Are you a strategic leader who thrives in a collaborative and high performance environment?
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Its principal role is to administer the pensions, premature retirement and injury benefits schemes for employees of the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSSS) the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (STSS), the Fire Scotland Pension Scheme and the Police Scotland Pension Scheme. The Head of Service Management will work to support business objectives.
As Senior Delivery Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across multidisciplinary delivery teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture. You will take ownership of legislative events and changes within SPPA, leading a team of subject matter experts and making informed decisions and maintaining accountability. You should be able to lead experts and understand complexity without being an expert and be able to drive momentum and pace. You will also be the primary escalation point offering guidance and support to ensure successful delivery outcomes.
Responsibilities
* Lead the planning and delivery of the SPPA transformational programme and annual event activity within a project delivery environment.
* Take ownership of investment and improvements in pension administration systems, ensuring digital enhancements are effectively managed and controlled.
* Apply appropriate project management methodologies (predictive or agile) and maintain high standards through scheduled quality reviews.
* Embed a robust risk management framework to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across all project activities.
* Manage change control processes, ensuring deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and meet agreed specifications.
* Lead contract and supplier performance management, ensuring compliance with terms and achievement of delivery targets.
* Develop team capabilities and leverage digital technologies to maintain delivery momentum and achieve successful outcomes.
* Implement effective communication and stakeholder engagement strategies to ensure alignment and understanding across technical and non-technical audiences.
Qualifications
Relevant Project Management Qualification.
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Experience
* Lead Criteria: You have expert-level ability in communicating between technical and non-technical stakeholders, mediating between people, managing stakeholder expectations, moderating discussions about elevated risk and complexity, and representing the community to large audiences both inside and outside of the organisation.
* You have expert-level ability in supplier and financial management and governance.
Experience is assessed at sift, along with a more in-depth assessment at interview.
Technical / Professional Skills
This role is aligned to the Senior Delivery Manager role within the Product and Delivery Manager 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.
Behaviours
* Changing and Improving - Level 4
* Making Effective decisions - Level 4
* Delivering at Pace - Level 4
* Seeing the Bigger Picture - Level 4
You can find out more about Success Profiles here .
How To Apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the two Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above.
If a large number of applications are received an initial sift will be conducted on the Lead Criteria highlighted above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against the remaining Experience criteria.
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.
Sift will take place w/c 15th December 2025.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 12th January 2026 however this may be subject to change.
Interview and assessment are expected to take place in person on site at SPPA, 7 Tweedside Park, Tweedbank, Galashiels, TD1 3TE.
About Us
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland for over 600,000 key workers. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers with an annual pension spend to over 200,000 pensioners to the value of more than £3 billion.
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
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, currently BCS Role Mode plus. This post currently attracts a £5000 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.
For further information on this post please contact Liz Rae by email at liz.rae@gov.scot
Apply Before: 15th December (23:59)