Chief Executive of Education Scotland

Education Scotland has an excellent opportunity for a new Chief Executive to lead the continued transformation of the agency and create lasting change for learners and educators.
As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide exceptional national and organisational leadership and strategic direction to reshape the organisation into an increasingly confident, respected and influential public body that is ready to deliver for the future of Scottish education, with a primary focus on the curriculum.
Building trust and working collaboratively with partners and senior stakeholders across the education system. You will advise on complex issues in areas of strong public, media and political interest to deliver cultural and system level change that has a tangible and lasting impact for learners.
If you are a dynamic and visionary leader who combines strategic insight and a proven track record of delivery alongside a genuine passion for equity and excellence in education - this is your chance to make a real difference.
Inspire and articulate a compelling vision for the future of Scottish education, galvanising stakeholders across the system to embrace innovation, equity, and excellence.
Deliver cultural and system level change, through transforming the work and approach of Education Scotland, to refocus resources efficiently on its primary responsibility for leading curriculum design, improvement and innovation in Scotland.
Provide system wide strategic leadership for Scottish education, with a particular focus on curriculum, developing organisational capability, and building strategic partnerships to deliver long-term improvement.
Make the organisation's contribution to national support for improvement in Scottish education more effective, in line with the Scottish Government’s wider education reform commitments, including a collaborative approach to digital transformation across the education system.
Develop and implement a sustainable financial model for the agency, and as Accountable Officer, be personally answerable to the Scottish Parliament on the propriety, regularity, and efficient use of public finances, ensuring resources are used economically, efficiently and effectively.
An education background with practical experience and a proven track record of leading and delivering system level improvements in excellence and equity is essential.
A strong track record in delivering cultural and transformational change, using evidence-based analysis, sound judgement, and constructive challenge to enable successful outcomes.
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 500 words) that directly addresses the Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile 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.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 26 January 2025, however this may be subject to change.
Neil Rennick - DG Education & Justice
Graham Donaldson – Non Executive Director
Carol Campbell - Head of School and Personal Chair of Education
Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency. 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.
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.
The agency supports education across the span of the 3-18 Curriculum for Excellence, including in Gaelic medium and denominational education. working with local authorities to inform approaches to wellbeing, inclusion, behaviour and enabling better support for those with additional support needs.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service , with a wide range of professional backgrounds such as teaching, early learning and childcare, community learning and development and corporate services.
As Chief Executive, your contractual base will be Glasgow; you will also be required to have a visible presence across all locations, as you lead change across the organisation and wider education system.
If the post is offered on a fixed term appointment basis, the salary will be in the range of £111,916 - £121,143, depending on your skills and experience. Alongside your salary, Scottish Government offers an employer contribution of 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
Our standard hours are 37 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave.
Although you will be based in Glasgow, Education Scotland teams are located across Glasgow, Livingston, Dundee and Aberdeen, as such, you will be required to have a visible presence in all locations, as you lead change across the organisation and wider education system.
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 .
In addition to the standard pre-employment checks, this vacancy will also require all candidates to obtain National Security Vetting (NSV) at Security Check (SC) clearance level. Further information about NSV checks can be found on the UK Government website - National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.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.
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website .
If you would like further information or would like to discuss the role, please contact either Neil Rennick, Director General for Education and Justice by e-mailing dgej@gov.scot, or Clare Hicks, Director for Education Reform by e-mailing clare.