Description Job Description Do you want an exciting role working closely with senior leaders in the centre of government? As Head of Business Support you will provide direction and leadership of our directorate business management unit, to support delivery of a professional service supporting the Director, Deputy Directors, and colleagues across the Directorate in fulfilling corporate functions. You will also work closely with the other team leader to oversee our strategic programme, using project and programme Management tools and techniques to assure the senior leadership team of progress against our strategic priorities. You will play a key role in building connections across the team and wider directorate, seizing opportunities to build on and improve corporate processes. Strategy and Delivery Directorate (SDD) is responsible for supporting the organisation in setting the strategic direction and delivering on that. We help Ministers shape a future vision of Scotland, advising and supporting the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Cabinet and ET in their decision making, providing the data insights and analysis to inform decisions on policy and delivery, through to delivery support and intervention, and crisis management and response. Responsibilities Inspire and lead a high-performing Business Management Team, providing strategic direction and people-focused leadership to a team of nine. Champion a culture of excellence and continuous development, ensuring the team delivers proactive, high-quality support that empowers the Directorate’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to fulfil their corporate responsibilities effectively and efficiently. Drive operational excellence across the Directorate, overseeing the implementation and continuous improvement of corporate processes. Ensure robust systems are in place to support senior leaders in delivering on strategic priorities, maintaining strong governance, and managing resources with transparency and assurance. Foster strong, collaborative relationships across the organisation, working closely with colleagues in SDD, the Executive Team, and DG offices. Act as a connector and integrator, aligning business management functions and streamlining processes to enhance organisational cohesion and impact. Oversee all budgetary and workforce planning activities, ensuring effective management of financial resources and staffing to support the delivery of programme objectives; providing strategic oversight to align budgets, headcount, and resourcing plans with operational priorities and organisational goals. Act as a trusted advisor to the SLT, providing insightful analysis and challenge on resource allocation, risk management, and performance. Promote a culture of constructive challenge and mutual support within the leadership team, enabling informed decision-making and collective accountability. Champion a culture of continuous improvement, proactively monitoring performance across the Directorate’s portfolio. Identify opportunities to refine targets, enhance delivery, and embed a mindset of innovation and learning in everything we do. 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. Experience: Requires the successful candidate to demonstrate experience in budget management and planning. Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing – (Level 4) Seeing the Bigger Picture – (Level 4) Making Effective Decisions – (Level 4) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and short presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 11 August however this may be subject to change. Qualifications 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, 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 range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. 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.