Job Description
Join a dynamic and ambitious function where you can inspire high-performing teams, champion continuous improvement and shape the delivery of recruitment services across the Scottish Government.
The Resourcing Operations Lead role sits within the Attraction and Resourcing team and offers an exciting opportunity to influence recruitment across the Scottish Government, its Executive Agencies and associated public bodies. The team's mission is to provide a high-quality, customer-focused resourcing service that supports organisational workforce needs and enables the attraction and onboarding of talented people.
Working in a fast-paced environment, you will provide operational leadership and expertise within a large and complex recruitment function, helping to drive continuous improvement and service excellence. The primary objective of the role is to ensure recruitment operations effectively support organisational priorities while delivering a positive experience for candidates, hiring managers and stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Leading and developing Team Managers and a team of 12 Resourcing Professionals to deliver high-performing recruitment services.
- Overseeing end-to-end recruitment and onboarding activity across a diverse range of A-C level vacancies.
- Ensuring recruitment campaigns are delivered efficiently, compliantly and in accordance with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
- Managing recruitment schedules, service performance and operational priorities to ensure delivery at pace.
- Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, hiring managers and HR colleagues to provide expert resourcing advice and support.
- Driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance candidate experience, improve efficiency and strengthen service quality.
- Monitoring operational performance through the effective use of data, insight and reporting.
- Ensuring robust governance, compliance and quality assurance across all recruitment activity.
- Promoting a culture of collaboration, accountability and customer excellence.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development, including maintaining or working towards an Associate CIPD qualification, while supporting the learning and development of managers and team members.
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.
Experience
Experience leading managers and teams within a complex operational environment or similar, balancing competing priorities to deliver high-quality services and business outcomes.
Experience leading and supporting teams through change, identifying opportunities for improvement and maintaining a strong focus on customer outcomes
Behaviours:
- Leadership - Level 3
- Managing a Quality Service - Level 3
- Delivering at Pace - Level 3
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours and experience listed in the Success Profile 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.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.
Assessments are due to take place in October, however this may be subject to change.
Apply before 23:59 on 31 August 2026. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).
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
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the
UK Civil Service, observing the
Civil Service Code and 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 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. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Further information
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.
