Digital and Data Specialist Lead

NHS National Services Scotland; Scotland; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working & hybrid options

NHS pension scheme

Annual leave 27 days + holidays

Hybrid working and remote-friendly

Job summary

Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland) is seeking a Digital and Data Specialist Lead to drive national initiatives within the Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team. You will develop and deliver resources and programmes that build Scotland’s digital, data and leadership capability for health and social care transformation.

You will work across NHS Scotland, Local Authorities, Health & Social Care Partnerships and academia to maximise impact, with remote-first and hybrid options, and a

Qualifications

• Experience leading and delivering digital and data workforce development programmes at scale.
• Track record of leading complex national workstreams with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong partnership and stakeholder engagement skills across health and social care.
• Knowledge of Scotland’s health and social care landscape and reforms.
• Demonstrated honesty, integrity, care and compassion in leadership roles.
• Ability to work on own initiative and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead national digital and data workforce initiatives within a major public programme.
• Translate national ambition into workforce development resources and capability-building pathways.
• Partner with NHS Scotland, Local Authorities, Health & Social Care Partnerships and academia.
• Drive delivery, improvement and measurable outcomes across a high-profile portfolio.
• Support leadership development and transformation of digital and data capability at scale.

Skills

Leading large digital programmes

Partnership & stakeholder engagement

Digital, data & AI capability

Public speaking & delivering sessions

Strategic thinking & delivery

Scottish health & social care context

Integrity & empathy

Working autonomously

Job description

On 1 April 2026, NSS and NES became one national organisation, focused on continuity today and a stronger, more connected service for tomorrow.

As part of this transformation, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) have joined to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland). This new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and ensuring the long‑term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.

Flexible Location: PSD Scotland is a remote‑friendly employer with staff based throughout Scotland. We support office‑based and hybrid working arrangements. We welcome conversations about alternative working patterns—please get in touch during the application process to discuss.

Work Pattern: Fixed Term or Secondment, Full Time, 36 hours per week until 31st March 2028.

You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.

PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.

We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.

The role of the People and Culture Directorate is wide‑range and exciting. We not only enable to attract, recruit, support, train, develop, reward and recognise its own workforce, but also play a significant role in employing doctors and dentists in training across Scotland.

Furthermore, we support recruitment of medical and dental trainees and other vocational groups for the whole of Scotland's health sector. We support the management of change, providing organisational consultancy. We also play an active part in the organisation’s commitment to fulfilling its Equality and Diversity responsibilities, not just to its own staff but throughout all the activities of the organisation.

Nationally the People and Culture Directorate act as key strategic partner to Scottish Government in the delivery of national Talent, Leadership and Management, Quality Improvement, and Learning & Development ambitions. We also provide information, advice, educational solutions and support to the wider NHS through links with Territorial Boards and the Scottish Government.

The Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team within PSD Scotland is a high impact, delivery focused, multi award winning team, working remotely across the UK. Commissioned by Scottish Government and COSLA they deliver on national priorities from Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Strategy, the Health and Social Care Data Strategy, the Care in the Digital Age Delivery Plan and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework.

DEW thrive on what they do, empowered to innovate, adapt, and demonstrate how teams should work in a digital age. Enabling transformation at scale by providing national learning resources, networks and programmes for the whole health and social care sector that includes NHS, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Social Work, Social Care, Care and Support Providers, Housing, Third and Independent Sectors.

The DEW team lead on key initiatives, designing and delivering national programmes shaped and directed by Scottish Government and COSLA, that strengthen digital and data capability across Scotland’s health and social care workforce. Providing organisations with resources to adopt, embed and sustain digital transformation at scale.

Find out more about the DEW team here.

The Opportunity

We're looking for an inspirational Digital and Data Specialist Lead to take forward a portfolio of national initiatives that support the wider workforce and drives the development and delivery of Scotland’s specialist Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce capability agenda.

