Top job! Head of Corporate and Shared Services
- Part time
- £69,241 – £78,436 pro-rata
- Edinburgh
- Closing 14th February 2024
- Advertised from 31st January 2024
- £41,544.60 – £47,061.60 for 21 hours per week. Fixed Term (2 years). Secondments will be considered.
- Pro rata 24.3 days of annual leave including public holidays (full time equivalent is 40.5 days), Flexible working arrangements, Civil Service Pension Scheme arrangements, Life Assurance scheme, Employee Assistance Programme.
Role
The SPSO is the final stage for complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland. SPSO’s remit is broad, the Ombudsman:
- is the final stage for complaints about most of the Scottish public sector;
- provides the independent review service for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund;
- sets and monitors the application of statutory model complaint handling procedures and National Whistleblowing standards;
- is the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer for the NHS in Scotland.
Reporting to the Ombudsman and as part of SPSO’s Leadership Team, The Head of Corporate and Shared Services will have responsibility for the Corporate Services team including Information Governance, Information and Communications Technology, Finance, HR, the Executive Casework Team and Facilities Management and Security
The Head of Corporate Services will have responsibilities for:
- Strategy development and change management
- Reporting on and contributing to organisation performance delivery and monitoring
- Governance and risk management
- Efficiency, effectiveness and compliance
- Managing the delivery of corporate services
- Supporting quality assurance and improvement
- Working in partnership with key stakeholders
The Corporate Services team has a key role in delivering high quality corporate services to the SPSO and others through a shared services approach. As the Head of Corporate Services, you will be responsible for working with managers, teams, and other external stakeholders to develop strategies, processes and systems that create excellence and continuous improvement in corporate services performance.
You will have a degree or equivalent experience or professional qualification with previous experience of financial management including supervision of an organisation’s finances and financial strategy. You will have a good understanding of governance and risk management and integration into business processes and experience of managing teams, change programmes and projects to deliver results and experience of contributing to development of strategic and business plans. You will have experience of working with internal and external auditors
Ideally, you will have an accounting or financial qualification, demonstrating experience of risk management and a working knowledge of wider public sector duties such as Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Climate Change, etc. It would also be desirable to have experience of managing an HR, IT and/ or facilities/ Health and Safety function.
Application notes
If you are interested in joining an organisation that enjoys challenge and strives for continuous improvement, please visit our website for an application pack.
For further information, please visit our website or contact 0131 243 0982 or recruitment@spso.gov.scot.
Closing date for applications: 5 pm, 14 February 2024
Interviews to be held on: 6 March 2024
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of applications by 26 February at the latest.
The selection process will include an assessment and interview, details of which will be shared with applicants selected for this stage by 26 February. Applicants selected for assessment and interview should be available to attend SPSO’s office for this stage of the process (unless otherwise indicated) and further details of these arrangements will be confirmed nearer the time.
Equal Opportunities Statement:
We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and in the service provided to complainants. No job applicant, staff member or person receiving a service from us will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, marital status, or racial grounds or on grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, language or social origin, or of other personal attributes including beliefs or opinions, such as religious beliefs or political opinions.
We are totally opposed to discrimination. We are committed to conducting the business in a way that is fair to everyone. This may mean taking positive steps to ensure equal opportunities for staff involved in staff selection, staff management and service delivery.
Top job! Interim Head of Legal and Policy
- Full time
- £65,800
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 20th January 2025
Are you passionate about Human Rights?
Do you want to help improve the realisation of Human Rights for everyone in Scotland?
Do you have the skills, values, experience and expertise to help make that happen?
Are you interested in strengthening Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution?
If so, you could be just what we are looking for!
The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is Scotland’s human rights watchdog.
We are an independent, expert body that works with and for the people of Scotland; we monitor, listen, and speak up for all our rights and respond when things go wrong. We are a public body created by statute, with a mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Scotland.
The Commission is established as a National Human Rights Institution. As such we are part of a global network of bodies accredited by the United Nations to monitor state compliance with international and national human rights law and treaties. We are independent of government. It is the job of National Human Rights Institutions to use the rule of law to promote and protect the human rights of all of the people who live in any given country and assess the actions of the state on that basis. This is how the Scottish Human Rights Commission approaches its work.
Recruitment
We have a number of opportunities for people who share our values and passion for human rights to join our growing team. We are a small organisation with big ambition to use our mandate to further the realisation of people’s human rights in Scotland, and these key strategic posts, working together with colleagues across the Commission, will be integral to our success over the coming years.
The Commission is recruiting for four positions.
This follows an expansion of our mandate with the enactment of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024; investment in the development of a People and Culture Programme that will enable us to conclude the implementation of our Independent Governance Review from 2023; and to fill a vacancy following the upcoming departure of a member of the team.
