Head of Delivery and Performance Transformation

The Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A government body in Scotland seeks a Head of Delivery and Performance Transformation to lead the design and implementation of data-driven accountability systems. This pivotal role requires extensive experience in aligning performance systems with national policies, engaging stakeholders, and leading complex organizational change. Candidates should demonstrate strong leadership skills and a commitment to public service reform. The position offers a flexible working pattern and opportunities to influence strategic direction across government.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusive working environment

Wide range of employee benefits

Qualifications

• Extensive experience developing intelligence-led tracking frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead complex systems and transform organizational culture.
• Experience working across multi-level government structures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of performance and accountability systems.
• Engage with stakeholders to co-design performance approaches.
• Coordinate to improve accountability across multi-level government.

Skills

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership in complex systems

Performance tracking

Job description

Do you want to shape how Scotland measures what truly matters and turn strategy into results across government?

This is a high-impact leadership role at the heart of government, offering a unique opportunity to shape strategic direction and drive organisational coherence. As Head of Delivery and Performance Transformation, you will lead the design and implementation of data-driven delivery, performance and accountability systems for the Scottish Government. You will collaborate across the organisation and the wider public sector to align these systems with the National Performance Framework and the Public Service Reform Strategy contributing to a coherent and consistent approach to accountability across public services in Scotland.

The Strategy and Delivery Directorate (SDD) supports Ministers and senior leaders in setting Scotland’s strategic direction. We provide insight, analysis, and delivery support to help shape policy and respond to emerging challenges. This role sits at the centre of that effort, working with stakeholders across Scottish Government and wider public services to develop delivery, performance and assurance systems that improve consistency, transparency and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Engage regularly with stakeholders across Scottish Government, local government, public bodies and community-planning partnerships to co-design approaches to performance, assurance and delivery.
• Utilise strong working relationships with local government, the third sector and delivery partners to share expertise, understand operational realities and strengthen the link between national priorities and local implementation.
• Coordinate activity that improves accountability across multi-level government and complex systems, ensuring alignment between national policy, local delivery bodies and external partners.
• Lead the development and embedding of intelligence-led performance and accountability mechanisms that demonstrate a clear link between policy development and measurable delivery outcomes.
• Work with teams across the Strategy and Delivery Directorate to develop delivery and performance dashboards and reporting tools that support transparent and outcome focused decision making.
• Ensure performance and accountability frameworks become a practical and widely understood tool for policy teams, embedding delivery thinking at the start of policy development.
• Support wider organisational capability building around delivery, performance and assurance to embed best practice into policy development and implementation.
• Engage with Ministers, Senior Civil Servants and external leaders ensuring, alignment between policy ambition and delivery feasibility.
• Undertake line management responsibilities.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience

• Extensive experience developing intelligence-led tracking frameworks, combining quantitative data with local insight, to monitor national and local policy delivery outcomes.
• Working across multi-level government including local authorities, delivery bodies and the third sector to align delivery, performance and assurance systems.
• Leadership of high-profile complex systems, transforming culture and structures to deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes.

Behaviours

• Changing and Improving- level 4
• Leadership- level 4
• Communicating and Influencing- level 4
• Seeing the Big Picture- level 4

How To Apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 02/02/26 however this may be subject to change.

About Us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

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.