This is a unique opportunity to make a national impact. As part of the Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team you will be responsible for delivering key elements within a national programme that builds the digital, data and leadership capability required for transformation, equipping the workforce, organisations and leaders across Scotland’s health and social care system to realise the opportunities presented by digital, data, AI and emerging technologies.

Are you an experienced digital and transformational leader ready to contribute to developing the digital and data capabilities of Scotland’s health and social care workforce?

Commissioned by Scottish Government and COSLA, you’ll lead high‑profile initiatives that turn national ambition into workforce digital and data capability, organisational readiness and sustainable transformation.

You’ll work in partnership across NHS Scotland, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Social Care, Housing, academia and national organisations to maximise the impact of digital and data-enabled services. Through innovative learning experiences and strategic partnership working, you’ll help organisations build the confidence, capability and leadership required to deliver lasting transformation.

As this is a commissioned role supporting a high profile programme we’re seeking a credible and experienced leader who can quickly establish themselves, take ownership from day one, and drive delivery, improvement and measurable outcomes across a high-profile portfolio.

Why join us?

• Be part of a multi-award-winning team delivering impact at a national scale.
• Deliver nationally recognised digital and data capability resources and flagship Digital and Transformational Leadership Programmes.
• Work with senior leaders across Scotland’s health and social care system.
• Shape the digital and data capability needed for future service transformation.

Help build the digital and data capability, and the culture, needed to transform health and social care in Scotland.

Do you have proven experience managing a complex set of national workstreams, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives, timelines, governance requirements and commissioned outcomes ?

Do you understand the capability development needs of Scotland’s health and social care Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce, and are you able to translate these into practical resources, development pathways and capability building opportunities.?

Do you have experience combining creativity, analytical thinking, and workforce intelligence to develop data‑driven understanding of workforce skills, capabilities, and capacity, using this information to identify gaps, emerging needs and future requirements?

Do you excel at building partnerships, and leading networks and communities of practice that drive collaboration, innovation, knowledge exchange and the development of digital and data capabilities?

Working within the DEW team means joining a fast‑paced, nationally recognised programme where the impact and reputation of our work truly matters.

Does this sound like you?

What We Love to See

A Digital Data and Specialist Lead that will offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:

• Experience leading and delivering digital and data workforce development programmes at scale.
• A passion for helping people, organisations and systems thrive in a digital and data-enabled future.
• A track record of successfully leading complex national workstreams involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, external governance requirements, and commissioned deliverables.
• Strong partnership and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience embedding digital, data and AI capabilities into workforce practice to support digital transformation and service improvement.
• The ability to run engaging sessions, either online or in person, to maximise workforce uptake of digital tools.
• A strategic mindset combined with a practical approach to delivery and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of the health and social care landscape in Scotland and the challenges and opportunities facing organisations, and the workforce, in the development of digital and data capability.
• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary
• Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines

Benefits Which Matter

As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:

• Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid working
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
• Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
• NHS discounts and more

Diversity and Inclusion

Developing a successful national service for Scotland means considering the diverse needs, perspectives, and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland. We are focused on hiring the very best talent and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Our aim to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has a positive recruitment experience—regardless of the outcome.

We welcome applications from all under-represented groups, including racially minoritised people and disabled people. It is not essential to be in Digital and Data Specialist Lead role right now—you may be returning from a career break (e.g., maternity, paternity, caring) or coming from another field. Your experiences can bring a fresh perspective to our work.

If you are considering applying and would like to discuss the opportunity, any adjustments or alternative work patterns, please contact Paula Baird, Programme Lead, Digitally Enabled Workforce [e-mail]

Next Steps

All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e‑mail.

In person OR online interviews (for this role the interviews will be online and will take place in the October 2026 week commencing 02/11/2026). The Microsoft Teams Link will be sent to candidates selected for interview.

1. Please be advised that if you are successful in being offered the role following the recruitment process, you will be expected to attend the office prior to your start date to complete face-to-face pre-employment checks. If you require any adjustments to support this, please let us know.
2. To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards willcheck your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsoredBEFOREsubmitting your application form.

If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: [e-mail]