In April the Commission embarked on its new 4-year Strategic Plan for 2024-28, focused on standing up for those in need of protection and holding those responsible for human rights to account. This requires us to build a Commission team infrastructure that is equipped to deliver this, and the current opportunities will support us to enhance our engagement with the Scottish Parliament, the media, and the application of the law through strategic litigation and monitoring of human rights across Scotland.
The Commission is committed to being agile, engaged, accessible, open to collaboration and above all visibly committed to the realisation of rights in Scotland, as an authoritative and challenging partner in pursuit of that goal.
These posts are a critical to enhancing the skills and capacity of our existing team in order to achieve the Commission’s goals.
This is a critical post for the Commission, and will be in central in strengthening the impact of the Commission in informing the human rights legal and policy framework and for the progressive realisation of rights in the everyday lives of people in Scotland
Reporting to the Executive Director, this is a key leadership role with responsibility for ensuring organisational effectiveness of the legal and policy function and as an integral part of the Senior Leadership Team as the Commission delivers its People and Culture plan in 2025. The postholder will effectively lead and manage the Legal and Policy Team to deliver its core work programmes of advice to Parliament, international treaty monitoring, spotlight monitoring, and strategic litigation opportunities via the Commission’s powers to uphold human rights. The role will be responsible for quality assurance of legal and policy outputs in addition to ensuring delivery of key commitments in the Commissions Strategic Plan.
Top job! Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland
- Full time
- £72,120
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 8th January 2025
The Electoral Commission is the independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance across the UK. We work to ensure public confidence in democratic processes by enabling free and fair elections, promoting transparency in political finance, and advocating for reform that enhances our democracy.
We’re seeking an exceptional individual to lead our operations in Scotland at a pivotal time for electoral reform and innovation. As the Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland, you will:
- Represent the Commission in Scotland, engaging with voters, political parties, electoral officials, civic society, and media to strengthen trust in electoral processes.
- Lead the Scotland Team, managing the delivery of our activities and ensuring alignment with both UK-wide and Scotland-specific objectives.
- Oversee the Commission’s accountability to the Scottish Parliament for devolved functions.
- Influence policy, scrutinise legislation, and lead the implementation of electoral reforms.
- Act as the primary spokesperson for the Commission in Scotland, including media representation.
You’ll join our senior leadership team, contributing to the development of the Commission’s UK Corporate Plan and Scotland-specific strategies, ensuring the unique Scottish context is integrated into all aspects of our work.
We’re looking for:
- A strong leader with extensive experience in a complex organisation or government setting.
- Knowledge of Scotland’s political and media landscape.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
- Proven impartiality and political sensitivity.
- Experience in budget and project management.
This is your opportunity to contribute to the integrity of Scotland’s democracy at a time of significant change. We value independence, diversity, and continuous improvement, offering a supportive environment where your expertise can shape the future of elections in Scotland.
People and Culture Manager (temporary)
- Full time
- £43,764 – £52,183
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 20th January 2025
Are you passionate about Human Rights?
Do you want to help improve the realisation of Human Rights for everyone in Scotland?
Do you have the skills, values, experience and expertise to help make that happen?
Are you interested in strengthening Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution?
If so, you could be just what we are looking for!
The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is Scotland’s human rights watchdog.
We are an independent, expert body that works with and for the people of Scotland; we monitor, listen, and speak up for all our rights and respond when things go wrong. We are a public body created by statute, with a mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Scotland.
The Commission is established as a National Human Rights Institution. As such we are part of a global network of bodies accredited by the United Nations to monitor state compliance with international and national human rights law and treaties. We are independent of government. It is the job of National Human Rights Institutions to use the rule of law to promote and protect the human rights of all of the people who live in any given country and assess the actions of the state on that basis. This is how the Scottish Human Rights Commission approaches its work.
Recruitment
We have a number of opportunities for people who share our values and passion for human rights to join our growing team. We are a small organisation with big ambition to use our mandate to further the realisation of people’s human rights in Scotland, and these key strategic posts, working together with colleagues across the Commission, will be integral to our success over the coming years.
The Commission is recruiting for four positions.
This follows an expansion of our mandate with the enactment of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024; investment in the development of a People and Culture Programme that will enable us to conclude the implementation of our Independent Governance Review from 2023; and to fill a vacancy following the upcoming departure of a member of the team.
In April the Commission embarked on its new 4-year Strategic Plan for 2024-28, focused on standing up for those in need of protection and holding those responsible for human rights to account. This requires us to build a Commission team infrastructure that is equipped to deliver this, and the current opportunities will support us to enhance our engagement with the Scottish Parliament, the media, and the application of the law through strategic litigation and monitoring of human rights across Scotland.
