Senior Policy Manager

Description

Job Description

Would you like an exciting opportunity to work in an interesting and relevant policy area, engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders across a wide breadth of  pharmacy related topics?

The Pharmacy Profession is entering an exciting period of change. As a Senior Policy Manager you will work on some core activities such service development, ePharmacy and digital as well as standalone projects and advise and inform pharmacy-related work led by other partners and stakeholders across Scotland.  Community pharmacies provide a range of national and local services on behalf of their Health board to meet the needs of its local population. 

Together all of these services play an important part by:

• improving healthcare access for the public as they do not need an appointment to see their pharmacist
• decreasing workload for GP and nursing colleagues therefore freeing up their time to see patients with more serious complaints
• making best use of the workforce by more fully using the skills of community pharmacists

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the data and digital workstreams that support the community pharmacy contract including the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathway, payment processing of dispensed medicines and the development and use of data to underpin service design and delivery.
• Support the development of a new community pharmacy contractual arrangement and Health Board planning framework based on the pharmaceutical care needs of local populations and that also aligns with the wider reform work.      
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to lead, deliver and maintain digital and data developments
• Support a strategic approach to developing joint working and positions to ensure pharmacy is aligned with the primary care and the wider reform programmes are to ensure an effective, person centred and integrated health and social care system.
• Responding to requests from Ministers, communications and colleagues, ensuring the development of timely and high quality briefing on relevant aspects of pharmacy policy.
• Line management of a policy manager.

Responsibilities

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

1. Participation and Engagement (Developing Level)
2. Policy Context and Purpose (Developing Level)

You can find out more about the skills required here: Policy Profession Standards Annex

Experience:

Prior experience of developing expertise within a policy area to operate credibly and effectively

Behaviours:
 

• Communicating and Influencing (Level 3)
• Working Together (Level 3)
   

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide -

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.    If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.   Assessments are scheduled for w/c 18 August 2025 however this may be subject to change.  

Qualifications
About Us

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.

About Pharmacy and Medicines Division

Our Division, which is part of the Chief Medical Officer's Directorate, is led by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Professor Alison Strath, and has responsibility for the governance of the safe, efficient and effective use of medicines in NHS Scotland and for NHS pharmaceutical practice in the community, primary care, secondary care and public health.   The Unit is headed by Head of Pharmacy Policy, a  Team Leader,  four Senior Policy Managers (one for this post), one Policy Manager and one Policy Officer.

You will work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders across the UK, including Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS), Health Boards, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), Public Health Scotland (PHS), and the other Devolved and UK Government officials to progress policy and drive forward improvement in this high profile and high priority area.

Working Pattern and Location

You will be based in St Andrew's House in Edinburgh although hybrid working will apply, however some attendance in the office and travel to meetings will be required.  The is a full-time role, but people with different working patterns are encouraged to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. 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.

 

---