Head of DevOps and IT Service Delivery

Help shape the future of student funding services in Scotland by leading the technology platforms and service delivery that enable thousands of students to access the support they need.

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, is seeking a Head of DevOps and IT Service Delivery to lead a key function within our Digital team. Our mission is to provide secure, reliable and user-focused digital services that support students, colleagues and partners to access and administer student funding effectively.

In this senior leadership role, you will oversee the operational delivery of infrastructure, DevOps and IT service management capabilities, ensuring our technology ecosystem remains resilient, secure and fit for the future. You will drive continuous improvement across platforms, services and ways of working, enabling high-quality digital services that support SAAS's strategic objectives and deliver excellent outcomes for users across Scotland.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for Infrastructure, DevOps and IT Service Delivery, ensuring technology services are secure, resilient, customer-focused and aligned to organisational priorities.

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of IT Service Management (ITSM) capabilities, including incident, problem, change, release, request and performance management.

• Oversee availability, capacity and service performance, identifying risks, driving improvements and implementing effective solutions to maintain high-quality services.

• Lead, develop and inspire a multidisciplinary team of technical specialists, setting standards, policies and best practice to support effective service delivery and continual improvement.

• Drive the adoption of modern DevOps practices, emerging technologies and engineering approaches to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of digital services and delivery.

• Ensure security is embedded throughout the design, development and operation of platforms and services, mitigating risks and supporting organisational compliance requirements.

• Provide technical leadership across systems design, software engineering, infrastructure and integration activities, ensuring appropriate standards, tools and design patterns are consistently applied.

• Oversee the design, build, testing, deployment and support of technology solutions, ensuring services meet business needs and can be effectively maintained and enhanced.

• Lead the planning and coordination of system integration and testing activities, ensuring successful delivery of complex technical changes and programmes.

• Champion user-centred service delivery, working collaboratively with user researchers, delivery teams and stakeholders to ensure services meet the needs of users and the organisation.

Qualifications

Success profile:

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Experience:

• Proven experience of leading Infrastructure, DevOps and IT Service Delivery functions within a complex organisation, delivering secure, resilient and customer-focused digital services aligned to organisational objectives.

• Significant experience of developing, implementing and continuously improving IT Service Management (ITSM) capabilities, including incident, problem, change, release and service performance management.

• Demonstrable experience leading modern infrastructure and platform environments, including cloud technologies, automation and DevOps practices, driving improvements in service reliability, quality and operational efficiency.

• Strong track record of managing technology risk, resilience and compliance requirements, ensuring services remain secure, available and fit for purpose.

• Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary technical teams whilst building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, influencing decision-making and driving organisational change and continuous improvement.

Behaviours:

• Leadership – Level 4
• Making effective decisions – Level 4
• Seeing the bigger picture – Level 4
• Changing and improving – Level 4

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here:

Technical Skills:

This role is aligned to Lead DevOps Engineer job role within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will be not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Development operations (DevOps) engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.

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 Experience and Behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you’ve done that showcase your relevant experience.

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.

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Candidates will have their applications assessed against all Experience criteria at sift stage. Successful candidates will be invited to attend an Interview and Technical Assessment. The interview will further assess the Experience and Behaviours outlined in the job advert, while the Technical Assessment will evaluate the technical skills required for the role. Candidates invited to this stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack detailing the skills to be assessed and the assessment methods that will be used. Following the application sift, there may also be a short telephone interview as part of the assessment process prior to the main interview.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 30 November 2026 however this may be subject to change.

Apply before 23:59 on 22 November 2026 . This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).

Recruitment Principles:

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to the recruitment cases.

About us:

SAAS is an executive agency of the Scottish Government and responsible for assessing and paying student awards for Scottish domiciled students in Higher Education throughout the UK. We administer budgets of around £1.4 billion each year, making payments to both educational institutions and over 190,000 students a year. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.

More information on SAAS can be found on our website

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 and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. 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, and read about the Government Vetting Charter, or about all the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.

Pay supplement:

This post is part of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) profession and currently attracts a £6000 annual GDD pay supplement, which is paid monthly – pay supplements are reviewed regularly.

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.