Chief Digital & Information Officer

As Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, SEPA is transforming how digital, data and technology support environmental protection, resilience and public service. As Chief Digital & Information Officer, you will provide strategic leadership for our digital, data, information governance and technology services, ensuring they enable our people, strengthen our decision-making and deliver better outcomes for Scotland’s environment.

This is a pivotal executive role. You will shape and deliver SEPA’s digital and information strategy, lead organisational transformation, strengthen cyber resilience and data capability, and ensure technology investment delivers measurable value. You’ll work across organisational boundaries, influencing national partners and providing trusted strategic advice to the Chief Executive and Board.

Your work will involve:

Leading digital and information strategy across the organisation.

Driving strategic digital transformation and organisational change.

Strengthening data, analytics and information governance capability.

Ensuring robust cyber security, technology governance and enterprise architecture.

Leading high-performing multidisciplinary teams and developing leadership capability.

Managing significant resources, budgets and technology investment.

Working with the Board and Executive Team to support effective governance and strategic decision-making.

Building strong partnerships across government, regulators, public bodies and technology partners.

This role requires an experienced executive leader who combines strategic vision with delivery focus, technical credibility and a strong commitment to public service.

You’ll bring a proven track record of leading people, transformation and organisational performance, together with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and support sound governance.

Which means you’ll need:

A proven track record of strong, positive people leadership within an organisation of comparable scale and complexity.

Significant experience leading and implementing digital transformational change at a strategic level.

Experience of effective financial, resource and performance management, delivering against key organisational objectives.

A strong record of partnership working across multiple stakeholders and sectors including experience working with a Board (or equivalent), ensuring effective engagement, reporting and governance.

A degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent professional experience) and formal management or leadership qualification.

You’ll also have deep expertise in digital and information leadership, including:

Data strategy and analytics.

Enterprise technology architecture.

Cyber security and governance.

Strategic and corporate leadership.

Executive-level communication and reporting.

Influencing and negotiation across complex stakeholder environments.

Managing organisational risk and sensitive issues.

Understanding the wider public policy, social and economic context in which SEPA operates.

Interpreting complex and competing information to make sound strategic decisions.

Support that goes beyond the workplace

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your professional ambitions, but your wellbeing and personal life too. We know that when our people are supported, they’re able to make their biggest contribution.

You’ll benefit from:

A competitive executive salary.

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (17% employer and up to 10% employee).

Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.

31 days annual leave and public holiday entitlement.

Professional development and leadership learning opportunities.

A strong culture of collaboration, wellbeing and respect.

Passionately you. Purposefully supportive.

As Scotland’s environment protection agency, we need to understand and support the rich mix of communities, cultures, and experiences of the people we work with and serve.

Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take - to protect Scotland’s environment. Through our expertise, we lead work that makes a lasting difference, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

That’s why, when you join us as Chief Digital & Information Officer, you’ll discover meaningful opportunities to shape the future of digital, data and technology across one of Scotland’s most important public organisations. You’ll be part of a collaborative executive team, supported to lead with confidence, and empowered to make a genuine impact.

That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful - for Scotland’s environment, and for your career., SEPA’s vision of Equality and Human Rights is to create an inclusive workplace culture where everyone feels able to thrive, is supported, valued and recognised for their contributions to protect and improve Scotland’s environment. We are an organisation where our customers experience fairness, dignity and respect in their interactions with us and where our decisions and services proactively eliminate inequality, advance equality of opportunity, and uphold human rights.

When we embrace what makes us different and celebrate what brings us together, we all benefit. This is what enables us to better deliver against our purpose: to protect and improve the environment in ways that, as far as possible, also create health and well-being benefits and sustainable economic growth.

Passionately Purposeful about Scotland’s environment - and your career

Protecting our environment, supporting our people, and leading meaningful change. Working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that values expertise, encourages collaboration, and is committed to delivering lasting impact for Scotland.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of digital and information leadership at the heart of environmental protection in Scotland., Morgan Hunt is a multi-award-winning recruitment business for interim, contract and temporary recruitment and acts as an Employment Agency in relation to permanent vacancies. Morgan Hunt is an equal opportunities employer. Job suitability is assessed on merit in accordance with the individual’s skills, qualifications and abilities to perform the relevant duties required in a particular role.