What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director Quality and Regulatory Compliance position at NHS Ayrshire & Arran?
On 1 April 2026, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) became one national organisation, focused on continuity today and a stronger, more connected service for tomorrow.
As part of this transformation, NSS and NES have joined to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland). This new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.
About The Organisation
PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.
We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.
PSD Scotland leads on workforce planning and development, service infrastructure and innovation, with a particular focus on digital transformation. It will accelerate national programmes, alongside continued delivery of all existing shared services.
SNBTS is a Directorate of PSD Scotland. As the leading provider of blood, tissue, cell and advanced therapies to the NHS in Scotland our purpose is to ensure the sufficiency, quality and safety of these life-saving and life-enhancing products and related services. We deliver excellence by understanding and responding to the changing health needs of the people of Scotland.
The Post
An exciting leadership role within the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has become available. We are looking for an outstanding candidate who can provide strategic direction, leadership and operational management of Quality and Regulatory Compliance.
Reporting to the Director of SNBTS and a member of the SNBTS Senior Management Team the post holder will fully contribute to and participate in the management and governance of the Service. This is a challenging and highly rewarding position; one which allows the post holder to direct, develop and implement of a programme of work that will improve the quality and regulatory compliance of blood, tissue, cell and advanced therapy whilst at the same time delivering significant improvements in efficiency and sustainability.
The post holder will develop close and effective relationships with key external stakeholders including Regulators, Professional Auditors, other UK and International Blood Services, Scottish Government, Territorial Health Boards and Universities.
The post holder will deliver effective transformational leadership to staff to ensure a high quality workforce that is appropriately developed and supported to deliver all services effectively. S/he will exercise management and leadership through an approach which delivers effective governance in relation to operational and financial performance and regulatory compliance.
The Candidate
Qualifications & Experience Required
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a PVG Scheme Disclosure Scotland check.
Any candidate who has lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Location and Working Pattern:
The post is based at the Jack Copland Centre in Edinburgh
Working pattern: Monday – Friday, 36 hours per week
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PSD Scotland.
Benefits
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits - HR Benefits Brochure.
Inclusion
Public Services Delivery Scotland is a national organisation and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. PSD Scotland has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of PSD Scotland to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot
Further Information
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Marc Turner, Director of SNBTS, marc.turner2@nhs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is 4 June 2026
It is anticipated that Assessment Centre will take place W/C 22 June with final panel interview to follow W/C 20 July. Please note this is subject change, as they have not yet been confirmed.
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance
As part of this transformation, NSS and NES have joined to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland). This new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.
About The Organisation
PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.
We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.
PSD Scotland leads on workforce planning and development, service infrastructure and innovation, with a particular focus on digital transformation. It will accelerate national programmes, alongside continued delivery of all existing shared services.
SNBTS is a Directorate of PSD Scotland. As the leading provider of blood, tissue, cell and advanced therapies to the NHS in Scotland our purpose is to ensure the sufficiency, quality and safety of these life-saving and life-enhancing products and related services. We deliver excellence by understanding and responding to the changing health needs of the people of Scotland.
The Post
An exciting leadership role within the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has become available. We are looking for an outstanding candidate who can provide strategic direction, leadership and operational management of Quality and Regulatory Compliance.
Reporting to the Director of SNBTS and a member of the SNBTS Senior Management Team the post holder will fully contribute to and participate in the management and governance of the Service. This is a challenging and highly rewarding position; one which allows the post holder to direct, develop and implement of a programme of work that will improve the quality and regulatory compliance of blood, tissue, cell and advanced therapy whilst at the same time delivering significant improvements in efficiency and sustainability.
The post holder will develop close and effective relationships with key external stakeholders including Regulators, Professional Auditors, other UK and International Blood Services, Scottish Government, Territorial Health Boards and Universities.
The post holder will deliver effective transformational leadership to staff to ensure a high quality workforce that is appropriately developed and supported to deliver all services effectively. S/he will exercise management and leadership through an approach which delivers effective governance in relation to operational and financial performance and regulatory compliance.
The Candidate
Qualifications & Experience Required
- Educated to postgraduate (Masters) level or hold an equivalent professional qualification. A quality or regulatory professional qualification is essential along with professional accreditation in a management or similar discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Experience quality management and regulatory compliance of blood, tissues, cells and/or advanced therapies.
- Senior strategic and operational management experience, covering all aspects of financial, performance and risk management within a large complex organisation.
- Significant experience in management of major projects and initiatives, with a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the legislative and regulatory environment. Proven experience of project management and/or acting in an advisory capacity is essential.
- Significant experience and proven skills in leading and managing specialist and multi-disciplinary, high calibre staff. The post holder is expected to keep abreast of, and contribute to changes to, relevant policies and guidelines which impact on their staff (e.g. PIN guidelines, HR policies) or the way their business is delivered (e.g. Freedom of Information Act).
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to simplify and communicate complexity, and the maturity to operate at all levels within the NHS and other care service providers.
- Ability to operate effectively under pressure with a high level of personal integrity.
- Have vision and imagination and should be change, action and results oriented.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a PVG Scheme Disclosure Scotland check.
Any candidate who has lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Location and Working Pattern:
The post is based at the Jack Copland Centre in Edinburgh
Working pattern: Monday – Friday, 36 hours per week
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PSD Scotland.
Benefits
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits - HR Benefits Brochure.
Inclusion
Public Services Delivery Scotland is a national organisation and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. PSD Scotland has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of PSD Scotland to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot
Further Information
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Marc Turner, Director of SNBTS, marc.turner2@nhs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is 4 June 2026
It is anticipated that Assessment Centre will take place W/C 22 June with final panel interview to follow W/C 20 July. Please note this is subject change, as they have not yet been confirmed.
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance