The Office of the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland plays a vital role in strengthening the safety and quality of healthcare across the nation. Independent of government and the NHS, the Office amplifies the voices of patients and families, identifying systemic risks and driving evidence-based improvements that make healthcare safer for all. Through rigorous, impartial investigations and constructive engagement with health bodies, regulators, and patient groups, the Office seeks to uncover and address the underlying causes of harm—ensuring that learning from adverse events leads to enduring improvements in policy, practice, and culture across Scotland’s health system.

The Executive Director of Patient Safety Investigations will provide senior strategic leadership and oversight of all investigative, reporting, and operational functions of the Office of the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC). Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the post-holder will act as a principal advisor, ensuring the organisation’s investigative work, reports, and recommendations are rigorous, credible, and drive systemic learning and improvement in patient safety across Scotland’s health and social care system. The role carries corporate-level responsibility for strategy, resources, people leadership, and organisational readiness for change. It combines significant investigative authority with executive management responsibilities, ensuring the PSC’s Office delivers high-quality outputs to the Scottish Parliament, patients, families, and stakeholders.

To be successful in this role, you will have experience in a leadership capacity with responsibility for the following:

• Investigative Expertise: Proven experience leading complex investigations, inquiries, or policy reviews in healthcare, regulation, or public service.
• Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated ability to influence system-level change, develop strategic responses, and lead organisational improvement.
• Decision-Making: Experience exercising final decision-making authority with significant organisational impact over the longer term.
• Resource Management: Significant financial management experience at corporate or programme level, including accountability for budgets and people resources.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional influencing, negotiation, and presentation skills, with a track record of delivering high-profile outputs to senior stakeholders.
• Leadership Skills: Extensive people management experience, including setting organisational objectives, performance management, and culture-building.

Ideally you will have a background and knowledge in health policy, healthcare management, clinical medicine and nursing, or patient safety to be able to navigate complex health and social care systems, including governance, regulation, and patient safety frameworks.