Head of Programme Management Unit

How can strategic programme management transform the delivery of Scotland’s fiscal events and ensure coherent, sustainable public finance outcomes?

The Exchequer Strategy Directorate is one of three Directorates in DG Scottish Exchequer, alongside the Directorate for Public Spending and the Directorate for Tax. The Directorate integrates a range of functions and teams, strengthening the coherence of the Exchequer’s advice, communications, stakeholder relations, and interfaces across the Scottish Government and beyond, to achieve balanced and sustainable public finances.

The Directorate is responsible for delivering both the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and the Annual Budget, as well as managing the overall funding envelope—including the fiscal framework, liaison with the Scottish Fiscal Commission and HM Treasury. It also oversees analytical services for the Exchequer (in partnership with OCEA) and fiscal policy, including the delivery of the First Minister’s commitment to issue a capital bond.

There are two Divisions:

• Fiscal Strategy and Analysis
• Budget and Fiscal Coordination (where this Unit sits)

As Head of the Programme Management Unit, you will ensure effective programme management across DG Exchequer for all fiscal events and related activity, in alignment with the PPM standards and approaches set out by the PPM Centre of Expertise (PPM-CoE). You will establish, lead, and be accountable for the effective operation of the Programme Management Office—proactively planning and deploying appropriate capability to support DG Exchequer-led activity.

A key focus of the role is driving coherence across all fiscal activity—ensuring alignment in planning, governance, Ministerial support, communications, and stakeholder engagement. It also provides the opportunity to strengthen organisational capability through the development of an effective commissioning hub, more robust risk management across fiscal events, and improved deployment of surge capacity and Expressions of Interest, enabling greater flexibility and opportunity within DGSE.

This role represents an excellent opportunity for a capable individual to drive forward coherent and consistent programme and project management (PPM) across the DG area—leading with the right tools and approaches to ensure that our programme of fiscal events is underpinned by best practice. In addition to programme management, you will also be responsible for delivering the full suite of briefing support for the Scottish Budget.

• Lead a team initially comprising 4 staff to provide leadership and ensure effective direction and delivery of programme management across all DG Exchequer-led activity. This will include PMO responsibility for planning, governance, communications, stakeholder engagement for the Scottish Budget, MTFS, Scottish Spending Review, and IiP pipeline reset. 
• Enable and support DG Exchequer to embed PPM approaches, meet the requirements and standards set out in the PPM Framework, including compliance with SPFM and champion the use of best practice within the DG. Lead coordination and engagement of DG Exchequer-led activity with the Government’s annual cycle of strategic events and publications, particularly the Programme for Government. 
• Develop the business case and resourcing capacity for tailored deployment of programme and project management support across Exchequer teams, ensuring consistency of approach and accountability that is maintained by the PMO.
• Act as senior escalation point for all Programme management issues and providing support for effective resolution. 
• Ensure a consistent approach across all fiscal events for high standards of engagement and communication with internal stakeholders, including in particular with Ministers and Executive Team.  
• Develop and deliver a broader central coordination and engagement function for the Scottish Exchequer, including delivering a new commissioning hub.
• Ensure effective resource management for PMO function, identify and address business and skills needs over course of year, promote opportunities across Scottish Government for involvement in delivery of fiscal events.  Ensure a positive and collaborative working environment.  
• Ensure compliance of fiscal events with all legal, regulatory and parliamentary requirements, including engaging with specialist colleagues where appropriate.  
• Apply learning and drive improvement in what fiscal events achieve, how they are managed, coordinated and delivered to drive greater impact. This will include leading the budget improvement process.
• Lead the effective delivery and continuous improvement of the Scottish Budget FMQ, ensuring that all key issues are appropriately identified and reflected in briefing, including monitoring of parliamentary and media activity.
• Flexibly support other Divisional and Directorate priorities as required

Qualifications: 

• The role holder should have or be willing to work towards a professional level qualification, such as APM’s PMQ/MoP or Axelos’ P3O qualifications, with relevant CPD being kept up to date. 

Success Profile

Technical/Professional Capabilities

• Governance (expert)
• Resource management (expert)
• Risk and issues management (expert)
• Assurance (practitioner)

For more information on these see here; 6.7775_IPA_Project Delivery Capability Framework 2021 Refresh sample pages

Experience:

• The Head of Programme Management Unit should have experience of working in a PMO supporting the delivery and implementation of major programmes and projects in senior leadership positions. The role holder requires extensive experience and knowledge of PPM. 
• The role holder should be able to demonstrate engagement and influencing - at all levels up to Ministerial level - in order to provide the necessary leadership and to assimilate and present complex information. Experience of senior leadership/membership across different governance arrangements is required.
• Experience of working in a fast paced programme management and policy environment that matches resources to competing priorities; managing risk effectively. 

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing - Level 4 
• Working Together - Level 4 

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

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, 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. 

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week.  We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for,  please contact us.

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.