Description Job Description We are seeking an outstanding individual for the role of Chief Executive, Education Scotland. This is an exciting time for Scottish education as we implement significant reform to secure better outcomes for children and young people across Scotland. The Chief Executive will play a pivotal role in working with leaders across the sector to refocus the work of Education Scotland and to help strengthen the education and skills system and how it works. Education Scotland plays an important role in creating the conditions for children and young people to thrive. As part of our reform commitments, the work and approach of Education Scotland is to be transformed to strengthen national support for improvement in Scottish education, with a new primary focus on curriculum design, delivery and improvement, including the provision of resources to support high quality learning and teaching. Responsibilities Responsibilities We are therefore looking for a transformational leader who, within the context of our education and skills reform commitments, will have the creative vision required to rapidly refocus the work and approach of Education Scotland. They must ensure that it is able to drive greater improvement in Scottish education, bringing a stronger focus on curriculum design, improvement and innovation, whilst building an increasingly confident, respected and influential public body. As Chief Executive you will have responsibility for leading circa 380 employees until His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) exists in its own right. Following which, responsibility will be for circa 250/300 employees, across a range of professions (all employees are Civil Servants, some of whom have professional backgrounds in teaching, early learning and childcare, community learning and development and corporate services), working across buildings located in Livingston, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, and Aberdeen. You will provide significant national leadership, delivering professional advice, information and evidence to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials, on all aspects of education policy. Reporting to the Director General for Education and Justice, the Chief Executive is a Director within the Scottish Government, has direct line management for Education Scotland’s Senior Leadership team, which includes Senior Civil Servants, and is a member of the Director General’s senior management team. Please see the separate Candidate Pack for further information on the role. Qualifications Qualifications A professional education qualification is desirable, but not essential. Success Profile It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role. In addition, candidates applying for roles with the government, agencies and public bodies in Scotland are assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework that is used across the Civil Service. This means that as well as evidencing the specialist criteria you will also be expected to evidence the behaviours at the level required for this Senior Civil Service role. Experience An education background with practical experience and a proven track record of leading and delivering improvements in excellence and equity is essential. Experience of operating successfully at board or senior level using strong political acuity, in a complex organisation, delivering cultural and high-profile programmes of change, with a strong track record of analysing evidence and drawing on personal expertise and resilience, to provide advice that drives improvement, through challenge where necessary. Behaviours Evidence of the following behaviours is required at Level 6. Leadership Developing Self and Others Seeing the Bigger Picture Delivering at Pace Changing and Improving More information can be found at: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot (www.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. Please note that an executive search agency, Aspen People, is working with Scottish Government on this recruitment exercise. If you submit an application, your details will be shared with Aspen People and they will contact you for an initial pre-sift interview. If you are shortlisted, you will be provided with full details of the next stages of the selection and assessment process. This will include an individual psychological assessment and both staff and stakeholder engagement exercises. It may also include a recorded presentation. You will also have the opportunity to meet with Ministers and other key stakeholders prior to the final selection panel interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Final interviews are scheduled for w/c 31 March 2025, however this may be subject to change. About us Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency charged with supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education and thereby securing the delivery of better learning experiences and outcomes for Scottish learners of all ages. Education Scotland‘s chief executive is responsible to Scottish ministers, within the terms of the framework document, for its management, performance, and future development. Our status as an executive agency means that we operate independently and impartially, whilst remaining directly accountable to Scottish Government ministers for the standards of our work. This status safeguards the independence of inspection, review and reporting within the overall context of the National Performance Framework. 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 at Senior Civil Service level are 37 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If applicable, secondment from your existing employer on your current employment terms for 3 years with the possibility of extension by a further 2 years might also be considered for this 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. Apply before 9 February 2025 at 23:59