People Services Manager

The Scottish Government provided pay range

This range is provided by The Scottish Government. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Are you an experienced people leader ready to drive meaningful change and shape the future of our workforce? This four year fixed term appointment is a great opportunity to lead the HR and People Development teams at the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) as we deliver an ambitious and impactful programme of work to position the agency for the future. Reporting to the Head of People & Place and forming a key part of their leadership team, you will drive the development and delivery of a three-year engagement strategy focused on enhancing development, productivity, innovation, and inclusivity.

With a proven ability to deliver meaningful outcomes, you will work collaboratively across boundaries, using data and insight to inform decisions and influence change. You will lead with purpose, empowering your teams to deliver quality services that are aligned with the Agency’s business plan, grounded in evidence, underpinned by policy, and accountable for real impact.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to HR and People Development teams, reviewing our service offerings and improving delivery across recruitment, learning and development, workforce planning, inclusion, talent, capacity, and capability. Take full responsibility for staff management and operational decisions within your remit.
• Lead the design and implementation of a three-year engagement plan that promotes development, productivity, innovation, and inclusivity, delivering measurable improvements in colleague experience within the fixed-term period.
• Drive the delivery of the People elements of the People and Place business plan, ensuring alignment with SPPA’s operational vision and priorities, and contributing to broader strategic planning.
• Work collaboratively to evaluate and improve management practices and behaviours, fostering a culture of trust and positivity. Provide professional guidance and expertise, balancing organisational and colleague needs. Promote feedback mechanisms and work with stakeholders to enhance colleague voice.
• Coach managers to assess future needs and shape integrated workforce planning strategies. Use people data to inform planning and talent decisions, collaborating with senior leaders to address short- and long-term capability gaps.
• Lead organisational design initiatives that bring together people and process, enabling adaptability and alignment with SPPA’s evolving priorities. Support change programmes and contribute to business continuity planning.
• Develop learning solutions that are fit for the organisation’s future needs. Engage stakeholders to define capability needs and deliver targeted learning interventions, leveraging technology and data. Build EDI capability in leaders and managers, and implement pragmatic plans that drive sustainable change.
• Ensure the HR and PD teams are equipped for long-term success beyond the fixed-term role by embedding sustainable practices, developing internal capability, and aligning delivery models to future organisational needs. Provide professional guidance and contribute to the development of policy frameworks.

We welcome applications from candidates with Chartered CIPD membership or equivalent experience. If you don’t hold this qualification but have strong relevant skills, please reach out to the recruiting manager to explore your fit for the role.

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

• Workforce planning. Develops and applies proactive interventions and solutions that build long-term resilience, partnering with managers to forecast needs, optimise resources, and embed sustainable practices across the organisation.

You can find out more about the skills required here: CIPD Profession Map

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