Scottish Government
Interim Chief Executive of More Homes Scotland Agency
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Job Description
Expressions of interest are invited for the role of Interim Chief Executive of More Homes Scotland Agency for internal and OGD substantive Directors only.
The Interim Chief Executive will begin the transformation of housing delivery through the new More Homes Scotland Agency for the first year of operation which is a critical moment for Scotland’s housing system. The role offers a unique opportunity to support Ministers in delivering their core priorities of ending homelessness and reducing the number of children living in temporary accommodation, by accelerating the delivery of high-quality homes across all tenures. This role will also be central to realising the agency’s contribution to Scotland’s economic growth—using housing delivery as a catalyst to stimulate investment, support jobs and skills, and strengthen regional economies.
In 2024, Scotland declared a national housing emergency following multiple local housing emergencies. Since then, progress has been made with partners to remove blockages in delivery—bringing stalled sites forward, addressing voids, enabling acquisitions, and supporting tenure “flips.” Meeting the scale of the challenge requires systemic change. The agency will play a key role in aligning housing delivery with wider economic priorities, recognising the significant potential of housing investment to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
At its heart, this role is about improving lives—ensuring more people across Scotland have access to safe, secure and high-quality homes and the stability that comes with them.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Role and Key Responsibilities
- Lead the agency through its transition from go live to full operational maturity and handing the agency over to a permanent Chief Executive who will be responsible for full organisational and delivery responsibilities.
- Introduce the operational vision for More Homes Scotland that will deliver Ministerial priorities to increase the scale and pace of new home delivery across all tenures in Scotland.
- Be accountable for the effective transition and on-going delivery of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, supporting the Scottish Government’s ambition for high quality social and affordable housing by delivering 110,000 homes by 2032.
- Ensure that the agency’s strategic approach to housing delivery actively contributes to Scotland’s economic growth, including through investment, job creation, skills development and strengthening regional economies.
- Provide leadership across national, regional and local partners to support the delivery of more homes.
- Build credibility, confidence and momentum across the sector—acting as a unifying and trusted voice that unlocks collaboration, flexibility innovation and long-term commitment to Scotland’s housing ambitions.
- Maintain and strengthen public confidence through establishing transparent, compelling and accessible reporting—telling a clear story of progress, impact and the difference made to people’s lives, reporting on progress against the 110,000 homes target and wider housing delivery metrics.
- Act as Accountable Officer, ensuring robust governance, assurance, financial stewardship and value for money in the delivery of major capital programmes.
- Provide strong, visible and inspirational leadership to around 150 staff based in Edinburgh, Glasgow and regional offices across Scotland, creating a high trust, high performance culture where colleagues feel supported and connected to the agency’s mission and impact and empowered to deliver it.
- Champion diversity, inclusion, wellbeing and continuous professional development, while leading workforce planning, talent development and succession planning to build long-term organisational capability
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QUALIFICATIONS
Location
The role will be based in Edinburgh/Glasgow and involves regular travel to More Homes Scotland regional offices across the country and to partner organisations. While the post is primarily office based, hybrid working arrangements may be available in line with business and operational requirements.
Applicants on any working patterns are welcome to apply for this post. If you are interested in applying on a job-share basis, please make clear in your expression of interest if you wish to be considered as a pre-existing job-share partnership or if you are interested in moving into a job-share arrangement. We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for the post and discuss all options with candidates. You can find guidance on applying for SCS roles as a job sharer, whether you have a job share partner or not, here.
Our standard hours are 37 hours per week, and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Person Specification
Experience:
- Proven track record of leading large, complex organisations through strategic transformation and cultural change, delivering measurable improvements in performance and outcomes.
- Significant experience of operational delivery, overseeing major capital and infrastructure programmes with a deep understanding of governance, accountability, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
- Exceptional financial and commercial acumen, ensuring effective stewardship of significant budgets and resources. High personal resilience to operate in a highly scrutinised and high-profile environment.
- Highly effective influencing skills, communication and political awareness with the personal credibility to gain the trust of a diverse range of senior stakeholders within and outside of government.
- Experience of working in or within Housing is beneficial but not essential to this role. You must be able to demonstrate how your skills can apply in leadership of complex custodial settings.
Get help with your application
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It is essential that you can provide evidence of the following 5 behaviours:
Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours
Further Information
Further information about this opportunity is available from Annabel Turpie - DirectorforHousing@gov.scot
The expression of interest, which should be no longer than 1,500 words, should explain why this would be a great opportunity for you at this stage in your career and what you would bring to the role. The note should confirm that you have discussed the opportunity with your Director and that they would be content to release you if the application is successful. Please apply for this position through Oracle.
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://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/] for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
Selection Process
The selection process will be short and light touch. Candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to an informal discussion with the recruiting manager and another Director on w/c 26 October. They will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the opportunity.
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