Head of Risk, Quality & Assurance

NHS Lothian - Head of Risk, Quality & Assurance (Estates & Facilities)

Salary: Grade 8B £74,003 - £79,164
Contract: Permanent, Full-time

About NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian is one of Scotland’s largest and most complex healthcare systems, serving a population of over 900,000 people across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. With 24,000 staff, we operate 118 premises, including major acute hospitals, community hospitals, and primary care facilities. Our Estates & Facilities Directorate plays a critical role in ensuring safe, compliant and high-quality environments for patients and staff across this diverse estate.

We are committed to delivering safe, effective and person-centred care, underpinned by our values of quality, teamwork, care & compassion, dignity & respect, and openness, honesty & responsibility.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional to lead our Risk, Quality & Assurance function within Estates & Facilities. This strategic role is pivotal in ensuring robust governance, compliance, and continuous improvement across all NHS Lothian premises, including PFI and leased sites. Reporting to the Director of Estates & Facilities, you will:

• Support the delivery and development of improved performance and compliance across NHS Lothian Estates & Facilities through the implementation of risk, quality and assurance management methodologies.
• Lead the implementation of NHS Lothian’s Estates & Facilities Risk, Quality & Assurance Management Strategy.
• Lead and manage the Risk, Quality & Assurance Management Team and Service to raise the profile of risk, quality and assurance management through the development, implementation and monitoring of relevant strategies and policies.
• Provide expert advice on statutory compliance, assurance frameworks, and risk management methodologies.
• The post holder will also act as the designated Incident and Safety Alert Notice Officer (Responsible Person) for NHS Lothian Estates & Facilities in accordance with SHTN 00-44 and will take a lead role in ensuring robust governance arrangements are in place to ensure the organisation meets our legal duties in respect of safety alerts.
• Manage a multi-disciplinary team (approx. 20 WTE) and oversee budgets of around £1M revenue plus significant capital allocations.
• Develop and monitor governance arrangements, performance frameworks, and compliance systems.
• Engage with senior stakeholders, including the NHS Board Executive Leadership Team, and external bodies such as NHS Assure, Scottish Government, and regulatory agencies.
• Provide cover for the Director and Associate Director in their absence.

Education, Skills & Experience

• Education:
• Educated to SCQF Level 11 (Masters) or equivalent experience in risk, safety, and quality management, plus a postgraduate qualification in leadership/ management.
• Experience:
• Proven track record in risk, quality and assurance management within Estates & Facilities.
• Strong knowledge of NHS statutory and mandatory compliance requirements.
• Financial and staff management experience at a senior level.
• Skills:
• Highly developed analytical, communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to interpret complex data, develop and implementing policies/ procedures/ protocols and devising and implementing monitoring tools.
• Experience of managing others, managing change, managing projects and contributing to strategic developments within identified timescales.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to influence and shape the future of Estates & Facilities governance within one of Scotland’s leading healthcare organisations. You will play a critical role in ensuring safe, compliant, and high-quality environments for patients and staff.

Application Process

Eden Scott is retained by NHS Lothian. Please submit your CV and covering letter to iain.atkinson@edenscott.com. For a confidential discussion and to hear more about the opportunity, then please contact Iain Atkinson, Director, Eden Scott, on 07714 124 033.

Closing date for applications – Friday 9th January 2026.

Additional Information

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

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.

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.

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.