NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
Assistant Director (Estates and Support Services)
Are you a transformative leader ready to shape the future of healthcare infrastructure in Ayrshire?
NHS Ayrshire & Arran is seeking a visionary Assistant Director to lead our Estates and Support Services. This is a pivotal strategic role within the Infrastructure and Support Services Directorate, responsible for a workforce of over 1,000 staff and a revenue budget of £62m. We are looking for a leader who can drive reform, champion the "Once for Ayrshire" principle, and ensure our physical environment actively facilitates healing and wellbeing for our patients and staff.
What you will do:
As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide high-level strategic direction and operational management across a complex, multi-site portfolio. You will not just manage the status quo, you will lead the modernisation of service delivery to meet the challenges of changing demographics and financial sustainability.
Key responsibilities include:
Strategic Transformation: Leading the development and implementation of the Estates and Support Services strategies, driving organisational change and benefits realisation across the Board.
Service Excellence: Overseeing critical functions including Estates, Catering, Domestic Services, Portering, Security, Waste Management, Transport, and the Central Decontamination Unit, ensuring they align with NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s corporate objectives.
Sustainability Leadership: Spearheading our response to the Climate Emergency, leading the "Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy" and energy efficiency programmes to meet national Net Zero targets.
Asset Management: Ensuring the safety, statutory compliance, and quality of an estate valued at £368m.
Partnership: Integrating services with Health & Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs), other Health Boards and external stakeholders to deliver best value.
Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:
We are looking for a high-calibre leader with a proven track record of successful organisational change and transformation in a large, complex organisation (NHS or wider public sector experience is essential). You need to demonstrate:
Qualifications: Educated to Master’s degree level (or equivalent) with a relevant professional or management qualification.
Strategic Vision: The ability to articulate "big picture thinking" and translate corporate strategy into operational reality.
Leadership: Demonstrable transformational leadership skills, with the ability to motivate multi-disciplinary teams and negotiate complex change with senior stakeholders.
Values: A strong commitment to the NHS Ayrshire & Arran values of being Caring, Safe, and Respectful.
Full UK Driving Licence: A full UK driving licence is essential for this role as you will be required to work across various sites.
If you want to find out more about the role, please contact:
Nicola Graham, Director of Infrastructure and Support Services Nicola.Graham3@aapct.scot.nhs.uk.
Recruitment Timeline
Post Closes – 25th January
Shortlisting – w/c 26th January
Interviews – w/c 16th February
From 1 April 2026, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Scotland will be reduced. Full-time hours will reduce from 37 to 36 hours (pro rata for part-time staff) without loss of earnings.