Chief Executive Officer

Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 109,000; Full time

Job summary

An established public sector organization is seeking a dynamic Chief Executive to lead its transformative vision. As the Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland, you will oversee the collection and management of significant tax revenues, ensuring operational resilience and strategic foresight. This role requires a visionary leader with a strong background in governance and stakeholder engagement, ready to drive change and foster an inclusive culture. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to improving public services and making a meaningful impact on Scotland's tax system.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension with Employer Contribution

Flexible Working Options

Learning and Development Opportunities

Inclusive and Diverse Culture

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead and manage operational delivery in large organizations.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk, and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead Revenue Scotland to deliver ambitious corporate priorities.
• Ensure effective management of tax revenues and strategic decision-making.

Skills

Senior Leadership Experience

Organisational Governance

Strategic Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Change Management

Education

Professional Qualification in Legal or Finance

Job description

Are you an inspiring, people-focused leader with drive and ambition?

Revenue Scotland is seeking a transformational leader who leads with vision and purpose to be its next Chief Executive. This is an exciting time for Revenue Scotland as we:

• continue to oversee the collection and management of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax,
• work to implement Scottish Aggregates Tax and Scottish Building Safety Levy,
• build capacity to collect further devolved taxes in the future,
• contribute to the changing nature of the tax system in Scotland through providing our operational expertise in the development of tax policy,
• continue to harness the power of our data and technology in the services we offer, working in partnership with key stakeholders to drive efficiency and quality.

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead Revenue Scotland to deliver our ambitious Corporate Plan 2024-2027 priorities and our vision of being a trusted and valued partner in the delivery of revenue services, informed by data, digital by design, with a high performing and engaged workforce with public service at its heart, and ensuring the organisation meets its key performance indicators.
• Ensure the delivery of the collection and management of tax revenues in line with Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts, circa £1bn per annum, including taking decisions on handling of cases of strategic importance (for instance those of high value or ones that could influence the interpretation of tax legislation).
• Act as Accountable Officer for the management of Revenue Scotland’s operating budget (circa £12m in the current financial year) and devolved tax revenues of circa £1bn per annum) and ensuring that all relevant financial considerations and Scottish Government guidance, including issues of propriety, risk, regularity, efficiency and value for money, are applied in delivering Revenue Scotland’s business.
• Ensure successful procurement, design and launch on Revenue Scotland’s tax future collection system.
• Ensure the successful implementation, administration and collection of new devolved taxes and responsibilities.
• Collaborate with the Scottish Government on setting and delivering Scotland’s tax vision and strategy, including drawing on Revenue Scotland’s operational expertise to input to future tax design.
• Act as an ambassador for Revenue Scotland by engaging with stakeholders across the tax system in Scotland, all 4 nations of the UK and overseas.
• Act as an ambassador for Revenue Scotland when engaging with Ministers and advisory committees.
• Take a leadership role in working closely with senior leaders and chief executives across the public sector to drive improvement in Scottish public services, including by setting a leading example in digital and data solutions.
• Take overall responsibility for Revenue Scotland staff, circa 100, fostering a culture of inclusivity, wellbeing, and innovation.

For full details about the role please see the candidate pack (https://revenue.scot/about-us/careers-revenue-scotland/chief-executive-revenue-scotland-candidate-pack)

Person specification

Please refer to the Operational Delivery Framework for the core capabilities for SCS roles. It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role (as set out in the 5 criteria below). In addition, candidates applying for roles are assessed in line with the behaviours listed below as outlined in the Success Profiles framework.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Significant senior leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to lead and manage resilient operational delivery within an organisation at the size, scale an scope of Revenue Scotland, with evidence of leading organisational change and transformation, including complex technical, analytical, and service programmes, ensuring operational resilience, and maximising the value of data.
• Strong understanding of organisational governance, risk and financial acumen and experience of managing a budget to drive efficiencies and resources effectively.
• Highly effective strategic leadership with a proven capacity for strategic foresight and horizon scanning displaying excellent judgement and demonstrating astute political sensitivity.
• Thought leadership by demonstrating ‘big picture’ knowledge, creating, and presenting a compelling vision and clear direction as well as a passion for leading people through change, role modelling positive behaviours illustrating an ability to inspire and engage inclusive, high performing teams.
• Persuasive, diplomatic and skilled at building strong internal and external stakeholder relationships at all levels, demonstrating an ability to navigate politically sensitive issues, foster collaboration, and drive consensus.

These criteria are underpinned by a number of behaviours (Level 6)

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership

Qualifications

A professional qualification in an area such as legal or finance is desirable, but not essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £108,339, Scottish Government contributes £31,385 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

Selection process details

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV accompanied by a Supporting Statement of no more than 1500 words which provides evidence in the form of specific examples of how you meet each of the 5 criteria listed in the person specification above, underpinned by the relevant behaviours. If you wish to find out more information about the role, please contact Elaine Lorimer at [e-mail]

If you are shortlisted, you will be provided with full details of the next stages of the selection and assessment process. Details are contained in the candidate pack (Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland – Candidate Pack , Revenue Scotland ).

Interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 23 June 2025.

You would be expected to take up post around the beginning of November 2025.

External candidates from outside the civil service would be subject to a 9-month probation period.

About us

Revenue Scotland was established as a Non-Ministerial Office on 1 January 2015 and is accountable to the Scottish Parliament for our performance. We sit within the Scottish Administration but remain separate from the Scottish Government. We work in partnership with the Scottish Government on matters of tax policy and as a public body and employer. Revenue Scotland is Scotland’s devolved tax authority, established under the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014.

Revenue Scotland is a highly effective diverse and digital organisation, with outstanding operational performance and a reputation for being a great employer. We have been responsible for collecting £8 billion from devolved taxes, all of which stays in Scotland to help fund vital public services. We are efficient, keeping our costs low because of our use of technology and have a highly engaged workforce, with nine professions working in a collaborative way to deliver public services to the highest standards.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

Our standard working hours at Senior Civil Service are 37 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options. We expect a minimum of two days a week in the office and in-person meetings with stakeholders,if applicable. We offer the option of secondment from your existing employer on your current employment terms for 3 years, the possibility of extension by a further 2 years may also be considered.

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.

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