Flexible Location: NES is a remote-friendly employer with staff based throughout Scotland. We support office-based and hybrid working arrangements. We welcome conversations about alternative working patterns—please get in touch during the application process to discuss.
Work Pattern: Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week
As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.
You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.
Who We Are
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.
The Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHP) Directorate works to support the education, training and continuing professional development of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, health and social care chaplains and healthcare support workers. The Directorate is also responsible for providing education, training and workforce development across wider professional groups and disciplines, often in partnership with other agencies, to support key policy drivers.
The newly formed Educational Quality – Directorate Innovation and Enablement Team will lead the way in adopting technology enhanced learning across the Directorate, operating at the forefront of digital innovation. Their focus is to ensure all digital learning materials meet the highest standards of governance, quality assurance and accessibility. By adhering to NES learning principles and technological standards, the team will ensure the creation of high-quality, accessible digital learning resources that incorporate evaluation as part of the design process. As pioneers in the use of cutting edge digital and learning technologies, the team will not only drive the adoption of new tools and approaches, but also actively support NES NMAHP colleagues in developing and enhancing their digital and technological capabilities, empowering staff to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the design and development of training and education resources, aligned to design principles set out in the NES Quality Policy and Learning and Education strategy, maximising technology enabled learning to develop high quality learning content and experience. The role will require someone who is creative, forward thinking and has attention to detail. The postholder will have a successful track record in designing technology enabled learning, prioritising the needs of the learner and working across boundaries.
As Learning Technologist (Specialist Lead), you will:
* Ensure education, training and resources are learner centred and meet NES and external standards.
* Collaborate with educators to design and develop high-quality learning technology enhanced learning resources.
* Ensure evaluation of resources is embedded to measure quality and impact, building this in from the design stage.
* Monitor usage and effectiveness of digital tools and provide reports and insights.
* Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies to improve learning proficiencies.
* Build digital and technological capability among NES NMAHP Education and Business Support colleagues.
The Postholder will work closely with NMAHP Educators to understand requirements and contribute to the development and delivery of education, training and learning. Ultimately, the role is about shaping a coherent digital learning experience across the Directorate and thereby improving standards for our learners. It is a role that sits at the intersection of pedagogy, digital tools and staff development, helping also to build technological and digital capability in our NES NMAHP Education and Business Support colleagues.
Do you feel confident working both at a practical, hands-on level – helping colleagues to develop and build learning solutions – and at a strategic level, understand the broader direction and goals of the organisation?
Do you enjoy solving complex problems?
Do you have a proven track record in advocating for the smarter use of technology in learning?
Do you have a successful experience of providing specialist support to product owners?
Do you enjoy working at the cutting edge of innovation and horizon scanning, assessing whether new technologies and innovations are useful or not?
Working within the newly created NMAHP Educational Quality – Directorate Innovation and Enablement Team, you will have the opportunity to bring your unique skills and experience to the table, collaborating across multiple programmes and workstreams, and making an impact across health and care in Scotland.
Does this sound like you?
What We Love to See
Learning Technologists need to offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:
* Experience of working in an education or knowledge management focussed environment, in a role where you planned, developed and evaluated mixed modes of education and training.
* Strong understanding and application of design principles to develop education, training and resources incorporating digital technology.
* Practical knowledge and expertise of different technologies used in the design and delivery of accessible education and training resources.
* Ability to collate, analyse and present highly complex data to a variety of stakeholders.
* Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across complex systems landscapes with multiple stakeholders.
* Proven ability to communicate well with and influence a range of stakeholders, including the delivery of presentations and training.
* Flexible approach to learning and problem solving, with excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise own workload to meet challenging deadlines.
* Experience of successfully working in complex work environments, where the parameters of the job area not always clearly defined.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
* Can demonstrate a service orientated approach with strong customer focus, ensuring internal colleagues receive timely, effective and collaborative support..
* Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary
* Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines
Benefits Which Matter
As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:
* Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid working
* Generous NHS pension scheme
* Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
* Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
* NHS discounts and more
Diversity and Inclusion
Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.
We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience – regardless of the outcome.
It’s not essential to be in a Learning Technologist role right now. You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work.
If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact sheila.findlay@nhs.scot
Next Steps
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.
In person OR online interviews (including a presentation) will take place on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th February 2026. The presentation topic will be sent to candidates selected for interview.
For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.
Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.
1. Please be advised that if you are successful in being offered the role following the recruitment process, you will be expected to attend the office prior to your start date to complete face-to-face pre-employment checks. If you require any adjustments to support this, please let us know.
2. To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here .
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here .
It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.
If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: EoS.ERRS@nhs.scot