Job Description

This opportunity is only open to applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

Lead the live operation and future evolution of Scotland’s national payments platform and help shape how public services deliver secure, reliable financial transactions at scale.

Join the Scottish Government’s Cloud and Digital Services Division as the Service Owner for ScotPayments, the Scottish Government’s national payment platform. ScotPayments underpins public service reform by providing a modern, secure and reusable payments capability that supports organisations across the public sector.

This is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the live running of a nationally significant payments service. You will lead service performance, stakeholder engagement, operational governance and continuous improvement, ensuring the platform remains resilient, secure and aligned with industry standards while delivering new capabilities and payment functionality that create value for users across Scotland.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to apply your expertise to challenges that matter. In return, we offer the chance to work on meaningful national programmes alongside experienced digital professionals, supported by flexible hybrid working, a 35-hour working week, strong pension provision and a healthy work-life balance. See below for further details.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on leadership for ScotPayments, ensuring the service is secure, resilient, scalable and compliant with financial regulations, payment industry standards and public sector requirements.
• Apply deep expertise in payments and banking to guide operational decisions, risk management and service development.
• Act as the primary escalation point for operational issues, leading incident and problem management and maintaining excellent service performance.
• Engage and influence senior stakeholders across government and delivery partners, managing feedback, resolving issues and building support for service priorities.
• Define, monitor and improve service KPIs and success measures, driving continuous improvement and value delivery.
• Lead the strategic development and enhancement of ScotPayments, delivering new features and capabilities that improve user outcomes.
• Ensure governance, assurance and funding processes are embedded across the service lifecycle.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver service improvements using Agile and Lean approaches.

Experience:

1. Proven, hands-on experience in the banking and payments sector, including the design, implementation, and management of regulated payment services at scale. Demonstrated ability to apply deep domain knowledge to shape service design, manage operational risk, and ensure compliance with financial regulations and public sector standards.
2. Proven experience in directing digital projects or programmes, developing long term vision and objectives and their articulation into credible business cases that align with the strategic direction and priorities of Scottish Government or another organisation as well as developing road-maps and delivery plans on time and on budget through clear leadership and decision making with agile development teams.
3. Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a high-stakes delivery environment, balancing product development with operational demands. Demonstrated capability to embed Agile and Lean practices while maintaining focus on user outcomes, service performance, and regulatory compliance.
4. Proven ability to motivate self-organising agile teams, delegate decision making to the most effective level, and empower teams to deliver to the best of their abilities and managing the expectations of stakeholders with conflicting needs and demands, engaging with senior stakeholders, and developing a pipeline of customer adoption.

Technical Skills:

This role is aligned to the Service Owner job role within the Product and Delivery Job Family.

Applying user-centred insights

Expert

Financial Ownership

Expert

Leading Performance and Benefits

Expert

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Expert

Strategic Ownership

Expert

Operational Management

Expert

You can find out more about the skills required, here: Service owner - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

These skills may require to be assessed by technical assessment, designed to represent the role. Candidates reaching this stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack which outlines the specific skills to be assessed, plus the method of assessment.

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

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. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim 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.

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive C1 grade employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Vacancies close at 23:59pm on Tuesday 22 September.

Selection Process

All applicants will be invited to an informal discussion with the hiring manager.

Informal discussions and potential Technical assessments are scheduled for w/c TBC.

Skilled Worker Sponsorship Not Being Offered

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.

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.

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, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim 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.

If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact Digitalcareers@gov.scot

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).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Government, Digital and Data Profession

The Government Digital and Data (GDD) Profession is a UK-wide group of over 24,000 civil servants dedicated to driving digital transformation in government through more efficient, data-driven public services. This community oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including architects, data scientists, engineers, and content designers, across different, multidisciplinary teams.

The profession, sponsored by the Government Digital Service (GDS), offers the frameworks, skills, and development routes necessary for these individuals to thrive and produce improved outcomes for the public.

Equality Statement

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

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

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.

Apply before: 22/09/2026 (23:59)

Contact Name: Megan Abott

Contact e-Mail: Digitalcareers@gov.scot