Chief Operating Officer

Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector organisation in Scotland is seeking a Director General – Corporate/Chief Operating Officer to lead transformation within government operations. You will manage a diverse team of directors and oversee a £300 million budget while ensuring efficient delivery of services. Ideal candidates will have significant executive leadership experience, a strong digital transformation background, and demonstrate financial acumen. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of public service in Scotland within a dynamic and strategic role.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Learning and development tailored to your role

Defined-benefit pension scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading organisational strategies in large, complex organisations.
• Senior experience in delivering value from digital technology.
• Experience in financial management and resource allocation.
• Ability to deliver strategic objectives during organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the Corporate family.
• Champion digital transformation and innovative design.
• Oversee the delivery of corporate and shared services.
• Drive transformations towards integrated service models.

Skills

Digital transformation

Financial management

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Job description

Are you a strategic values-driven leader with a passion for enabling transformation across government? Do you bring depth of experience in digital, people, change or financial leadership and thrive in complex multi-disciplinary environments?

The Scottish Government is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director General – Corporate/Chief Operating Officer to lead a critical portfolio at the heart of government operations. You will lead a diverse team of Directors and Chief Executives, oversee a workforce of approximately 2,100 staff and a budget of over £300 million, and provide services to government and shared services across the public sector. Your role will span digital transformation, people and capability, legal services, finance, governance, communications, workplace, property, procurement and ministerial support. You will help shape the future of the Government’s operating model, driving integrated and shared service approaches, ensuring corporate services are efficient, resilient, agile, inclusive and aligned with strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the DG Corporate family, aligning with the National Performance Framework and Government priorities, including Public Sector Reform.
• Champion digital transformation, embedding innovation and user‑centred design across corporate and shared services.
• Lead and develop a high-performing inclusive DG family, fostering a culture of kindness, resilience, accessibility and adaptability.
• Oversee the delivery of corporate and shared services, including people, finance, legal, governance, communications, workplace, property, procurement and ministerial support; act as Senior Information Risk Owner for the Scottish Government.
• Drive transformation towards more integrated and shared service models across the Government and its public bodies.
• Work with staff networks, trade unions and the wider organisation to promote and champion diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging.
• Collaborate with Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers to ensure exemplary civil service support and delivery assurance.
• Contribute to corporate governance as a member of the Corporate Board and wider governance system.

Key Priority Areas

• Digital Transformation: Lead the strategic development and implementation of digital services and platforms that enable efficient, secure and user‑focused government operations.
• People and Capability: Ensure the Government attracts, retains and develops diverse talent and builds leadership and workforce capability.
• Legal and Ethical Governance: Provide assurance on legal compliance, propriety and ethics across Government operations to ensure quality advice for Ministers.
• Financial Stewardship: Oversee financial planning, budgeting and performance, ensuring value for money and transparency.

Success Profile

Experience:

• Significant experience of leading the development and delivery of organisational strategies in a large, complex organisation (public or private sector).
• Senior experience of delivering value from digital technology for service optimisation and transformation.
• Demonstrable experience of financial management of significant resource and capital budgets, alongside overarching corporate governance experience.
• Proven ability to deliver strategic objectives at pace and sustain them through periods of ambiguity and organisational change.
• Achievement of measurable improvements across specialist subject areas through effective cross‑boundary working and partnership with a wide range of stakeholders.

Behaviours (Level 6)

• Seeing the big picture
• Delivering at pace
• Leadership
• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions

How to Apply

Candidates must apply online, providing a CV and a supporting statement (no more than 500 words) that directly addresses the experience criteria listed above. General or unrelated statements will not be accepted and may result in your application being sifted out. During the interview and assessment process we will test your skills, experience, and behaviours aligned to this role.

Indicative Timeline

• Final interviews: w/c 26 January

Interview Expenses

Any travel and subsistence expenses incurred during the selection process are the responsibility of the applicant.

Qualifications

Required Experience: Director General/Chief Operating Officer level; significant executive and board‑level experience; digital, financial and people transformation expertise.

About Us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland, responsible for a wide range of key policy areas including education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services that improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

Benefits

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

Working Pattern

Applicants seeking any working pattern are welcome to apply. If you are interested in a job‑share basis, please indicate this in your application. Full‑time equivalent is 37 hours per week, with significant time in‑person at the contracted workplace and/or other settings.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and a Developed Vetting (DV) level security check before appointment.

Equality Statement

The Scottish Government is committed to equality and inclusion and aims to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Further Information

Please see our landing page for more details – Director‑General Corporate – Scottish Government. Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

Key Skills

• Anti‑Money Laundering
• Marketing & Sales
• Gas Turbine
• CNC
• JPA

Employment Type

Full Time