Deputy Head of Policy and Engagement

Starting salary:52150
Contract type:Fixed Term
Grade:5
Location:Longmore House (with hybrid working)
Working Hours:Monday - Friday 35 hours per week
Interviews:To be held in person at Longmore House Edinburgh on Wednesday 15 April 2026.

As the Deputy Head of Policy and Engagement you will be responsible for planning delivering and governing programmes that support our strategic plan while driving continuous improvement across processes systems and ways of working. You will provide leadership structure and assurance to ensure benefits are realised performance is optimised and a culture of effective project management and business improvement is embedded in our work.

You will lead a digital improvement project and lead on strategic business improvements across our functions. You will also focus on strengthening how the Directorate plans project management and delivery across the Directorate ensuring our work remains high quality efficient future ready and aligned with organisational priorities.

For more information about the post and information about the team please access the full job descriptionherefor this post. Please note that if you dont have Office 365 installed on your device this can be opened using your browser.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

As the successful candidate you will work within the Heritage Policy and Engagement teamto support the strategic delivery and continuous improvement of the Heritage Directorates operations by overseeing performance improvement project governance strategic planning and business transformation initiatives. The role also provides leadership in aligning directorate objectives with corporate strategy and ensuring effective delivery of our services.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Planning and Programme Management

• Lead the endtoend delivery by colleagues of multidisciplinary projects aligned to our priorities and lead the delivery of our digital improvements project with input from across our teams.

• Work closely with project managers across the Directorate to ensure that we have the right skills in the right places and embed project management skills and reporting cycles.

• Oversee our programmes and projects ensuringeffective programme plans roadmaps milestones risk management budget management dependencies and governance structures are in place .

• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership steering groups and key stakeholders and develop and maintain systems for monitoring and reporting on our services.

• Work closely with project managers to monitor progress ensure compliance with strategic objectives and resolve delivery challenges.

• Use your expertise to deliver efficiencies and ways of working to increase capacity and outputs and ensure our projects deliver measurable benefits and positive outcomes.

1. Business Improvement and Transformation

• Lead the delivery of our programme of existing business improvement work by engaging and monitoring other teams to deliver their projects.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes reduce inefficiencies and improve service delivery.
• Lead lean/continuous improvement initiatives using recognised methods (Lean Kaizen Six Sigma).
• Analyse workflows and systems to recommend changes that enhance productivity.
• Support cultural change and promote a continuous improvement mindset across teams.
• Embed new processes and ensure improvements are measurable and sustained.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across the Directorate to support programme delivery and change adoption by colleagues.
• Communicate progress risks and decisions clearly.

1. Strategic Planning

• Work with our Heritage Business Manager and Heritage Business Planning and Development Officer to support development of our Directorates strategic plans.
• Contribute to the strategic use of data and insights to inform heritage service delivery and resource allocation.

1. Performance Leadership compliance and governance

• Deputise for the Head of Policy and Engagement when required.
• Line manage the Heritage Policy and Engagement Officer.
• Represent the Directorate in internal governance forums and working groups including the Project Management Office Board.
• Provide direction to project managers and delivery teams.
• Mentor project management staff across the directorate and develop capability in programme management and improvement methodologies.
• Foster a positive collaborative and delivery focused team culture.
• Ensure business improvement initiatives comply with HESs legal ethical and environmental obligations.
• Ensure programmes and projects comply with organisational policy procurement rules and audit requirements.
• Monitor performance using benefits tracking and quality measures.

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1200 words) using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life home life education or volunteer experience.Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidancefirst before completing as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential:

• Strong programme or project leadership experience with a proven track record of delivering multiple programmes and projects

• Experience leading business transformation and/or continuous improvement activity with expertise in business improvement methodologies (Lean Six Sigma or equivalent)

• Excellent analytical problem solving and process mapping skills

• Ability to lead change influence colleagues and manage resistance

• Financial acumen and ability to manage budgets

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Strong organisation prioritisation and time management capability

• SCQF level 10 in a relevant subject

Find out more aboutdesirableskills and experience in our full job description here

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds regardless of age race gender or gender identity religious beliefs marital status sexual orientation disability or support of our Gaelic Language Plan we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format please reach out to us via email ator call our Head Office at 0 and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that at this time we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.

To submit your application online please read our How to Apply followed by Apply Now button to begin your application.