The National Risk & Resilience Department (NRRD) provides a comprehensive, effective and robust organisation-wide structure for risk management, integrated emergency planning and resilience, business continuity and specialised operational response, including the Special Operations Response Teams and Community First Responders across Scotland. The Department also manages logistics and training for specialised response. We work directly with the Scottish Government and an extensive network of external organisations responsible for resilience and emergency response on a Scottish and UK level. NRRD are seeking an experienced and proactive individual, to undertake the role of North Special Operations Manager within the department. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and developing our operational capabilities within the North of Scotland Special Operations Response Team. The SORT Teams aims are aligned to Scottish Ambulance Service strategy to improve access to care, saving of life and improving health outcomes. The teams were established in 2002, initially to manage the consequences of a deliberate release of CBRNe substances and materials. Their role involves the rapid response to any incident where their scene assessment, management or clinical skills, special equipment or manpower would enhance the care of patients, particularly in the case of incidents with multiple casualties or those requiring a specialised response. SORT is constantly developing additional skills to provide direct patient care and to support partner agencies in hazardous specialised environments where such care was unavailable previously. The post-holder will be accountable for leadership, development, application of Service values and standards, clinical & performance standards and ongoing support to a high performing and specialist team to ensure that statutory and Service requirements for major / specialist incident preparation and response are achieved whilst placing clinical quality at the heart of service delivery. Reporting to and taking direction from the Head of Specialist Operations, the post holder will work in support of the NRRD Senior Leadership Team [SLT] and as a key member of the Special Operations Group [SOG]. The post will also involve effective collaboration with colleagues across the Service including other Special Operations Managers, the other emergency and statutory services, the wider NHS, local authorities, voluntary agencies and other external stakeholders and networks. We are looking for a flexible individual with a can do approach who has excellent people, leadership and analytical skills. You will have excellent communication skills, both oral and written. It is vitally important that you are be able to demonstrate the ability to work to a high standard using your own initiative and be able to provide regular briefings to senior managers within the Scottish Ambulance Service. It will also be important to adopt a visible leadership style. This role will form part of the NRRD on call operational managers rota and therefore will work an established shift pattern which will include unsocial hours and weekend working. There is also an on-call element attached to this post. Experience within Resilience, Special Operations or a similar field would be desirable. Incident, event, exercise management and operational management experience would also be advantageous. You must be computer literate and familiar with Microsoft applications and databases. The nature of the role means that you will be required to deal with sensitive information for which Security Clearance (SC) will be required. Informal enquires in respect of these posts are welcomed and should be made to Neil McDonald, Head of Specialist Operations on 0131 344 5678 or 07909 856320. NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.