHSScotland is appropriately processed and lawfully used?
Do you enjoy working in a digital environment at the edge of technological innovations?
Do you want to play a crucial role in delivery the NES Strategy, the Digital Health and Care Strategy and the Data Strategy for Scotland?
Working within the NTS Information Governance and Assurance Team you will provide expert data protection knowledge and experience, to drive and influence data protection compliance across all NES directorates.
Does this sound like you?
What We Love to See
A highly experienced Data Protection Officer who can offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:
Strong knowledge and understanding of data privacy and data protection regulations and the impact of this on the Scottish Health and Care sector.
Proven experience of data protection compliance operating at a senior level within a large/complex organisation.
Ability to work unsupervised, exercise leadership, and influence change.
Proven experience in working proactively across multiple directorates and services to provide specialist advice and guidance to senior management to address areas of data protection risk and comply with data protection legislation.
Strong motivational and influencing skills to achieve desired outcomes and results through collaboration.
Ability to be diligent, with strong attention to detail and committed to delivering high quality outputs.
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 own workloads, 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 hybrid 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 Data Protection Officer 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 Tracey Gill – Head of Service Information Governance & Assurance (tracey.gill@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.
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.
In person OR online interviews (including a presentation) will take place on 25th September – 3rd October 2025. 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, CVs will not be accepted.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.
It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.
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