About Us
You’ll join the Skills Planning and Sector Development (SPSD) Directorate, within the Regions and Enabling Sectors portfolio. SPSD works with employers and partners across regions and sectors, providing expertise and leadership, gathering insight to identify priority skills demand, and influencing skills investment and provision across the system. SPSD activity also supports the development and implementation of SDS products and services, Scottish Government policy, and place-based initiatives so Scotland’s regions can grow with the skills they need.
This post is one of five Regional Skills Planning Leads and forms part of the wider SDS leadership team.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll lead regional skills planning activity in the North East of Scotland (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire), partnering closely with the Highlands and Islands Regional Skills Planning Lead to drive and support activity in Moray and across the wider region. You will be a visible champion for SDS products and services, building strong relationships with colleagues and partners to deliver a joined‑up, intelligence‑led offer that makes a real difference. You will ensure SDS is heard in the rooms that matter, selecting the right forums, shaping the agenda, and building senior relationships that unlock progress. Alongside partners, you will drive the skills workstream within the North East Regional Economic Strategy and help deliver the skills priorities within the Highlands and Islands REP Regional Delivery Plan.
You’ll help steer major regional programmes—spanning City and Growth Deals, the Investment Zone, the Energy Transition Zone, the Green Freeport and the Convention of the Highlands and Islands—spotting opportunities early and turning them into deliverable plans. You will coordinate SDS input across strategies, strengthen impact measurement, and enhance the evidence base by supporting the development of existing Regional and Sectoral Skills Assessments and new Skills Needs Assessments. From a management perspective, you will line‑manage up to two Skills Planning and Sector Development Managers and protect SDS’s reputation through thoughtful engagement, risk mitigation, continuous improvement, and high‑quality responses to Scottish Government information requests.
What We’re Looking For
You bring strong expertise in economics, skills or labour market policy (or a closely related field), with qualifications or equivalent experience at SCQF level 9. You can connect national direction with local delivery, understanding Scotland’s economic and skills agenda and translating strategy into practical, place‑based action. You thrive when working with strategic partners, confident at senior tables, building alignment across partners and influencing outcomes on shared priorities. You navigate complexity and competing perspectives with sound judgement, keeping relationships strong and progress on track. You lead with clarity and pace, creating the conditions for high performance, encouraging innovation, and communicating with impact. You can shape strategy, build compelling business cases, and put in place the governance and management disciplines that protect value for money and deliver results. Whilst not essential, it’s an advantage if you’ve helped lead a Regional Skills Plan/strategy, hold a recognised project management qualification, or have experience working with industry partners to shape skills and education provision.
About SDS
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills agency, focused on driving productivity and inclusive economic growth by investing in skills and supporting people and businesses to reach their full potential. Through deep partnership working, expert insights and innovative solutions, SDS helps address Scotland’s skills and labour‑market challenges, ensuring employers can access the talent they need while individuals gain opportunities to develop and thrive. SDS is guided by strong organisational values, placing customers at the heart of everything it does and fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and respect.
Our Values
- We put the needs of our customers at the heart of all we do
- We make use of our combined strengths and expertise to deliver the best outcomes
- We demonstrate self‑motivation, personal responsibility, and respect
- We continually improve to achieve excellence
Why You’ll Love Working Here
SDS is an award‑winning, equal‑opportunity and fair‑work employer where culture is driven by people. With progressive benefits, flexible ways of working and a strong focus on wellbeing, engagement and development, SDS offers an environment that supports both professional growth and personal well‑being.
Where You’ll be Working
This role is based in the North East of Scotland with a focus on Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray and will require travel across the relevant local authorities and beyond. Face‑to‑face partner engagement will require a presence in Aberdeen for up to two days per week. SDS operates a hybrid working model, so the successful applicant is expected to work from both home and an SDS workplace on a regular basis. Occasional travel to Glasgow offices will also be required.
Equal Opportunities Statement
At SDS we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from the right candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. Therefore, while we want to know about your relevant skills and experience, please avoid disclosing any identifying characteristics.
More Information
To find out more about working at SDS and our application process please visit us at https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/work-with-us/
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