Service Manager (Release Management) (5424)

Social Security Scotland; Dundee; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Social Security Scotland is recruiting a Service Manager for Release Management to lead the Change and Release service across multiple projects. The role focuses on governance, risk management and delivering safe live services with strategic direction.

You will build relationships with suppliers, guide multidisciplinary teams, and champion continuous improvement to realise benefits and user-centered outcomes for Scotland's public services.

Qualifications

• Experience leading Agile and Lean teams.
• Ability to manage risks and governance across portfolios.
• Proven capability in driving continuous improvement and delivering benefits.

Responsibilities

• Build positive relationships with suppliers and stakeholders to outcomes.
• Lead and coach teams in Agile and Lean practices to deliver successful outcomes.
• Develop innovative ways of working and champion best practice across delivery functions.
• Apply knowledge of design, technology, data, and digital solutions to shape services.
• Own and iterate Agile business cases throughout the product lifecycle.

Skills

Agile leadership

Lean practices

Stakeholder management

Change management

Programme delivery

Job description

Service Manager (Release Management) (5424)

Closing Date - 19th November 2026 at 23:55

Job ID - 5424

Employment Type - Permanent

Overview

Join Social Security Scotland at a pivotal time as we continue to deliver services that make a meaningful difference to the lives of people across Scotland.

As part of the Strategic Portfolio and Delivery Assurance team, you'll play a key role in ensuring projects, programmes and products are delivered safely, effectively and in line with organisational priorities. This governance and assurance function provides oversight for 3 distinct areas of Portfolio Management, Testing and Release Management, helping to ensure the right change is delivered at the right time, with assured quality and minimal disruption.

As Service Manager, you will be accountable for the quality, performance, outcomes and continuous improvement of the Change and Release service. Providing strategic leadership and end-to-end ownership, you will ensure releases are planned, governed and delivered safely and securely while protecting live services. Working across multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders, you will set direction, manage risk, build consensus and ensure change delivers the intended benefits, supporting Social Security Scotland's commitment to delivering trusted, user-centred public services.

A Service Manager is accountable for the quality, performance, benefits and outcomes of a service, providing end-to-end direction, prioritisation, risk management and decision‑making aligned to organisational, policy and user needs. They define success and quality measures, drive continuous improvement, influence stakeholders to build consensus, and ensure change delivers the intended service outcomes and benefits.

Main Duties

• Build positive, effective relationships with multiple suppliers and stakeholders to create mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Lead and coach teams in Agile and Lean practices, selecting and tailoring the most appropriate approaches to deliver successful outcomes.
• Develop innovative ways of working, build stakeholder consensus, and champion best practice while continuously driving improvements in team performance, processes, and delivery.
• Apply advanced knowledge of design, technology, data, and assisted digital solutions to shape and improve services.
• Understand digital, data and technology (DDaT) roles and capabilities, working effectively with specialists to support service delivery.
• Develop, own, and iterate Agile business cases throughout the product lifecycle, collaborating across portfolios to define, realise, and track benefits.
• Maintain a strong understanding of financial management, including sprint-level costs, value delivered, and investment decisions.
• Draw on experience across all stages of the product lifecycle, making informed decisions on when to progress, pause, or stop initiatives.
• Identify the right deliverables, stakeholders, and governance requirements, planning engagement and collaborating across Agile delivery functions throughout the lifecycle.
• Promote industry best practice, improve operational efficiency, and act as an escalation point for significant operational issues while championing operational excellence across the community.
• Build strong relationships with operational delivery leaders across digital, data, and technology functions.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks, understand problems in their wider context, clearly articulate issues, and develop problem‑solving capability in others.
• Demonstrate expertise in product delivery tools, methods, and frameworks, adapting them to different phases of delivery while setting long‑term vision and strategic objectives.
• Maintain a disciplined focus on priorities, providing clear direction on the most effective tools, methods, and approaches to achieve outcomes.
• Develop capability in others through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Champion user‑centred delivery, drawing on experience across multiple channels and applying insight into evolving user needs to shape services.
• Apply strategic thinking to ensure services deliver the best possible outcomes and experiences for end users.

Further Information

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].