The Commission is committed to being agile, engaged, accessible, open to collaboration and above all visibly committed to the realisation of rights in Scotland, as an authoritative and challenging partner in pursuit of that goal.
These posts are a critical to enhancing the skills and capacity of our existing team in order to achieve the Commission’s goals.
About the Role
The People and Culture Manager is a unique and exciting role that provides the post holder an opportunity to make a positive difference to how Scotland’s human rights watchdog evolves and develops to maximise its impact to promote the human rights of everyone in Scotland through a strong, skilled and well supported staff team. You will be at the centre of developing initiatives to lead a programme of culture and organisational development in order to fulfil key recommendations of the Independent Governance Review 2023 and take the Commission forward.
Reporting to the Head of Business Support and working closely with the Executive Director, with a strong background in people management, experience of cultural change and trade union liaison, and an ability to coordinate activities across a number of teams with diverse resources, you will utilise your skills to meet key deliverables, including coordinating an organisational development programme, reviewing and developing HR policies and updating the employee handbook.
You will be skilled in collaborative and partnership working and effective engagement with stakeholders, managing positive relationships with all staff members, senior leadership team and trade union partners. You will demonstrate your alignment with the Commission’s core values through your inputs and behaviours to these interactions.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic individual to embed the Commission’s values into working practices and implement progressive and impactful change across the organisation.
Top job! Interim Head of Communications and Engagement
- Full time
- £54,792 – £65,800
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 20th January 2025
Are you passionate about Human Rights?
Do you want to help improve the realisation of Human Rights for everyone in Scotland?
Do you have the skills, values, experience and expertise to help make that happen?
Are you interested in strengthening Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution?
If so, you could be just what we are looking for!
The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is Scotland’s human rights watchdog.
We are an independent, expert body that works with and for the people of Scotland; we monitor, listen, and speak up for all our rights and respond when things go wrong. We are a public body created by statute, with a mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Scotland.
The Commission is established as a National Human Rights Institution. As such we are part of a global network of bodies accredited by the United Nations to monitor state compliance with international and national human rights law and treaties. We are independent of government. It is the job of National Human Rights Institutions to use the rule of law to promote and protect the human rights of all of the people who live in any given country and assess the actions of the state on that basis. This is how the Scottish Human Rights Commission approaches its work.
Recruitment
We have a number of opportunities for people who share our values and passion for human rights to join our growing team. We are a small organisation with big ambition to use our mandate to further the realisation of people’s human rights in Scotland, and these key strategic posts, working together with colleagues across the Commission, will be integral to our success over the coming years.
The Commission is recruiting for four positions.
This follows an expansion of our mandate with the enactment of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024; investment in the development of a People and Culture Programme that will enable us to conclude the implementation of our Independent Governance Review from 2023; and to fill a vacancy following the upcoming departure of a member of the team.
In April the Commission embarked on its new 4-year Strategic Plan for 2024-28, focused on standing up for those in need of protection and holding those responsible for human rights to account. This requires us to build a Commission team infrastructure that is equipped to deliver this, and the current opportunities will support us to enhance our engagement with the Scottish Parliament, the media, and the application of the law through strategic litigation and monitoring of human rights across Scotland.
The Commission is committed to being agile, engaged, accessible, open to collaboration and above all visibly committed to the realisation of rights in Scotland, as an authoritative and challenging partner in pursuit of that goal.
These posts are a critical to enhancing the skills and capacity of our existing team in order to achieve the Commission’s goals.
About the Role
This key post is central to articulating the Commission’s role as Scotland’s human rights watchdog, promoting awareness and understanding of human rights, through the effective development and delivery of the Communication and Engagement strategy.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the role requires an individual with expert level skills across the communications mix of public affairs, corporate communications, media and digital, who can lead a team and empower a shared tone of voice and brand promotion across the organisation, and who can create and deliver strategic communications with purpose and impact. Experience of this gained in a related policy discipline would be welcome. You will lead and influence core messaging and its deployment across multiple channels to maximise exposure and awareness of the Commission’s purpose and outputs. A central feature of the role will be to coordinate activities and resources across the workforce, working closely with the Head of Legal and Policy to ensure effective communications programmes and plans are developed and implemented effectively across all of our core activities.
You will be responsible for developing and embedding the voice of the Commission aligned to its Strategic Plan 2024-28 and play a central role in shaping the Commissions strategic outputs.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will, provide leadership and management to the organisation as the Commission delivers its People and Culture plan in 2025. In addition, you will directly lead and manage the Commission’s Communications Team, ensuring they have effective management direction, support and development as required.
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