Digital and Infrastructure Manager in Edinburgh

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Business Area/Directorate - More Homes Scotland

Location – Glasgow and Edinburgh

Working Arrangement – We operate a hybrid working model, with all colleagues expected to spend a minimum of two days per week in an office location. The Programme Team meet weekly in person, alternating between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Grade - C1

Advert type - Level Transfer

Duration - 18 months with the possibility of extension

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from C1 colleagues on level transfer. 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.

Overview: More Homes Scotland is being established as a new Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, in response to the scale and urgency of Scotland’s housing challenges and the need for a stronger, more delivery focused approach to housing supply. The creation of More Homes Scotland reflects a commitment to address these challenges by simplifying how housing delivery is supported, strengthening operational focus, and enabling greater scale and speed of delivery across all tenures.

To support the move from programme design to implementation, a dedicated, time-limited Transition Team has been established. The Transition Team’s primary goal is to design, coordinate and oversee the establishment of More Homes Scotland, ensuring the agency is set up in a coherent, well governed and deliverable way.

The team will:

• Develop the agency’s Target Operating Model, clarifying its core functions, roles and ways of working
• Coordinate governance, assurance, finance and resourcing actively to ensure readiness for implementation
• Support informed Ministerial decision making and alignment with wider public service reform objectives
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Scottish Government and with stakeholders to draw on delivery expertise and share the agency’s design

The Transition Team will play a critical role in ensuring More Homes Scotland is positioned to move confidently into its next phase, with clear purpose, strong foundations and a shared understanding of how it will operate and add value.

Role Purpose: The Digital & Infrastructure Manager is the senior lead responsible for the Digital & Infrastructure workstream within the More Homes Scotland Transition Programme. The postholder will lead the design, development and implementation of the digital, technology and infrastructure arrangements required to establish More Homes Scotland as a new Executive Agency, ensuring the agency is digitally enabled, operationally ready and equipped to deliver its objectives from launch.

Working across the Transition Team and in partnership with Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology services and other key stakeholders, the role will provide strategic leadership on digital services, infrastructure, service design and technology delivery. The postholder will oversee the development of the agency's digital operating model, lead significant digital implementation activity, manage allocated resources and budgets, and ensure digital workstreams are effectively integrated into wider organisational design and delivery.

The role exercises significant autonomy and influence, providing strategic advice and recommendations to senior leaders on digital investment, technology solutions, service readiness and implementation priorities, and is accountable for ensuring digital and infrastructure arrangements support the successful transition from programme design to operational delivery.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Digital & Infrastructure workstream within the More Homes Scotland Transition Programme, with accountability for the successful design, development and implementation of the agency's digital and technology arrangements from design through to operational delivery.
• Act as the senior lead for all digital, infrastructure and technology-related aspects of agency transition, ensuring digital considerations are fully integrated into organisational design, governance, workforce planning and operational readiness.
• Establish the digital operating model for More Homes Scotland, recommending future governance, service management, support and delivery arrangements to ensure the agency is equipped for long-term success.
• Lead the development and implementation of the agency's digital and infrastructure roadmap, agreeing priorities, milestones and dependencies across multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Hold responsibility for allocated programme budgets and digital investment associated with transition activity, ensuring effective financial management, value for money, robust governance and accurate forecasting.
• Lead engagement and negotiation with Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology colleagues and other key delivery partners to secure the systems, services, infrastructure and support arrangements required for agency launch.
• Oversee the specification, design, procurement and implementation of digital systems, platforms and infrastructure required to support the agency's operational model and future service delivery.
• Provide expert strategic advice and recommendations to the Programme Director, Senior Responsible Owner and senior leaders on digital strategy, infrastructure investment, technology risks and delivery options, shaping key organisational decisions.
• Lead the planning and delivery of the transition of digital assets, services and infrastructure from existing Scottish Government arrangements to More Homes Scotland, ensuring continuity of service and operational resilience.
• Establish governance, assurance and risk management arrangements for digital and infrastructure activity, ensuring compliance with Scottish Government standards, security requirements and audit expectations.
• Act as the senior owner for digital readiness across the transition programme, providing assurance to programme governance boards that systems, infrastructure, processes and capabilities are in place to support agency launch.
• Represent the programme at senior cross-government forums and stakeholder engagements on matters relating to digital delivery, infrastructure, technology and organisational readiness.
• Identify and resolve complex strategic issues, risks and interdependencies that could affect the successful establishment of More Homes Scotland, exercising significant autonomy and judgement in developing solutions and recommendations.
• Provide leadership and management to staff, contractors or specialist resources supporting digital and infrastructure delivery, building capability and ensuring delivery of programme priorities.
• Work flexibly across the Transition Team, responding to evolving priorities and supporting delivery in a fast-paced and high-profile environment.

Qualifications:

Success Profiles: Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience/Essential Criteria:

• Experience of leading digital or infrastructure delivery within a complex organisational or programme environment, including overseeing the development of systems, platforms or user-facing digital services (e.g. websites or digital channels).
• Experience of working with digital, data and technology specialists to design and implement solutions aligned to organisational standards, including accessibility, security and architecture requirements.
• Demonstrable experience of shaping digital strategy or approaches, translating organisational needs into practical, user-centred digital services and infrastructure.
• Experience of engaging and influencing a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, to agree requirements, manage competing priorities and support delivery of digital outcomes.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Level 4
• Communicating & Influencing – Level 4
• Working Together – Level 4
• Delivering at Pace – Level 4

Team Working Arrangements: We operate a hybrid working model, with all colleagues expected to spend a minimum of two days per week in an office location. The Programme Team meet weekly in person, alternating between Glasgow and Edinburgh. These sessions are an important forum for collaboration, collective problem-solving and maintaining pace of delivery. Team members are therefore encouraged to attend regularly, recognising the value these meetings bring in ensuring alignment across workstreams and supporting effective programme delivery.

The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.

Further Information: Further information about this opportunity is available from MoreHomesScotlandAgencyTeam@gov.scot

How to Apply: Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 1000 words) setting out:

• how your previous experience or skills align to the essential criteria in no more than 1,000 words
• your substantive grade
• confirmation that you have discussed the opportunity with your manager or director, and they would release you within the expected four-week period if your application were successful.

Vacancies close at 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.

Interviews: Interviews to be confirmed.

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 audio interview with the recruiting manager and another panel member. They will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the opportunity.