Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to step into a Temporary Promotion or Temporary Level Transfer role within the Strategic Portfolio and Delivery Assurance branch.

Strategic Portfolio and Delivery Assurance provides the governance, assurance and oversight needed to ensure projects, programmes and products deliver the right change at the right time, safely, securely and with assured quality. Bringing together Portfolio Management, Test and Release Management, the branch plays a key role in supporting successful delivery across the organisation.

As Service Manager (Change and Release), you will lead the Change and Release service, ensuring business-aligned releases are planned, governed and delivered safely while protecting live services. You will provide strategic direction and oversight, manage risk and dependencies, and work closely with stakeholders across the organisation to ensure change is delivered effectively and achieves the intended outcomes and benefits. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your leadership experience, influence organisational delivery, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our services.

Responsibilities

• Build positive, effective relationships with multiple suppliers and stakeholders to create mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Lead and coach teams in Agile and Lean practices, selecting and tailoring the most appropriate approaches to deliver successful outcomes.
• Develop innovative ways of working, build stakeholder consensus, and champion best practice while continuously driving improvements in team performance, processes, and delivery.
• Understand digital, data and technology (DDaT) roles and capabilities, working effectively with specialists to support service delivery.
• Draw on experience across all stages of the product lifecycle, making informed decisions on when to progress, pause, or stop initiatives.
• Identify the right deliverables, stakeholders, and governance requirements, planning engagement and collaborating across Agile delivery functions throughout the lifecycle.
• Promote industry best practice, improve operational efficiency, and act as an escalation point for significant operational issues while championing operational excellence across the community.
• Build strong relationships with operational delivery leaders across digital, data, and technology functions.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks, understand problems in their wider context, clearly articulate issues, and develop problem-solving capability in others.
• Demonstrate expertise in product delivery tools, methods, and frameworks, adapting them to different phases of delivery while setting long-term vision and strategic objectives.
• Maintain a disciplined focus on priorities, providing clear direction on the most effective tools, methods, and approaches to achieve outcomes.
• Develop capability in others through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Champion user-centred delivery, drawing on experience across multiple channels and applying insight into evolving user needs to shape services.
• Apply strategic thinking to ensure services deliver the best possible outcomes and experiences for end users.

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 opportunity, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. Experience of managing multi-disciplinary Change and Release teams in a demanding, transformation environment whilst promoting development and well-being.
   
2. Proven ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and using those relationships to ensure delivery.
   
3. Experience of setting and managing business priorities, roles and responsibilities with individual and team ownership of objectives in a Change and Release Management environment.
   
4. Experience of working in a digital environment to deliver projects and products into live service

How to Apply
Please apply online, providing a Supporting Statement (of no more than 500 words) providing evidence of how you demonstrate the Success Profiles noted above.

Please note that a CV is not required for this opportunity.

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.

If you are interested in this opportunity, you should seek permission from your manager and C-band manager before applying on a level transfer (TLT) basis. If applying on Temporary Promotion you should inform your manager and C-band manager from the outset of your intention to apply. If successful in your application, your release must be agreed by your line manager and C-band manager or relevant unit head.

Please note that the post is only open to individuals who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period.

Informal Chat & Assessment
If shortlisted, you will be invited to an informal discussion.

This is a Government Digital and Data (GDD) role within the Product and Delivery job family. Candidates who are not currently members of the GDD Profession, or who belong to a different GDD job family, will be required to complete a GDD technical assessment before an appointment can be confirmed.

If you are successful following the informal discussion and a technical assessment is required, further details will be provided in advance to allow you sufficient time to prepare

Dates to Remember
Statement submitted by: 28th July 2026 at 23:55
Informal chats: week commencing 10th August 2026 (This may be subject to change)

Duration of Temporary Opportunity
This opportunity is for 6 months

Hybrid Working
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.

Further Information
This role is only available to existing permanent civil servants who have successfully completed their probation period within Social Security Scotland, Scottish Government Main or Common Citizenship organisations. Please note that applicants from Common Citizenship organisations may apply only on a promotion basis and not via a level transfer.

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   

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

If you have any questions about the role please contact Karen McLaughlan at Karen.McLaughlan2@socialsecurity.gov.scot