Senior Specialist Lead
NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Location, WV, United States
In June 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care introduced two key frameworks: the Population Health Framework and the Service Renewal Framework (SRF). The SRF sets out an ambitious vision to drive innovation and enable more integrated delivery across Scotland’s health and care services. As part of this transformation, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) will come together to form a new organisation:
Public Services Delivery Scotland
in April 2026. The new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and long‑term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.
To learn more about the new organisation, please read the public consultation paper, NHS Delivery – A New National Delivery Organisation, available on the Scottish Government website.
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 Fixed Term, Part Time, 14 hours 48 minutes 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.
Fixed-term or Secondment** until 31st of March 2028
For NHS applicants, an NHS secondment will be offered in the first instance. For non‑NHS applicants, a fixed‑term or secondment would be considered.
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 includes the Spiritual Care and Healthcare Chaplaincy workstreams and works at a national level to support the delivery of NES’s strategic plan and works in response to commissions from the Scottish Government, Territorial and National Boards and a range of stakeholders to develop Workforce Education. Our work and partnerships support practitioners working in Health and Social Care to develop throughout their careers and with high quality accessible resources to support their ongoing professional development.
The Workforce Education and Career Development programme develops and delivers learning and education for all levels of practice that aims to support the continuing professional development needs of all levels of the NMAHP workforce.
The Opportunity This is an exciting opportunity to help shape workforce education and career development across Scotland. You’ll also ensure that education in social and community care settings is accessible and equitable. As part of the Workforce Education and Career Development programme, you’ll assess the current education landscape, identify gaps, and work with stakeholders to create a strategy that makes healthcare education more accessible, effective, and aligned with workforce needs.
We’re looking for a motivated and innovative individual with a solid background in education, quality improvement, and knowledge development. You’ll be key in finding opportunities for shared, inter‑professional learning. Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills are a must, along with a commitment to delivering high‑quality services that support the Workforce Education and Career Development programme and the wider NMAHP Directorate.
The ideal candidate will have experience working with key NMAHP stakeholders to understand education and learning needs and will play a key role in developing and delivering education that supports NMAHP professional development. Ultimately, your work will help ensure healthcare professionals are well‑equipped to manage a variety of healthcare scenarios within trauma care.
Do you enjoy rising to the challenge in a fast paced, complex and political environment?
Do you want to make a real impact on the development of Trauma care and education across Scotland?
Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where you can shape strategies and priorities?
Do you enjoy collaborating with stakeholders to ensure education solutions are effective and aligned with workforce needs?
Do you have a passion for managing programmes and creating strategies that drive measurable improvement?
Working within the WECD team you will have the opportunity to implement real change within the NHS Scotland workforce, making a difference to people’s every day working lives.
Does this sound like you? What We Love To See
Senior Management role including coaching and/or mentoring of team members
Track record in programme management with experience in the management of workforce improvement projects across health
Experience of developing and facilitating communities of practice across health, successfully engaging hard to reach / busy members of the workforce
Experience of contributing to health workforce policy development and implementation
Clear understanding of the political and social environment across health, including NHS workforce priorities.
Experience in successfully working across complex health environments with multiple stakeholders.
Experience of designing and developing high quality, impactful programme outputs including reports, improvement resources and best practice guidance to support programme aims.
Experience of initiating, conducting and / or coordinating research and project evaluation.
Ability to build highly effective working relationships internally and externally
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
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 means considering the diverse needs, perspectives, and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland. We are focused on hiring the very best talent and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Our aim is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has a positive recruitment experience—regardless of the outcome.
We welcome applications from all under‑represented groups, including racially minoritised people and disabled people. It is not essential to be in Senior Specialaist Lead role right now—you may be returning from a career break (e.g., maternity, paternity, caring) or coming from another field. Your experiences can bring a fresh perspective to our work.
If you are considering applying and would like to discuss the opportunity, any adjustments or alternative work patterns, please contact Sophie Given, Head of Programme, Sophie.Given@nhs.scot.
Next Steps
NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e‑mail.
In person or online interviews Will take place on Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April 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.
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.
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 Immigration 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 licensed 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Public Services Delivery Scotland
in April 2026. The new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and long‑term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.
To learn more about the new organisation, please read the public consultation paper, NHS Delivery – A New National Delivery Organisation, available on the Scottish Government website.
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 Fixed Term, Part Time, 14 hours 48 minutes 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.
Fixed-term or Secondment** until 31st of March 2028
For NHS applicants, an NHS secondment will be offered in the first instance. For non‑NHS applicants, a fixed‑term or secondment would be considered.
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 includes the Spiritual Care and Healthcare Chaplaincy workstreams and works at a national level to support the delivery of NES’s strategic plan and works in response to commissions from the Scottish Government, Territorial and National Boards and a range of stakeholders to develop Workforce Education. Our work and partnerships support practitioners working in Health and Social Care to develop throughout their careers and with high quality accessible resources to support their ongoing professional development.
The Workforce Education and Career Development programme develops and delivers learning and education for all levels of practice that aims to support the continuing professional development needs of all levels of the NMAHP workforce.
The Opportunity This is an exciting opportunity to help shape workforce education and career development across Scotland. You’ll also ensure that education in social and community care settings is accessible and equitable. As part of the Workforce Education and Career Development programme, you’ll assess the current education landscape, identify gaps, and work with stakeholders to create a strategy that makes healthcare education more accessible, effective, and aligned with workforce needs.
We’re looking for a motivated and innovative individual with a solid background in education, quality improvement, and knowledge development. You’ll be key in finding opportunities for shared, inter‑professional learning. Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills are a must, along with a commitment to delivering high‑quality services that support the Workforce Education and Career Development programme and the wider NMAHP Directorate.
The ideal candidate will have experience working with key NMAHP stakeholders to understand education and learning needs and will play a key role in developing and delivering education that supports NMAHP professional development. Ultimately, your work will help ensure healthcare professionals are well‑equipped to manage a variety of healthcare scenarios within trauma care.
Do you enjoy rising to the challenge in a fast paced, complex and political environment?
Do you want to make a real impact on the development of Trauma care and education across Scotland?
Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where you can shape strategies and priorities?
Do you enjoy collaborating with stakeholders to ensure education solutions are effective and aligned with workforce needs?
Do you have a passion for managing programmes and creating strategies that drive measurable improvement?
Working within the WECD team you will have the opportunity to implement real change within the NHS Scotland workforce, making a difference to people’s every day working lives.
Does this sound like you? What We Love To See
Senior Management role including coaching and/or mentoring of team members
Track record in programme management with experience in the management of workforce improvement projects across health
Experience of developing and facilitating communities of practice across health, successfully engaging hard to reach / busy members of the workforce
Experience of contributing to health workforce policy development and implementation
Clear understanding of the political and social environment across health, including NHS workforce priorities.
Experience in successfully working across complex health environments with multiple stakeholders.
Experience of designing and developing high quality, impactful programme outputs including reports, improvement resources and best practice guidance to support programme aims.
Experience of initiating, conducting and / or coordinating research and project evaluation.
Ability to build highly effective working relationships internally and externally
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
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 means considering the diverse needs, perspectives, and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland. We are focused on hiring the very best talent and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Our aim is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has a positive recruitment experience—regardless of the outcome.
We welcome applications from all under‑represented groups, including racially minoritised people and disabled people. It is not essential to be in Senior Specialaist Lead role right now—you may be returning from a career break (e.g., maternity, paternity, caring) or coming from another field. Your experiences can bring a fresh perspective to our work.
If you are considering applying and would like to discuss the opportunity, any adjustments or alternative work patterns, please contact Sophie Given, Head of Programme, Sophie.Given@nhs.scot.
Next Steps
NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.
All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e‑mail.
In person or online interviews Will take place on Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April 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.
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.
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 Immigration 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 licensed 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr