SAF and Customer Team Lead in Edinburgh

Drive improvement. Deliver impact. Support rural Scotland. Join the Direct Payments Scheme Management Team and help shape the services that matter to Scotland's farmers, crofters and land managers. As part of the Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), you'll play a key role in delivering rural support schemes and payments across Scotland. In this varied and influential role, you'll work closely with operational, policy and digital colleagues to coordinate business processes, support service delivery and ensure key priorities are delivered effectively. You'll build strong relationships across the division, manage stakeholder engagement, help resolve emerging issues and contribute to the ongoing development of efficient and customer-focused ways of working. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience, develop your leadership skills and take ownership of high-profile areas of work. Working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, you'll help shape how services are delivered and support the division's response to future challenges and opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively across the division and with policy and digital colleagues to support the implementation and delivery of current and future rural support payments and land management policies.
• Provide high-quality advice and support to Deputy Directors and Senior Management Teams, enabling informed decision-making and supporting operational resilience.
• Lead the planning and delivery of key priorities and activities across the SAF and Customer Team.
• Ensure scheme rules, guidance and procedures are applied consistently across rural support payment schemes and delivery mechanisms.
• Identify opportunities for service improvement that support the Vision for Agriculture, developing evidence-based business cases to drive change.
• Provide expert guidance and advice on rural support.
• Deliver clear, accurate and timely briefings, submissions and advice to Ministers and senior leaders on matters relating to the team's work.
• Draft and coordinate Ministerial correspondence, parliamentary briefings and other high-profile communications as required.
• Undertake line management responsibilities, supporting staff development, wellbeing and performance.

Qualifications:

• Technical / Professional Skills: Adaptability to change – Working level; Operational leadership and management – Working level; Data and insight – Working level.
• Experience: Experience of working with rural support schemes and the operational systems that support their delivery.
• Behaviours: Making effective decisions – Level 3; Communicating and influencing – Level 3.

How to apply:

Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 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. 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.

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. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 21 September 2026 however this may be subject to change. Apply before 23:59 on 6 September 2026. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).

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: The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, observing 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.

Working pattern: Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location.

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).

Equality statement: We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Further information: Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.