Organisational Design and Development Manager - Social Security Scotland

Do you want to step into a pivotal role where your contribution can influence our people, our performance culture and shape the future of Social Security Scotland?

We're looking for an Organisational Design and Development Manager to join our Organisational Design and Development (OD&D) team at an exciting stage in our journey as we move from a period of growth towards greater organisational effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.

In this role, you will partner with senior leaders to apply organisation design and development principles and practices to improve organisational performance, effectiveness and service delivery. Using a systems-thinking approach, you will design and implement solutions that shape structures, operating models, ways of working, leadership, culture, and capability, ensuring the organisation is equipped to deliver its strategic priorities.

You will lead and support a range of OD&D interventions, providing expert advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders while helping teams navigate change and address complex organisational challenges.

We are looking for someone who is curious, confident, and proactive, with strong communication and stakeholder management skills. You'll be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, using evidence, insight, and organisation design expertise to identify opportunities for improvement and deliver impactful, sustainable change that improves outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside the Organisational Design and Development Lead to shape, deliver and embed organisational design and development initiatives that improve organisational effectiveness, service delivery and performance.
  
• Lead the design and implementation of new organisational structures, ways of working and target operating models to deliver improved organisational outcomes.
  
• Contribute to the development and evolution of the organisation’s Approach to Performance, collaborating with stakeholders to design solutions that address challenges such as embedding a sustainable performance culture.
  
• Support leadership development that strengthens capability, drives delivery of the organisation’s objectives and shapes our organisational culture.
  
• Partner with HR Business Partners and colleagues across People and Place, alongside divisional leadership teams, to provide timely, high-quality consultancy on leadership and strategic capability development.
  
• Build strong, influential relationships with senior leaders to understand business needs and translate them into practical, impactful Organisation Design and Development solutions.
  
• Line manage a small team of consultants responsible for designing, developing and delivering high-quality, flexible and accessible leadership and strategic capability learning interventions.
  
• Provide clear, evidence-based advice on organisational impacts, risks and opportunities to inform strategic decision-making.
  
• Build internal capability in organisation design through coaching, training and toolkits. Contribute to the Civil Service OD&D community and share best practices.

Qualifications
Professional qualification in Organisation Design, HR, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience:

1. Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
   
2. Building trusted, influential relationships with senior leaders to understand their needs and deliver responsive design solutions.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Level 3
• Leadership – Level 3
• Changing and Improving – Level 3
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

Technical / Professional Skills:

Organisational Development and Design:

• Uses diagnostic methods (e.g. data analysis, interviews, focus groups, surveys) to assess the effectiveness of current design and to agree target design criteria.
• Applies a systematic process and approach to designing future operating models, teams, structures, and jobs.
• Develops and manages change implementation programmes and plans, engaging leaders, staff and stakeholders (doing with, not to).
• Consultancy skills and the ability to establish high support-high challenge relationships with leaders, and facilitate group processes to achieve outcomes.
• Understands learning theory and how to design, facilitate and evaluate learning plans and processes that apply different L&D approaches.
• Understands how to create a learning culture and environment that supports continuing professional development.

For more information on the above Technical Skills, please refer to the CIPD Profession Map.

How to Apply
Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the Success Profiles noted above.

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.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

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

Please note, we aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Information Session

We will be hosting an online candidate information session for this role to provide you with information about the application and interview process, as well as further information on the role and team.

The session will be held on 7th October at 12:00 - 13:00.

Please join us using the link below:



Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift - week commencing 12th October 2026
Interview – week commencing 26th October 2026
Location - In Person at 220 High Street, Glasgow

Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here.

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 and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

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).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality Statement
Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Right to Work in the UK
Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice at Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission.

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at [email protected] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

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.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via [email protected].

Apply before 23:55 on Monday 12th October 2026

Contact Name - Emma Jones
Contact email – [email protected]