Job Specification
Job Title: Programme Lead - Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)
Contract: Fixed-term (ending February 2027)
Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible working considered)
Location: Hybrid / UK-based
Role Purpose
This role leads the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workstream within a major statutory programme delivering reform to Scotland's tertiary education and training system.
The postholder is responsible for planning, governance and delivery of all technology, data, systems and digital service elements required to support the transfer of apprenticeship funding responsibilities from one public body to another, ensuring full operational readiness by April 2027 .
Key Responsibilities
Lead delivery of the DDaT workstream, owning plans, milestones, dependencies and budget.
Establish and maintain effective governance, reporting into programme and senior leadership forums.
Manage dependencies across multiple workstreams, ensuring alignment on sequencing, risks and delivery timelines.
Coordinate DDaT input to Transitional Services Agreement negotiations, protecting organisational interests in service levels, access and exit provisions.
Oversee Day 1 operational readiness, including: Managed service arrangements for apprenticeship funding and payments systems.
Data migration and continuity across multiple external system integrations.
Establishment of internal capability to oversee and assure transferred services.
Manage risks, issues and dependencies, escalating where intervention is required.
Lead and develop a small DDaT PMO team, ensuring effective business analysis, requirements definition and prioritisation.
Coordinate activity across internal digital, data, cloud and delivery teams, balancing programme and BAU demands.
Manage external advisory and consultancy inputs to ensure value, alignment and avoidance of duplication.
Produce clear programme reporting for senior leadership, boards and parliamentary accountability.
Support benefits identification and tracking, ensuring measurable improvements in digital and data capability.
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Applicants must demonstrate experience of:
Leading complex programmes involving organisational change, service transition or operational separation.
Managing delivery across multiple organisations with significant interdependencies.
Strong programme governance, including planning, risk management, financial control and senior reporting.
Oversight of managed services, outsourced delivery or transitional service arrangements.
Leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating work across specialists without direct line management.
Communicating complex technical and programme information to non-technical audiences.
Managing competing priorities within fixed statutory or regulatory deadlines.
Understanding digital, data and technology operating models in a public-sector context.
Desirable Skills
Experience of TUPE or workforce transition programmes.
Familiarity with enterprise platforms such as Microsoft Power Platform or Dynamics 365 (oversight level).
Experience working within the Scottish public sector.
Programme management qualification (e.g. MSP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent).
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