Service Manager (Strategic Scrutiny)

Care Inspectorate; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A public scrutiny body in Scotland is seeking a Service Manager to lead strategic inspections that evaluate local partnerships and services. The role demands a strong background in social work, health, or education, with experience in leading projects and service improvement. Ideal candidates will possess relevant qualifications, excellent analytical and communication skills, and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in care quality. Flexible working arrangements are available, and the closing date for applications is 08:00 on Monday 12 January 2026.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Must hold a relevant qualification enabling registration with a professional regulatory body.
• Experience in leading strategic projects or service delivery.
• Ability to work collaboratively across sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate strategic inspection function across various sectors.
• Influence improvement and oversee inspection methodologies.
• Engage with senior leaders and national partners.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Report writing

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant qualification at SCQF Level 9 or above

Job description

Salary: £80,286; Hours: 35 hours per week; Location: flexible (any Care Inspectorate office); Contract: permanent; Closing date: 08:00 on Monday 12 January 2026

About us

We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement. That means we look at the quality of care in Scotland to ensure it meets high standards. We are responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public. Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high-quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices.

Our values

• Person-centred: we put people, empathy, compassion, and kindness at the heart of everything we do
• Respect: we value everyone's dignity and are respectful in everything we do
• Equity: we embrace diversity and nurture an inclusive environment where everyone is supported to achieve equal outcomes
• Integrity: we act impartially, fairly, and consistently, upholding transparency and accountability in all our actions
• Impact: we focus on making a positive impact for everyone experiencing care in Scotland whilst ensuring our work delivers the best value to the public

Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, which enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. Our hybrid working policy gives you the flexibility to mix working from home with attendance at your base office and other work locations, spending no more than 60% of your working time working from home, measured over a four-week period.

Strategic inspections evaluate how well local partnerships and services work together to deliver positive outcomes for people across Scotland. We place a strong focus on how lived experience informs and shapes care and support. The role of a Service Manager will help to lead and coordinate the strategic inspection function across sectors such as social work, health, education and justice.

The role works closely with senior leaders, the Scottish Government, and national partners to influence improvement, oversee the development of inspection methodologies, and support both internal and external quality assurance initiatives.

This is a key leadership role with significant scope to make lasting impact on the quality of care and support in Scotland.

Find more information in the job profile and person specification.

Successful candidates will be skilled and experienced leaders, with a strong background in social work, health or education. Successful applicants will bring a track record of leading strategic projects, service delivery, or improvement initiatives at a senior level. Role holders will have insight into, and confidence in, complex systems.

Leadership experience may come from roles such as operations head of service, strategic lead, or advisor, where you’ve worked collaboratively across sectors and driven meaningful change. Successful candidates will have excellent analytical, communication, and report writing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels and influence decision-making locally and nationally.

We seek values-driven individuals who are politically astute, are committed to equity, inclusion, employ person-centred practice, and are motivated by the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives through scrutiny and improvement.

Qualifications and registration

To apply for this role, you must hold a relevant qualification at SCQF Level 9 or above that enables registration with a recognised professional regulatory body such as the Scottish Social Services Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Teaching Council for Scotland, or Health and Care Professions Council. In addition, your qualification must meet the requirements for Secondary Authorised Officer status under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. This means it must be directly relevant to social services, social work, health, education, or a related care discipline. If you are unsure whether your qualification meets this requirement, we encourage you to contact us before applying.

If you are registering through the Scottish Social Services Council, to comply with their Secondary Authorised Officer registration category, you’ll need a relevant practice qualification and be required to complete the European Foundation of Quality Management (EFQM), Accredited assessor or Assessor training certificate within 3 years of appointment.

Starting salary

New employees start at the minimum salary for the grade. However, we offer a generous benefits package.

Next steps

You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.

If you would like more information or an informal chat about the role, please contact Kirsteen Maclennan.

If you believe that your skills, experience and motivation make you a suitable candidate for this post, please complete our online application form by 08:00 on Monday 12 January 2026.

We anticipate holding interviews on 26 January 2026.