Director General Exchequer, Strategy and Performance

The Scottish Government (SG) is seeking a dynamic Director General Exchequer, Strategy and Performance (DG ESP) to develop and embed the role of the strategic centre of the Scottish Government. This is a new DG post, created following the merger of the former roles of DG Strategy and External Affairs and DG Scottish Exchequer. Organisational design work remains ongoing, and as a result some current responsibilities may be subject to change. The appointed post holder will contribute to shaping the final role design.

This is a role for a leader who can inspire and enable change, build high-performing teams, and foster collaboration across boundaries. You will work closely with Ministers, the Executive Team, Non-Executive Directors, and senior leaders within and beyond Scotland.

You will lead a diverse team of Directors and oversee a workforce of approximately 600 staff and a budget of around £500 million. You will provide leadership on Strategy, Performance, Operational Delivery and Public Service Reform and Transformation, as well as providing advice to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance on a range of key fiscal events including the Scottish Government’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, Tax Strategy, annual Budget setting, infrastructure planning, public sector pay policy, and longer-term fiscal risk strategy and management. These areas underpin the Scottish Government’s ability to deliver its priorities in a fiscally sustainable way and to ensure strategic and fiscal credibility on the international stage.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future Scottish Government’s strategic priorities, providing evidence-based advice to Ministers on fiscal, budgetary and policy matters within your portfolio. You will have leadership accountability for the future development and oversight of the National Performance Framework.

As part of the Executive Team, you will have specific corporate roles, including acting as a Champion of our diversity and inclusion agenda. You will be a member of the Corporate Board, which brings together the Executive Team with our Non-Executive Directors, and you will play a key leadership role in our wider Corporate Governance System working closely with Director General Corporate/Chief Operating Officer at the heart of government.

Responsibilities

The key purpose of this role is to support Ministers and the Permanent Secretary in setting the strategic direction for the medium to long term while managing the short term, supporting delivery and maintaining oversight and accountability. As the DG responsible for the Exchequer functions of the Scottish Government, the aim is to achieve a fiscally sustainable Scotland through the key financial levers of government around public finances, fiscal policy, taxation and public spending. You will lead strategic and operational transformation through a time of significant complexity and ambiguity, including Scottish Parliament elections, a rapidly moving constitutional and international context and an ambitious programme of delivery and organisational change.

The DG ESP currently leads directorates responsible for:

• Advising on fiscal policy to support strategic, fiscally sustainable decision making and how best to grow and protect Scotland’s tax revenues.
• Driving long-term public value to achieve the priority outcomes for Scotland from public spending and investment.
• Support for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in relation to cross-government strategy and their programme for government.
• Support for Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to deliver for the portfolio: a particularly high priority at present, given the volatility of international events. Provide policy and delivery support for Ministers in relation to culture.
• Performance, delivery and resilience across government, including the operation of the Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) supporting Ministers during civil contingencies and related incidents.
• The constitution including the Scotland Act 1998, and relationships between the Scottish Government and other UK administrations.
• The Scottish Government’s relationships with governments and institutions in Europe and the rest of the world, including through an international network of representative offices and the Scottish Government’s international development programme.
• Public service reform focused on ensuring the cross-Government endeavour to accelerate our progress towards the creation of person-centred, outcome focused public services.
• The drafting of primary legislation by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Key Priority Areas

Reporting directly to the Permanent Secretary, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership to 600 staff across the current portfolio, ensuring that strategy, delivery and the Scottish Government’s approach to fiscal and budgetary matters are fully aligned with the National Performance Framework and Government priorities including Public Service Reform.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, inclusive team, fostering a culture of kindness, resilience, accessibility and adaptability.
• Build and maintain strong and trusted relationships with the Chairs and Chief Executives of: Scotland’s tax authority (Revenue Scotland), the Scottish Futures Trust, Scotland’s independent fiscal institution (the Scottish Fiscal Commission), Audit Scotland and the National Records of Scotland.
• Lead key interactions with HM Treasury, HMRC, other UK Government Departments and other Devolved Administrations.
• Be responsible for the Corporate Governance System drawing on the support and challenge of Non-Executive Directors.
• Work with staff networks, trade unions and wider organisation to promote and champion diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. Supporting senior colleagues in their roles as Allies and Champions supporting and advocating for meaningful diversity staff network activity.
• Act as Senior Responsible Officer for the Public Service Reform agenda, championing leadership of the programme across the wider public sector landscape in Scotland.