Director of Corporate Services

Scottish Government

Edinburgh, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Management

Full time

£92,827 - £94,083 per year

Job summary

Are you looking for a leadership role, where you can showcase your experience managing multiple work streams at Executive level? Are you looking to be part of an innovative Agency that supports the learning journey of Scottish domiciled students in Higher Education, then we would love to hear from you!

We’re looking for an experienced individual who has exposure to managing multiple work streams at Executive level. You’ll have a track record of delivering high performance through successful management of people with a collective and collaborative approach. You will provide strategic leadership in the areas of People and Performance, Facilities, Finance, Programme Management and ICT. You will play a key role in creating an effective central function ensuring the efficient delivery of compliance activities, priorities, and shared services, fully aligned with the SAAS Corporate Strategy and strategic objectives. You will lead the Corporate Services Directorate to deliver centralised processes and governance supporting each business function across SAAS.

This post will lead across multiple delivery teams and requires strong leadership overseeing delivery at cost and within tight time standards. A key element will be building and maintaining positive relationships and perceptions of the agency and managing expectations as needed with all stakeholders. This role will require strong communication and engagement with a wide range of key internal and external stakeholders, including Scottish Ministers, Scottish Government, a range of university and college delivery partners, the Student Loans Company and other public and third sector organisations who, together, deliver post-schools student services in Scotland. Maintaining relationships with staff, trade unions and suppliers is also vital.

We are seeking an impactful leader, with a track record of achievement and an ethos of customer focus and continuous improvement to deliver high-quality, progressive and efficient services.

As Director of Corporate Services, you will report to the CEO, the post holder will have an influential role to play in shaping, implementing and delivering SAAS’ objectives, and Ministerial directions across Scotland with Minimal supervision.

This is one of 3 senior leaders in SAAS, each responsible for leading and directing a specific Directorate of SAAS (Corporate Services; Policy, Strategy & Governance; Operations & Business Delivery and Digital) reporting directly to the Chief Executive of SAAS/accountable officer.

Job description

You will be a senior leader, and as a member of the Executive Team & SAAS Board, you will provide leadership and oversee the day to day running of the organisation. You will work in collaboration with peers to deliver the business, managing risks and resources effectively across the divisions.
This post will have minimal supervision, with direct accountability for the role and you will be required to interact directly with Ministers, Senior SG Officials and Senior Stakeholder’s, making executive decisions on behalf of the CEO and agency and have responsibility for leading key negotiations with Trades Unions.
You will provide advice and recommendations to the Executive Team, Board and ARAC, as well as other governance boards & bodies on performance, policy & operational matters or complex and contentious matters within the post holder’s service areas and areas of expertise.
You will lead the provision of modern and business focused corporate support services – SAAS & SG Annual Budgeting cycle and Financial Management, Property, Estates and Building Management, Human Resources, Organisational Development, Programme Management, Procurement and Contract Management.
You will ensure that all financial reporting, financial management and financial accounting systems are fit for purpose and compliant with all financial, legislative and audit requirements. Conduct SAAS Annual Report and Accounts, appropriate Scottish Government year-end activities and the Scottish Government Consolidation packs are completed to timetable.

Person specification

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

Financial Management

You can find out more about the Technical / Professional Skill(s) - ODP Competency framework , Pathways

Qualifications:

This role seeks applications from candidates with qualifications at graduate or post graduate level, or relevant professional recognition, e, g, Qualified Accountant, Chartered or Fellow in a professional body, or relevant and extensive expertise in the role. Other qualifications equivalent to these may also be acceptable. If you are in any doubt, please contact saas_resourcing@gov.scot to discuss.

Behaviours:

Key behaviours (the most important from the Civil Service Behaviours framework).

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours Framework

Leadership – Level 4
Managing a Quality Service – Level 4
Seeing the bigger picture – Level 4

Experience

Executive experience in the delivery of budget & business planning and allocation of resources to align with business and corporate objectives.
Proven experience of developing and monitoring key measures of performance at a corporate level and understanding and navigating productivity in ambiguous and complex operational environments.
Experience in operating at a Senior/Executive level preferably within the public sector with knowledge and experience of working within the guidelines set out in the FReM and SPFM.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with consideration of organisational reputation with experience of senior stakeholder engagement with a proven ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
You will have extensive project management experience in large scale or complex projects and have ideally worked in an environment that has led project teams.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £92,827, Scottish Government contributes £26,891 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please use the link provided to apply online

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£92,827 - £94,083 per year