Chief Operating Officer

UK Agri-Tech Centre; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Crown Estate Scotland is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to align day-to-day operations with the strategic direction of the organisation. You will lead corporate functions including People, Data and Digital, Business Administration, Planning and Performance Management, and continuous improvement.

You will report to the Chief Executive and Accountable Officer, guiding strategic decisions to balance commercial success with sustainable development and public-benefit objectives.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience.
• Formal management/leadership qualification.
• Strong senior operational and leadership experience with service delivery improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate operations ensuring capacity, capability and resilience to deliver the Corporate Plan 2026–31.
• Provide strategic leadership across People, Data and Digital, Business Administration, Planning and Performance Management.
• Lead corporate business planning: budgeting, workforce planning, performance reporting and continuous improvement.
• Lead implementation of the People Strategy to foster an inclusive, high-performing culture.
• Develop and implement the Data and Digital Strategy with governed data and scalable digital solutions.
• Strengthen organisational resilience for informed decision-making and priority delivery.
• Embed a culture of innovation, efficiency and data-led improvement across operations.
• Act as Senior Responsible Officer for major projects and sponsor cross-functional initiatives.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic leadership

People management

Performance management

Education

Degree-level education

Management qualification

Job description

Crown Estate Scotland’s purpose is investing in property, natural resources, and people to create lasting value for Scotland. Crown Estate Scotland seeks to maintain and enhance the value of the assets which it holds on behalf of the Monarch ("in right of the Crown") and to pay its net revenue profit for each year to the Scottish Consolidated Fund.

Our vision is that the Scottish Estate supports a thriving and sustainable Scotland where land and resource under management benefit communities, environment and economy, both now and in the future.

Crown Estate Scotland is a unique business with a diverse portfolio that includes real estate, rural estates and the management of the seabed and the foreshore.

About the role

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the effective day-to-day operation and strategic alignment of Crown Estate Scotland. The role leads a broad portfolio of corporate functions, including People, Data and Digital, Business Administration, Planning and Performance Management, and continuous improvement.

As a member of the newly established Corporate Leadership Team, the COO provides strategic leadership across Crown Estate Scotland and expert advice to the Chief Executive and Accountable Officer and the Board. The role will balance the complex demands of commercial success, sustainable development, effective stewardship of the Estate and the optimisation of financial returns for the public good.

Key responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead Crown Estate Scotland’s corporate operations, ensuring the organisation has the capacity, capability and resilience required to deliver the outcomes set out in the Corporate Plan 2026–31.
• Provide strategic leadership across the People, Data and Digital, Business Administration, and Planning and Performance Management functions, ensuring they operate effectively and remain aligned with organisational priorities.
• Lead the corporate business planning process, bringing together strategic planning, budgeting, workforce planning, performance measurement and reporting to support effective delivery and continuous improvement.
• Lead the implementation and continued development of the People Strategy, fostering an inclusive and high-performing organisational culture aligned with Crown Estate Scotland’s values.
• Develop and implement the Data and Digital Strategy, ensuring that data is effectively governed and accessible, and that secure and scalable digital solutions support organisational performance and service delivery.
• Strengthen organisational resilience, supporting informed decision-making and the effective delivery of strategic priorities.
• Embed a culture of innovation, efficiency and data-led continuous improvement across Crown Estate Scotland’s operations.
• Actively contribute to the wider leadership of Crown Estate Scotland, acting as Senior Responsible Officer for major projects and as sponsor for internal cross-functional initiatives.

Candidate requirements

Candidates should be educated to degree level or have an equivalent level of professional experience, together with a formal management or leadership qualification. You will bring a strong combination of senior operational and leadership experience, with a demonstrable record of improving service delivery and leading organisational change within a complex environment.

You will have a strong understanding of corporate business functions and leading practice in at least two areas within the COO portfolio, such HR, technology, organisational change, business administration or planning and performance management. You will be a strategic and commercially astute leader who can translate organisational priorities into effective delivery, strengthen performance and governance, and operate confidently in a complex and highly scrutinised environment.