This is a rare opportunity to play a defining role in shaping the future of NHS Lothian and contributing to the wider strategic landscape of NHS Scotland. You will work at the centre of a complex, high‑impact organisation, influencing decisions that affect the health and wellbeing of nearly one million people.
About the Executive Office
Working to Executive Level in Scotland’s second largest Healthboard often means no week is the same for this team. The post holder’s responsibilities will impact on all NHS Lothian services. NHS Lothian covers Edinburgh city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian and we are one of only four teaching Boards. We have strategic partnerships with local Universities, Local Authorities and our four Integration Joint Boards. We serve a population of 900,000, providing a range of primary, community based and acute hospital services. We also provide regional and national services across a range of clinical specialties.
We believe that working together across all areas of the health service is the best way to provide care for patients. We seek to be innovative and thoughtful in our programmes of work, focusing on delivering a more streamlined, patient-centred structure which both staff and patients will benefit from.
About the role and its responsibilities
NHS Lothian is seeking an exceptional senior leader to take on the pivotal role of Director of Corporate Support and Chief of Staff. As the principal strategic adviser to the Chief Executive, you will play a critical part in shaping the strategic direction, governance, and organisational performance of one of Scotland’s largest and most complex health systems.
This role acts as a key intermediary on behalf of the Chief Executive, providing strategic insight, executive leadership, and oversight across a wide portfolio of corporate support services. You will work across NHS Lothian, emerging sub‑national structures, Scottish Government, and a diverse landscape of external partners to ensure strong governance, high‑quality decision making, and effective organisational delivery.
As a member of the Corporate Management Team, you will lead major corporate functions including Corporate Governance, Business Support, Complaints, Legal Claims, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Whistleblowing, and the Speak Up Service
You will:
Corporate Governance & Strategy:
Lead the executive design and development of the Board Assurance Framework.
Provide strategic advice to the Chief Executive, Board Chair, Board Secretary, Non‑Executive Directors and senior leaders.
Support excellence in corporate governance, internal control and risk management.
Act as a key point of contact for Scottish Government, MSPs/MPs, and senior external stakeholders.
Corporate Support Leadership:
Lead the Private Office for the Chief Executive, Chair, Deputy Chief Executive, and Executive Medical and Nurse Directors.
Provide executive oversight of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, Legal Claims, FOI/EIR, and Whistleblowing.
Oversee strategic engagement and public communications alongside the NHS Lothian Communications Team.
Strategic Programme & External Engagement:
Lead NHS Lothian’s response to major corporate issues including public inquiries, escalation processes, and high‑profile external reviews.
Establish and lead a Programme Management Team to support integration with evolving sub‑national planning structures.
Represent the Chief Executive in high‑level internal and external forums, often dealing with sensitive or politically complex matters.
Ensure the production of high‑quality reports, briefings, and papers for internal and national audiences
Location & Commitments
- The hours of this post will be worked across core office hours Monday to Friday.
- The postholder is employed within NHS Lothian, and their base will be at NHS Lothian Corporate Headquarters.
- There may be a requirement to work flexibly across Lothian to meet service demands.
Candidate Requirements
- Educated to Degree level education or equivalent senior strategic experience.
- Extensive executive-level leadership within a large, complex organisation (NHS experience strongly preferred).
- Specialist knowledge across corporate governance, health policy, legal/regulatory frameworks, performance, finance and strategic planning.
- Significant experience advising Board members and senior managers on highly political or sensitive issues.
- Evidence of success in leading multifunctional teams and influencing across organisational boundaries.
- Excellent communication skills, with a strong track record of producing high‑quality strategic reports.
- The ability to operate with discretion, independence, and sound professional judgement at all times.
Contact us
Are you looking for an exciting role and challenging role? Please reach out to us for an informal discussion to hear more about the role and what we do. Georgia.Sherratt@nhs.scot
For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification
As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.
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Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
