Chief Operating Officer, Social Security Scotland

Overview

In this role you lead Social Security Scotland’s operational delivery, aligning services with the agency’s mission to support one in three people in Scotland. You’ll provide strategic oversight to performance, resilience, and risk while guiding transformation and continuous improvement across a large, dispersed workforce. You’ll engage Ministers and key partners to ensure accountable, value-driven public service. This is a high-visibility role that shapes service delivery and public outcomes at scale.

Pay / Benefits

• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme contribution by employer
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Flexible working options
• Inclusive and diverse culture
• Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contribution
• Hybrid working with minimum two days in the office

Responsibilities

• Set and execute operational strategy to deliver efficient, compliant, and person-centred benefits
• Provide strategic leadership for Client Services Delivery and reliable service outcomes
• Offer assurance on operational performance, capability, and financial sustainability to the CEO
• Drive data-informed decision making and continuous improvement across the organisation
• Lead a large, geographically dispersed workforce with a culture of inclusion and accountability
• Oversee financial planning and ensure responsible public resource stewardship
• Collaborate with Ministers and external partners to meet external expectations
• Support governance, risk management, and modernisation of services and systems

Key requirements

• Proven experience leading large-scale operational delivery functions with performance accountability
• Experience in organisational transformation and continuous improvement in complex organisations
• Extensive Board/Executive-level experience with governance and assurance
• Strong track record of leading large, dispersed workforces and building inclusive cultures
• Experience delivering person-centred services to vulnerable populations under scrutiny

• leadership
• communication
• collaboration
• data-driven decision making
• management information (MI)
• performance reporting

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