Description Are you ready to lead a team that shares your passion for digital innovation and data-driven success? We’re looking for a Head of IT Service Management at Food Standards Scotand (FSS) to lead the development and delivery of our Digital Strategy. This pivotal role will unlock new opportunities for stakeholder engagement, enhance our data science capabilities, and drive operational efficiency across the organisation. You will play a crucial role in conducting a strategic review of current service delivery models, including the Scottish Government IT Shared Services, with a focus on maximising the value and ensuring excellence. The role also encompasses overseeing cyber security and information governance across FSS. As a key member of the Digital and Data Governance Steering Board, you will provide expert leadership on digital and ICT projects. If you're a strategic thinker with a strong technical background and a commitment to public service, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Responsibilities Define and manage asset policies, ensuring alignment with FSS and SG standards. Investigate existing processes, gather insights, and implement evidence-based enhancements. Set vision and direction, influence senior stakeholders, and oversee service strategy and governance. Lead and grow a team of experts to deliver measurable service improvements. Establish standards for change implementation, proactively identify issues, and ensure business continuity. Monitor internal and supplier SLAs, ensuring contracts deliver value and performance. Ensure services meet evolving user needs across channels and deliver measurable outcomes. Use analytics to enhance performance and promote transparent service reporting. Apply ITIL/best practices, understand technical landscapes, and guide tool/method selection. Write business cases for new services, set policies, and arbitrate strategic decisions. Responsibilities Success profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills: This role is aligned to the IT service manager role within the IT Operations job family. You can find out more about the skills required, here. These skills are 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. Experience: Experience of leading a multi team/supplier IT service delivery function using the practical application of ITIL, or other relevant ITSM Framework, at practitioner/Expert level, to deliver services meet customers strategic priorities. Ability to schedule and plan priorities for a large group of technical specialists and the ability to effectively manage diverse teams. Strong demonstrable project management with experience of participation, and or delivery of major IT projects. Practitioner level knowledge of Agile or Prince 2. A working understanding of ICT service, support, architectural concepts and new technology including networking and security. Good analytical skills to be able to scrutinise service delivery metrics vs requirements to identify opportunities to meet customer needs through technological solutions. A demonstrable knowledge of methods and techniques for risk management, business impact analysis, countermeasures and contingency arrangements relating to the serious disruption of IT services. Experience of developing and managing services which deliver value to customers and the ability to build and manage relationships experience across varied stakeholders; with an ability to communicate the benefits to be gained from IT and where it can be utilised to meet business challenges. Experience is assessed at sift, along with a more in-depth assessment at interview. Behaviours: Changing and Improving – Level 4. Working Together – Level 4. You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here. Behaviours are assessed at interview. Full details will be shared in advance with all candidates invited to this stage. How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words ) which provides evidence of how you meet each of four Experience criteria listed above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and DDaT Technical assessment where the behaviours, experiences and technical skills outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed. 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 DDaT Technical assessment where the behaviours, experiences and technical skills outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 22 September 2025 however this may be subject to change. Qualifications About Us Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has a wide and diverse remit which covers all aspects of the food chain which can impact on public health – aiming to protect consumers from food safety risks and promote healthy eating. Our mission is to be Scotland’s leading authority on food safety, standards and healthy eating; using data and evidence to provide assurance and advice that inspires consumer confidence and improves public health. 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. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, we offer a truly flexible working including full-time, part-time, flexitime, and compressed hours meaning you could work your full hours while working less than 5 days per week. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact Garry.McEwan@fss.scot DDaT Pay Supplement This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession, as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system. This post currently attracts a £5,000.00 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3-month competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded. 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. 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: 9 September 2025 (23:59). This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only.