Top job! Executive Director (Nursing)
- Full time
- £83,661 – £92,957
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 1st September 2026
- Advertised from 14th August 2026
- 35 hours per week
Role
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (the Commission) is recruiting an Executive Director (Nursing) — a key values led, senior leadership role which is highly influential in the context of mental health, incapacity and human rights law in Scotland.
About us
The Commission is an independent statutory body established to protect and promote the human rights, welfare, and dignity of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia, and related conditions. We ensure that care, treatment, and support are lawful, ethical, and aligned with the principles of human rights and equality. We operate independently of government, enabling us to speak with authority and impartiality on matters affecting some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people.
The role
The Executive Director (Nursing) is an established role at the Commission responsible for direct line management of a small multidisciplinary staff team and leading a portfolio of strategic and operational responsibilities that support the achievement of the Commission's vision, purpose and statutory duties.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the post holder shares collective responsibility for leading the Commission's work to safeguard the rights and welfare of individuals, promote compliance with mental health and incapacity legislation, and improve standards of care and practice across Scotland.
As the Commission's professional nursing lead, the post holder will also provide leadership on issues affecting people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia and related conditions, as well as broader adult and child protection matters.
The role requires strong national leadership in mental health and learning disability nursing, influencing policy, practice and service development across Scotland while providing expert advice on complex ethical, human rights, legal and care issues.
This vacancy (as a result of retirement) comes at an exciting time as the reform of Scotland’s mental health and incapacity legislation begins to pick up pace.
About you
- A registered nurse (RMN or RNLD) with substantial senior nursing leadership experience.
- A demonstrable track record of strategic leadership within mental health, learning disability, dementia or related services.
- Expertise in human rights-based approaches, safeguarding and person-centred care.
- Experience of influencing policy, practice and service improvement at a senior or national level.
- If you are motivated by improving outcomes for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Membership of the NHS pension scheme
- Flexible working arrangements
- Commitment to professional development
- Supportive, values driven organisational culture
Application notes
How to apply
Apply directly at Executive Director (Nursing) | Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
The selection process will include:
- Application form
- Shortlisting against essential criteria
- Presentation
- Panel interview with a mix of technical, values and competency-based questions (panel to include Chief Executive, Chair of the Board & external member).
Application forms should be submitted to mwc.recruitment@nhs.scot by midday on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Interview date: Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 16 September 2026 at our Edinburgh office.
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Top job! Executive Director (Legal & Policy)
- Full time
- £83,661 – £92,957
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 26th August 2026
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (the Commission) is recruiting an Executive Director (Legal & Policy) — a brand new senior leadership role at the heart of mental health, incapacity and human rights law in Scotland.
About us
The Commission is an independent statutory body established to protect and promote the human rights, welfare, and dignity of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia, and related conditions. We ensure that care, treatment, and support are lawful, ethical, and aligned with the principles of human rights and equality. We operate independently of government, enabling us to speak with authority and impartiality on matters affecting some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people.
The role
The Executive Director (Legal & Policy) is a new senior leadership role responsible for shaping the Commission’s legal and policy direction. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the postholder plays a central role in organisational strategy, external engagement, and the delivery of the full range of our statutory responsibilities.
It is a unique opportunity to influence national thinking on mental health and incapacity law, contribute to the protection of human rights in Scotland, and provide authoritative legal and policy leadership within a respected national body. The post comes at an exciting time as the reform of Scotland’s mental health and incapacity legislation begins to pick up pace.
About you
• Undergraduate degree in law with significant legal experience and expertise in mental health, incapacity, human rights, or public/administrative law in Scotland.
• Senior leadership experience in a legal, regulatory, public sector or charity environment.
• Strategic insight, sound judgement, and the ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and persuasively.
If you are motivated by improving outcomes for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Benefits
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Membership of the NHS pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Commitment to professional development
• Supportive, values driven organisational culture
Programme Manager (Communities & Priority Groups) - See Me
- Full time
- £45,357 – £47,716
- Hybrid: Glasgow
- Closing 19th August 2026
The Programme Manager (Communities and Priority Groups) makes a distinct contribution to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination in Scotland. They lead a programme of work that is designed to identify, understand and challenge mental health stigma and discrimination as it is experienced by different people, in groups and communities across Scotland using approaches underpinned by community development, human rights and equalities principles. They drive forward action at four levels (structural, cultural, institutional and personal) seeking to move beyond universal approaches, towards targeted, equitable and culturally safe solutions underpinned by lived experience and community led action.
The Programme Manager provides strategic leadership and works with the Director and colleagues in Mental Health Foundation, Penumbra and See Me to ensure diverse lived experience data, evidence, learning and leadership is prioritised and centred in the research programme, three national change programmes (workplaces, education and mental health services), in our community focused work and in our policy, communications and media work. Through community development approaches the manager will engage with volunteers, people, partners and grassroots organisations with lived and living experience of mental health stigma and discrimination; working with them to understand, challenge and influence systemic change.
For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.
Top job! Finance Manager
- Full time or Part time
- up to £60,907
- Hybrid: Thistle House, Edinburgh
- Closing 28th August 2026
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is recruiting an experienced and motivated Finance Manager to lead our finance function and play a key role in supporting our mission to protect and promote the human rights of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia and related conditions.
As an independent statutory body, we ensure that care, treatment and support across Scotland are lawful, ethical and person centred. This is an exciting opportunity to join a values driven organisation with a strong public service ethos.
About the Role
The Finance Manager is the most senior finance professional within the Commission, responsible for delivering robust financial management, statutory compliance, payroll oversight, and strategic financial advice. You will oversee an annual budget of approximately £7m and act as the organisation’s subject matter expert for all financial matters.
Working closely with the Head of Culture & Corporate Services, you will lead on:
• Financial reporting, analysis and advice to the CEO, executive leadership team and the Board
• Annual budget setting and multi-year forecasting
• Year-end accounts and external/internal audit
• Payroll and the annual pay award process in line with Scottish Government Pay Policy
• Financial controls, policies, procedures and risk management
• Procurement compliance and value for money
• Managing the shared services arrangement with Scottish Government (Oracle)
This role offers significant autonomy, influence and the opportunity to shape financial stewardship across the organisation.
About You
We are looking for someone who brings:
• A professional accountancy qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ICAS or equivalent)
• Significant experience in public sector financial management
• Strong knowledge of the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) and Scottish Government Pay Policy
• Experience managing payroll and related processes
• Excellent analytical, communication and influencing skills
• The ability to work independently across a wide remit
• A commitment to public sector values, integrity and continuous improvement
• People management experience and familiarity with Scottish Government shared services (Oracle) is desirable.
What We Offer
• Flexibility on contracted hours, subject to a minimum commitment of 21 hours/3 days per week (0.6 FTE).
• Hybrid working
• Modern open plan office and facilities in the centre of Edinburgh
• Generous annual leave and NHS pension
• Supportive, inclusive organisational culture
• Opportunities for professional development
• A meaningful role contributing to human rights and public service in Scotland
• An organisation which is keen to continue to adapt and transform to meet the needs of the people it serves
The Policy Lead role is critical in supporting the development, delivery and coordination of See Me’s policy strategy, to achieve our vision and strategic aims. In this role, you will work with colleagues, volunteers, people and partners with diverse lived experience to produce engaging, high-quality policy outputs that are credible and informed by data and emerging evidence about the nature, scale and impact of mental health stigma. Working with the Director and Programme Managers, you will create clear policy position papers and briefings that centres tackling mental health stigma and discrimination, taking account of other forms of discrimination as relevant.
You will co-ordinate and lead a joint approach to policy influencing and stakeholder engagement & empowerment through carrying out a comprehensive stakeholder mapping to inform a policy plan that ensures action on mental health stigma and discrimination is prioritised, understood, and acted upon. Working with See Me colleagues you will support the ongoing monitoring of the impact of work and prioritise amendments to policy plan as part of the wider delivery plan required to ensure See Me continues to engage with key audiences purposefully and in ways that support delivery of the programmes outcomes.
For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.
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