Job title: Phase Readiness Manager (Census)
Business area / directorate: NRS
Location: Generlal Register House, Edinburgh
Working arrangement: Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Candidates should note that office attendance will be needed at points in particular for collaboration sessions but there is currently no fixed set days in addition there may be occasional travel to other UK agencies. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Grade: C1
Advert Type: Temporary promotion or level transfer
Duration: 12 months
Eligibility: Expressions of interest are welcomed from eligible staff in bands a-c for this vacancy.
Sponsorship: Skilled worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require skilled worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
Do you want to shape the delivery of Scotland’s Census, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on, and telling the story of Scotland's people for generations to come? If so, this post could be for you.
We are the trusted producer of Scotland’s population statistics, including taking the Census of Scotland’s population every 10 years. The next Census is in 2031 and will be delivered in partnership with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA). This is one of the largest digital programmes delivered in Scotland, gathering data from every household across a population of c.5.7m.
This role provides the Programme Director and Programme Manager with internal assurance of delivery readiness for key Census phases. You will help ensure each phase is cohesive, aligned and ready to proceed by bringing together insights on risks, dependencies and progress across teams. Working alongside delivery teams (digital, operations and statistics), while remaining independent of them, you will provide objective challenge, clear analysis and confidence to decision-makers. You will maintain an end-to-end view of readiness, driving alignment across services, operational delivery, technology and external partners.
As Census phases are delivered in close collaboration with UK partners (ONS and NISRA), a key aspect of the role will be ensuring readiness is aligned across all organisations
Responsibilities
Key duties for the role include :
Build a joined-up view of phase readiness, highlighting risks and confidence levels
Identify gaps, dependencies or misalignment across teams and partners
Provide constructive challenge and advice to strengthen readiness
Produce clear, evidence-based reporting to support governance decisions, including go/no-go recommendations
Proactively identify emerging risks to phase readiness and ensure early visibility
Ensure key assurance activities, impact assessments and strategies are coordinated and complete across the phase
Help capture and apply lessons learned between phases
Maintain alignment between business case intent, delivery outputs and readiness (“golden thread”)
Assess the impact of changes and decisions on overall phase readiness, ensuring downstream risks are understood
For this opportunity, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:
Technical Skills
Further information about these skills can be found here Project Delivery - Professions - Technical Capabilities and Behaviours Framework details - Objective
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide
This post is a full-time role. Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Candidates should note that office attendance will be needed at points in particular for collaboration sessions but there is currently no fixed set days in addition there may be occasional travel to other UK agencies. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Further information
Further information on this vacancy is available from Claire.Lumsdaine@nrscotland.gov.uk
Please click the link to access further guidance and information on overview and eligibility Temporary promotion
Note that the post is only open to individuals who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period. Applicants must discuss their intention to apply with their current line manager to help ensure early release and balance with current duties
Please submit a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 500 words) providing evidence of how you demonstrate the Success Profiles noted above.
Vacancy closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 12 August.
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.
Applications will be reviewed by panel. Shortlisted candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to interview with the hiring manager and another panel member. The panel will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the post.
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
About us
National Records of Scotland (NRS) is Scotland’s record keeper. Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. NRS is a Non-Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government & and our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
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
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further Information
If you have specific questions about the role, please contact the Hiring Manager.
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Apply before: 12/08/2026 (23:59)
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.
