Job Description

Are you an experienced delivery leader who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments and is passionate about delivering meaningful change that improves public services? We are looking for a Senior Delivery Manager to join the Core Delivery Function within Social Security Scotland's Digital, Delivery & Change Division.

The Core Delivery Function sits at the heart of the Division, providing leadership, coordination and assurance to support the successful delivery of change across our digital, operational and business services. As a Senior Delivery Manager, you will play a pivotal role in coordinating complex delivery activity across multiple programmes, products and services, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure change is delivered safely, effectively and in line with organisational priorities.

A Senior Delivery Manager is accountable for the effective delivery of complex, high risk products and services. The role is similar to a delivery manager role, but senior delivery managers have more experience across a range of products and services, throughout the entire product life cycle, and have greater responsibility and accountability as the main point of escalation.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic outcomes, foster collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders, and help shape the delivery of services that make a real difference to the people of Scotland. You will provide leadership across delivery activities, driving alignment, managing dependencies, supporting continuous improvement, and enabling successful outcomes that deliver lasting value for Social Security Scotland, its staff and its clients.

Responsibilities

• Coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, championing continuous improvement and innovation.
• Adapt ways of working to meet project requirements and constructively challenge established approaches.
• Manage complex relationships with contracted suppliers, negotiating contractual arrangements that deliver value for money.
• Mediate between stakeholders at all levels, managing expectations and facilitating discussions involving significant risk and complexity.
• Represent the wider community to large internal and external audiences.
• Influence and negotiate budgets within complex environments, contributing to business cases and clearly articulating value propositions.
• Apply expertise across multiple stages of the product lifecycle, identifying key delivery milestones and collaborating with Agile delivery teams.
• Engage stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, identifying required deliverables and coordinating the appropriate resources to achieve them.
• Optimise team delivery flow by proactively managing complex risks, issues and dependencies, including those with unclear ownership.
• Resolve blockers creatively and effectively to maintain delivery momentum.
• Challenge organisational processes to improve efficiency, adding value through coaching and supporting teams in implementing new practices.
• Lead continuous planning activities in complex environments, extending planning beyond product delivery and coordinating dependencies across services.
• Act as a recognised source of expertise in planning methodologies, coaching and supporting other teams.
• Identify and address issues within team dynamics, conducting Agile health checks and providing targeted feedback to accelerate team development and performance.

Success Profiles 

We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience:

1. Expert-level expertise in Agile and Lean practices, coaching and leading teams, championing continuous improvement, constructively challenging teams, and driving innovation through the creation and adaptation of effective ways of working.
2. Expert-level delivery management capability, maintaining delivery momentum, optimising team flow, proactively managing complex risks, issues and dependencies, and creatively resolving blockers, including those with unclear or external ownership.
3. Expert-level planning and coordination skills, leading continuous planning activities in complex environments, aligning delivery across services, identifying and managing dependencies, and providing expert guidance and coaching on planning methodologies.

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving (Level 4)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here. 

Technical / Professional Skills:  

This role is aligned to Senior Delivery Manager within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Delivery Manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage.

How to Apply

Apply online, you must provide a CV and a Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the Success Profiles above. Both the CV and the Supporting Statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on against the first experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Please note there may be a telephone interview prior to the final interview stage.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview which will assess the experience and behaviours, and a technical assessment comprising a short presentation which will assess the technical skills.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)

Sift - week commencing 28th September 2026

Interview – week commencing 19th October 2026

Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List

In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us

Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here. 

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. 

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.   

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style   where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee.  If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Equality Statement

Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.  

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 Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. 

Further Information

This role is only available to existing permanent civil servants who have successfully completed their probation period within Social Security Scotland, or the broader Scottish Government.

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Apply before 23:55 on Tuesday 29th September 2026

Contact Name - Resourcing Team

Contact e-Mail - Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot