Help shape how design delivers better outcomes for the people of Scotland. As our Senior Delivery Manager (Design), you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring User Centred Design (UCD) expertise is directed to the work that matters most. Working across Social Security Scotland's live services and change portfolio, you'll provide the strategic leadership, planning and governance that enables design teams to deliver high-quality, user-centred outcomes at scale.
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.
At this role level, you will have strong communication skills and engage senior stakeholders.
The User Centred Design function supports organisational priorities through Content Design, Service Design, User Research, Digital Accessibility and Performance Analytics. Our specialists work across a diverse portfolio of services, helping ensure that the needs of clients remain at the heart of service design and delivery.
This is a strategic leadership role focused on the planning, prioritisation and delivery management of design services across Social Security Scotland. You will oversee demand management, resource allocation, governance, capacity planning, risk management and portfolio reporting, creating the conditions for UCD specialists to focus on delivering excellent design outcomes.
Working closely with colleagues across Product, Delivery, Operations and Policy, you will ensure design resources are aligned to organisational priorities, support informed decision-making by senior leaders, and help balance the needs of live services with investment in future change. You will champion effective governance, continuous improvement and design-led ways of working across the organisation.
We're looking for someone who understands the value, challenges and realities of working in a User Centred Design environment. You don't need to be a practising designer, but you'll have a strong appreciation of disciplines such as content design, service design, user research and accessibility, and how they contribute to better services.
This is not a technical engineering or DevOps leadership role. We're seeking someone who can lead the delivery, planning and coordination of design services, build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams, influence senior stakeholders and make complex prioritisation decisions with confidence.
You'll bring experience of managing delivery across multiple workstreams, balancing competing demands, improving processes and governance, and creating the conditions for design teams to do their best work.
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:
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.
This role is aligned to Senior Delivery Manager within the Government Digital and Data Profession.
These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Delivery manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.
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 Experience outlined in 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.
An initial sift may be completed using the CV and Supporting Statement against the first Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.
Successful candidates will be invited to an interview which will assess the Experience and Behaviours, and a technical assessment comprising a short presentation which will assess the Technical Skills.
There may be a telephone interview prior to the final interview stage.
Full details of the interview and assessment process will be shared with shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.
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.
Sift - w/c 23rd November
Interview – w/c 14th December
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.
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.
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.
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.
This role is only available to those currently employed (on a permanent basis) by Social Security Scotland, Scottish Government Main or Common Citizenship organisations.
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 24th November
Contact Name - Emma MacPhail
Contact e-Mail – emma.macphail@socialsecurity.gov.scot
The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for matters that are devolved from Westminster. Areas of responsibility include the economy, health, education, justice, rural affairs, environment, and transport.
