Head of Delivery

Join Social Security Scotland at a pivotal point in its transformation journey. As Head of Delivery, you will lead the development of a modern, collaborative and outcome-focused delivery function, ensuring change initiatives are delivered effectively and aligned to strategic and ministerial priorities.

With responsibility for overseeing delivery performance, governance, risks and dependencies across a complex change portfolio, you will be instrumental in enabling successful transformation. This is an exciting opportunity to influence organisational direction, build delivery capability and drive a culture of continuous improvement that supports better outcomes for colleagues and citizens alike.

The Head of Delivery is accountable for the delivery of complex products and services that are delivered by multiple teams or have high technical or political risk.

At this role level, you will:

• Manage dependencies of varying complexity, potentially planning and feeding into larger programmes and portfolios.
• Remove blockers and manage risks, commercials, budgets and people.
• Balance objectives and redeploy people and resources as priorities change.
• Have an in-depth knowledge of Agile and other methodologies.
• Be responsible for understanding, managing and communicating to complex stakeholder groups, balancing priorities.
• Have an awareness of the bigger picture.
• Support the Executive Team by overseeing the delivery of their vision for the programme.
• Support and coach delivery managers. 

Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

• Coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, ensuring alignment with Agency goals.
   
• Continuously innovate and tailor methodologies to optimise delivery effectiveness.
   
• Mediate between stakeholders at all levels, managing expectations and moderating discussions on high-risk and complex topics.
   
• Represent the Delivery and Change division effectively to diverse audiences, both internally and externally, ensuring clear communication of goals and priorities.
   
• Resolve high-level issues between teams or departments, using strong mediation skills and coaching abilities.
   
• Coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, fostering collaboration and supportive relationships.
   
• Ensure financial accountability and transparency, aligning expenditure with priorities.
   
• Lead teams through the full product life cycle, finding and managing risks across all stages and providing guidance and support as needed.
   
• Develop sustainable support models and coach others in life cycle management practices.
   
• Optimise team delivery flow and address complex risks, issues, and dependencies to keep momentum and meet delivery targets.
   
• Find innovative solutions to unblock issues and overcome obstacles, ensuring continuous progress towards programme goals.
   
• Find and streamline organisational processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.
   
• Guide teams through the implementation of new processes, providing coaching and support to maximise effectiveness.
   
• Lead strategic planning processes, finding dependencies and coordinating delivery across services to ensure alignment with programme goals.
   
• Coach other teams in planning methodologies, providing expertise and support to optimise planning processes.

Qualifications

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each.  Find out more about the framework here.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. You have expert proficiency in Agile and Lean practices, actively leading teams through coaching and advocacy. Continuously challenging and innovating, you tailor methodologies to optimise delivery and resolving high-level issues between teams and departments and communicating outcomes clearly. 
    
2. Expert proficiency in planning and delivery management, with a proven ability to maintain momentum in complex environments by coordinating dependencies, optimising team workflows, proactively managing risks and issues, and driving successful outcomes even where ownership or priorities are unclear.

 

Behaviours

• Changing and Improving - Level 4
• Leadership - Level 4
   

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here. 

Technical / Professional Skills

This role is aligned to Programme Delivery Manager within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Programme delivery manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage.  

How to Apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the Success Profiles above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.

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. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on the first Experience criteria.  Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed. 

Successful candidates will be invited to a competency based interview which will assess the Experience and Behaviours, and a technical assessment comprising a short presentation which will assess the Technical Skills.

Please note; There may be a telephone interview prior to the final interview stage.

Full details of the interview and assessment process will be shared with shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 
Sift - week commencing 23rd November
Interview - week commencing 14th December
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here.

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.

Working Pattern 
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee.  If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.  

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

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot 

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

Right to Work in the UK  
Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice at Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

Further Information 
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission  

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.  

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.  

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot 

Apply before 23:55 on 23rd November 2026

Contact Name - Resourcing Team  
Contact Email - Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot