Scottish Government advertise new digital roles following further devolution

The Scottish Government has launched a recruitment drive to fill new senior digital roles following the passage of legislation handing new powers to Holyrood.

The government has advertised for a chief digital officer for social security as well as a programme director for Scotland Act ICT delivery and transformation.

The newly-created posts follow the Scotland Act, which will devolve responsibility to set income tax rates and thresholds as well as control over parts of the welfare system, receiving Royal Assent in March.

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The new CDO for social security “will be responsible for developing the strategic approach to digital services and IT for our new social security powers”, according to the job advert.

Whoever takes on the programme director role “will be the senior technology leader and digital evangelist for the implementation of the powers in the Scotland Act”, says a separate advert.

The government is also inviting applications for a head of IT services for Common Agricultural Policy Support after farmers and crofters suffered lengthy delays in subsidy payments earlier this year.

The Scottish Government developed a new IT system to administer payments to farmers and crofters following CAP reform last year. However, problems with the IT system left thousands of farmers and crofters facing delays and forced ministers to offer cash advances.

All three posts attract a salary of £80,000 with the closing date for applications set for 20 May.