NHS Scotland
Deputy Chief Inspector
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Deputy Chief Inspector (Ref: 254045)
Permanent, Full-Time: 36 Hours per Week
Band 8C (£90,808 - £97,338)
Edinburgh/Glasgow: Hybrid working will apply for the foreseeable future
This is an exciting opportunity to take on a unique, significant and high-profile national leadership role at Healthcare Improvement Scotland. As Deputy Chief Inspector, you will work closely with the Chief Inspector to provide senior leadership, strategic support and operational direction for national inspection and assurance activity, helping to ensure that external quality assurance is independent, robust and proportionate, and supports measurable improvement in the quality, safety and experience of health and care in Scotland.
Working within Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s strategic framework, the post holder will lead designated assurance programmes and contribute to the planning, coordination and delivery of national inspection activity across NHS services and wider health and care settings. The role provides a critical link between the operational programme leadership responsibilities of Heads of Service and the broader strategic and corporate accountabilities of the Chief Inspector.
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The Deputy Chief Inspector will be expected to act on behalf of the Chief Inspector when required. This will include taking timely decisions, within agreed governance arrangements, in relation to inspection priorities, escalation of significant concerns, stakeholder engagement, urgent briefing material and the communication of material assurance findings where public protection, service continuity or organisational continuity requires this.
The role requires a visible and credible leadership presence, with the ability to operate confidently with senior clinical and managerial leaders, build confidence and trust across professional and agency boundaries, and provide visible senior leadership in complex, politically sensitive and rapidly evolving environments.
We are looking for a registered healthcare professional with active professional registration, extensive senior level experience at Band 8b or above, and highly developed professional knowledge of healthcare quality, safety, governance and assurance. The successful candidate will bring experience of leading complex inspection, scrutiny or assurance activity, with the ability to make critical judgements in complex, high-risk and ambiguous contexts.
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They will have highly effective communication, influencing and interpersonal skills, with a strong track record of building and sustaining constructive working relationships with senior stakeholders, partner scrutiny bodies and professional networks. They will be able to convey sensitive and complex assurance findings clearly, support engagement and cooperation, and use evidence persuasively to inform action and improvement.
You can read more about the role, and about our inspection work, in the attached job description and on our website: Inspections, reviews and regulation – Healthcare Improvement Scotland
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact: Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector: donna.maclean6@nhs.scot
Interviews are expected to be held on: 2 October 2026
Closing date: Midnight on 6th September 2026
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