Digital and Data Specialist Lead

On 1 April 2026, NSS and NES became one national organisation, focused on continuity today and a stronger, more connected service for tomorrow.

As part of this transformation, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) have joined to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland). This new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.

Flexible Location: PSD Scotland 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: Fixed Term or Secondment, Full Time, 36 hours per week until 31st March 2028.

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

PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.

We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.

The role of the People and Culture Directorate is wide-ranging and exciting. We not only enable to attract, recruit, support, train, develop, reward and recognise its own workforce, but also play a significant role in employing doctors and dentists in training across Scotland.

Furthermore, we support recruitment of medical and dental trainees and other vocational groups for the whole of Scotland's health sector. We support the management of change, providing organisational consultancy. We also play an active part in the organisation’s commitment to fulfilling its Equality and Diversity responsibilities, not just to its own staff but throughout all the activities of the organisation.

Nationally the People and Culture Directorate act as key strategic partner to Scottish Government in the delivery of national Talent, Leadership and Management, Quality Improvement, and Learning & Development ambitions. We also provide information, advice, educational solutions and support to the wider NHS through links with Territorial Boards and the Scottish Government.

The Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team within PSD Scotland is a high impact, delivery focused, multi award winning team, working remotely across the UK. Commissioned by Scottish Government and COSLA they deliver on national priorities from Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Strategy, the Health and Social Care Data Strategy, the Care in the Digital Age Delivery Plan and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework.

DEW thrive on what they do, empowered to innovate, adapt, and demonstrate how teams should work in a digital age. Enabling transformation at scale by providing national learning resources, networks and programmes for the whole health and social care sector that includes NHS, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Social Work, Social Care, Care and Support Providers, Housing, Third and Independent Sectors.

The DEW team lead on key initiatives, designing and delivering national programmes shaped and directed by Scottish Government and COSLA, that strengthen digital and data capability across Scotland’s health and social care workforce. Providing organisations with resources to adopt, embed and sustain digital transformation at scale.

Find out more about the DEW team here.

The Opportunity

We're looking for an inspirational Digital and Data Specialist Lead to take forward a portfolio of national initiatives that support the wider workforce and drives the development and delivery of Scotland’s specialist Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce capability agenda.

This is a unique opportunity to make a national impact. As part of the Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team you will be responsible for delivering key elements within a national programme that builds the digital, data and leadership capability required for transformation, equipping the workforce, organisations and leaders across Scotland's health and social care system to realise the opportunities presented by digital, data, AI and emerging technologies.

Are you an experienced digital and transformational leader ready to contribute to developing the digital and data capabilities of Scotland’s health and social care workforce?

Commissioned by Scottish Government and COSLA, you'll lead high-profile initiatives that turn national ambition into workforce digital and data capability, organisational readiness and sustainable transformation.

You'll work in partnership across NHS Scotland, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Social Care, Housing, academia and national organisations to maximise the impact of digital and data-enabled services. Through innovative learning experiences and strategic partnership working, you'll help organisations build the confidence, capability and leadership required to deliver lasting transformation.

As this is a commissioned role supporting a high profile programme we're seeking a credible and experienced leader who can quickly establish themselves, take ownership from day one, and drive delivery, improvement and measurable outcomes across a high-profile portfolio.

Why join us?

• Be part of a multi-award-winning team delivering impact at a national scale.
• Deliver nationally recognised digital and data capability resources and flagship Digital and Transformational Leadership Programmes.
• Work with senior leaders across Scotland's health and social care system.
• Shape the digital and data capability needed for future service transformation.

Help build the digital and data capability, and the culture, needed to transform health and social care in Scotland.

Do you have proven experience managing a complex set of national workstreams, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives, timelines, governance requirements and commissioned outcomes ?

Do you understand the capability development needs of Scotland’s health and social care Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce, and are you able to translate these into practical resources, development pathways and capability building opportunities.?

Do you have experience combining creativity, analytical thinking, and workforce intelligence to develop data-driven understanding of workforce skills, capabilities, and capacity, using this information to identify gaps, emerging needs and future requirements?

Do you excel at building partnerships, and leading networks and communities of practice that drive collaboration, innovation, knowledge exchange and the development of digital and data capabilities?

Working within the DEW team means joining a fast-paced, nationally recognised programme where the impact and reputation of our work truly matters.

Does this sound like you?

What We Love to See

A Digital Data and Specialist Lead that will offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:

• Experience leading and delivering digital and data workforce development programmes at scale.
• A passion for helping people, organisations and systems thrive in a digital and data-enabled future.
• A track record of successfully leading complex national workstreams in