Planned Care - Policy Official

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Job Title – Planned Care - Policy Official

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy .

Grade – C1

Advert type – level transfer

Duration - Permanent

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only.

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

We are seeking high-performing and ambitious leaders to join the Planned Care Policy, Performance and Improvement portfolio.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in delivering some of Scotland's most important health and care priorities. You will work on issues of national significance, influence strategic decision-making, and help shape the future of planned care services while developing your own leadership capability within a high-profile and fast-paced environment.

Successful candidates will lead key areas of national policy, improvement, performance management and transformation, working at the centre of government alongside Ministers, senior officials, NHS Boards and delivery partners.

The posts span a range of planned care priorities, including policy development, performance improvement, diagnostics, elective care reform, data and intelligence, governance and strategic programme delivery. While each role will have a distinct portfolio, all will contribute to delivering sustainable improvements in patient access, outcomes and experience across Scotland.

This Division sits within the Office of the Chief Operating Officer and is at the forefront of efforts to improve health system performance, support reform and deliver ministerial priorities.

• Lead a specialist policy, performance or improvement portfolio, providing strategic direction and ensuring delivery of agreed priorities and outcomes.
• Develop and implement evidence-based policy, programmes and improvement initiatives that support planned care reform and recovery.
• Provide high-quality advice and briefings to Ministers, senior leaders and stakeholders on complex and often high-profile issues.
• Build and maintain effective relationships across Scottish Government, NHS Boards, professional groups and external partners to drive collaborative delivery.
• Use data, analytics and insight to inform decision-making, monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams, fostering an inclusive culture focused on innovation, continuous improvement and delivery.

Experience:

• Leading policy development, programme delivery, service transformation or performance improvement in a complex environment.
• Managing strategic relationships with senior stakeholders, including NHS Boards, government colleagues and national partners.
• Delivering large-scale projects or programmes involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Using analysis, evidence and performance information to support decision-making and drive improvements.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams, building capability and fostering an inclusive culture.
• Influencing outcomes in politically sensitive or high-profile environments.
• Delivering change across organisational boundaries through partnership and collaboration.
• Excellent communication, engagement and relationship-management skills.
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from sarah.martin@gov.scot

How to Apply

Please submit a CV and an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancies close at 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of a light touch interview.

Discussions are to be confirmed.

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Codeand working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes