Expressions of interest are invited from substantive Deputy Directors on a level move basis; applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees and those under Common Citizenship only.

As Deputy Director, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Eradicating Child Poverty remains a central priority across Government across portfolios. You will build strong and credible relationships across Government, working closely with Ministers, senior leaders and a diverse range of stakeholders to shape priorities, influence decisions and drive delivery.

As Programme Director for the Scottish Government's Child Poverty Programme, you will provide leadership for delivery of the final Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan Bringing Hope, Building Futures, ensuring effective governance, assurance and stakeholder engagement arrangements are in place to support successful delivery and maximise impact.

A key responsibility of the role will be leading the Division's contribution to Bringing Hope, Building Futures, which provides the strategic framework for accelerating progress towards the eradication of child poverty in Scotland over the coming years. You will also lead sponsorship arrangements for the Poverty and Inequality Commission.

You can expect regular engagement with the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers across a wide range of policy portfolios alongside a high degree of senior external stakeholder interest.

This is a highly visible and influential leadership role at the centre of one of the Scottish Government's most significant cross-cutting policy agendas. It combines policy leadership, programme delivery, strategic stakeholder engagement, sponsorship and financial stewardship. Success in the role will require exceptional collaborative leadership; sound judgement; political awareness; prioritisation and the ability to deliver results through influence across organisational boundaries.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Tackling Child Poverty Division, setting a clear direction and creating the conditions for teams to deliver excellent outcomes in a complex and high-profile policy environment.
• Act as Programme Director for the Scottish Government's child poverty programme, leading delivery of Bringing Hope, Building Futures and ensuring effective governance, assurance and performance management arrangements are in place.
• Oversee the review of the types of child poverty targets established under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017, ensuring delivery of a robust review informed by evidence, expert advice and stakeholder engagement and preparation for future legislation.
• Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with Ministers, senior leaders, local government, health, the third sector, delivery partners and people with lived experience to influence policy development, strengthen delivery and secure collective action.
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure child poverty priorities are effectively reflected within the delivery of the Programme for Government, Budget processes and the wider Scottish Government performance framework.
• Act as senior sponsor for the Poverty and Inequality Commission, ensuring effective governance, constructive relationships and continuous improvement in sponsorship arrangements and leading efforts on public service reform in relation to child poverty.
• Exercise strong financial leadership and stewardship of significant public resources, ensuring effective budget management, value for money and delivery of agreed outcomes.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, resilient and inclusive Division, ensuring staff have clear objectives, opportunities for development and the support needed to perform at their best.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion in leadership, policy development and delivery, ensuring the experiences of priority families and people with lived experience inform decision-making.
• As a member of the Directorate Senior Management Team, contribute to the collective leadership of the Directorate, supporting organisational resilience, high-quality performance, risk, financial and people management, and deputising for the Director when required.