Scottish Government
Head of IT Service Management
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Job Description
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA)
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) administers pensions for Scottish Teachers, Police, Firefighters' and National Health Service employees on behalf of the Scottish Government. We're responsible for protecting the financial futures of over half a million people, that’s around 1 in 10 people in Scotland.
If you’re looking for meaningful work, a supportive environment and a career with purpose, you’ll find it at the SPPA.
Our office is based in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders, the train station is a short two minute walk away and offers regular services to and from Edinburgh Waverley, making it a convenient and well connected location for commuters. The surrounding area offers access to green space, walking routes and a strong sense of local community, supporting wellbeing both in and outside of work.
Our modern office building is designed to support flexible and collaborative working, with spaces for teamwork, quiet focus and hybrid working. Colleagues benefit from a comfortable, welcoming environment that reflects our commitment to wellbeing and inclusion.
Head of IT and Security Management
As Head of IT and Security Management, you will lead SPPA's IT service management, cyber security, technical architecture and operational technology functions, ensuring the delivery of secure, resilient and high-performing technology services. You will provide strategic leadership to specialist teams and suppliers, driving continuous improvement in service delivery, technology governance and supplier performance. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will shape the development of SPPA's technology estate, ensuring it remains aligned to organisational priorities and supports the delivery of effective, innovative and customer-focused
Your role will involve providing strategic leadership for SPPA's technology and cyber security services, ensuring they remain secure, resilient and aligned to organisational priorities while driving continuous improvement and digital transformation.
Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate and develop multidisciplinary technical teams to deliver and continuously improve IT services, ensuring customer-focused outcomes that meet business needs and deliver measurable results
- Provide strategic leadership for cyber security, information security governance and operational resilience
- Oversee cloud infrastructure, technical architecture and service management disciplines across SPPA.
- Manage internal technology teams and third-party suppliers, ensuring appropriate capacity, capability and governance arrangements are in place.
- Establish and maintain effective IT governance frameworks, policies and standards covering service management, cyber security and technology operations.
- Act as the senior escalation point for major incidents, technology risks and security matters.
- Lead the technical design and governance of systems and services, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient and aligned to enterprise standards.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and provide expert advice on technology, service management and cyber security matters.
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.
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Technical / Professional Skills:
- DDaT Asset and Configuration Management - Expert
- Business Analysis (IT Operations) - Practitioner
- Continual Service Improvement - Practitioner
- IT Service Reporting - Practitioner
- Ownership and Initiative - Practitioner
- Service Management Framework Knowledge - Expert
You can find out more about the skills required, here [https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/it-service-manager#head-of-it-service-management]
You should be able to operate at Expert & Practitioner level against the above 6 technical elements. These will not be assessed at sift stage. These will be assessed as part of the technical assessment if invited to interview.
Experience
- Extensive experience leading multi-team and supplier IT service delivery functions using ITIL or equivalent service management frameworks.
- Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering operational IT services in a complex environment.
- Experience of leading cyber security, information security governance and risk management activities.
Behaviours:
- Leadership – Level 4
- Making Effective Decisions – Level 4
Find out more about Success Profiles [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/pages/behaviours/]
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 750 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.
An initial sift will be conducted using the CV and supporting statement on the Experience criteria as listed above.
Stage two (interview and assessment): If successful at application sift, you will be invited to interview and assessment where we will test all criteria listed above. All the behaviours, experiences and technical elements outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed at this stage
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance [https://Introduction - Recruitment: candidate guide - gov.scot] for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in-person interview and presentation at the SPPA office in Tweedbank.
Sifting will commence from w/c 21st September 2026.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 5th October 2026, however this may be subject to change.
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
About us
At the SPPA, we are committed to The Fair Work Framework [https://fairworkconvention.scot/the-fair-work-framework/]
This means offering:
- Security and stability
- Flexible and hybrid working options
- Opportunities to learn and develop
- A respectful and inclusive working environment
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
At SPPA we want our workforce to be representative of Scottish society and we strive to be a workplace where people are welcomed and valued for the contribution they make.
We support flexible working and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, including those starting their careers, changing careers, or returning to work.
We are committed to removing any barriers to applying for our jobs and aim to offer support and make reasonable adjustments to allow full participation in the recruitment process.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service [https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/about-us/] observing the Civil Service Code [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-code/the-civil-service-code] and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/what-we-offer].
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/nationality-requirements/].
You can also find out more about careers at the SPPA here - SPPA Careers | SPPA (pensions.gov.scot [https://pensions.gov.scot/about-us/sppa-careers])
Working pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide [https://Introduction - Recruitment: candidate guide - gov.scot].
Sponsorship
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
We will hold a reserve list for this post for 12 months.
(C Band) Leadership capabilities will be assessed during the interview process, and further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates
Apply Before
20 September 2026 (23:59)
This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only. (internal & OGD)
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