Theme Lead (Vocational Training)

The Vocational Training Theme Lead will be responsible for developing and overseeing ongoing professional training and development for Officers within the SPS, with a primary focus on the implementation and management of a new Vocational Qualification (whilst maintaining current interim provisions) and working with establishments on creating and coordinating a standardised mentoring framework.

You will be responsible for the development, delivery, management, and evaluation of vocational training. You will ensure that its provisions are robust and linked to quality assurance systems and processes, coordinating across the College and wider SPS at an initial stage to develop training and organisational needs analyses, and leading on design governance. This will then be followed by ongoing compliance management: maintaining internal and external standards, regulatory requirements, and awarding body expectations, whilst supporting educational integrity and continuous improvement.

You will have overall responsibility for the design, delivery, and assessment of training and teaching materials, as well as the progression of learners and management of standards within your theme. This will involve line management responsibility for a number of Learning and Development (L&D) Managers.

You will maintain your workstream in line with internal College strategy, as well as maintaining consistency with wider SPS policy and organisational developments. As your workstreams will contain wider strategic project working and partnership collaboration, you will be expected to demonstrate strong organisational, problem-solving, communication and collaborative working skills.

As part of this role, you will be responsible for evaluating the financial impact of any proposed training initiatives, ensuring the balance between cost, scalability, delivery method, and expected organisational benefit. This will require taking a whole system perspective to confirm that learning solutions remain both operationally viable and cost effective, while still meeting professional standards.

In line with the organisational objective of becoming a learning organisation, you will create and maintain a purposeful learning environment, including the ongoing management of the College’s learning support strategy.

Within this role hybrid working is possible, but there is a requirement for you to attend the SPS College regularly along with other SPS sites due to line management and workstream commitments.

If you have the following, we would like to hear from you:

• Hold a minimum of an Undergraduate Degree or equivalent/higher qualification (360 credits, of which 60 credits must be at SCQF Level 9) relevant to the role or be working towards this level of qualification (Essential)
• Hold a L&D9DI and L&D11, or a combination of qualifications and relevant experience (Desirable)
• Vocational Training Design and Management (Essential)
• Assurance of Standards (Essential)
• Analysing Complex Information (Essential)

Some of the benefits you can enjoy in role are:

This role lends itself to Hybrid working, in line with policy. While the main office location will be SPS HQ, Edinburgh there will be some travel to establishments required.

• Attractive Pension (Civil Service)
• Commitment to your personal and professional development
• Free gym and car parking
• Discounts at high street stores, supermarkets and restaurants through our partners at Blue Light Card, Edenred and Civil Service Sports Council. 
• Sick Pay
• Annual Leave - 37 days rising to 42 days

For information on the job, including full job description and person specification, and to apply for these vacancies please visit the Scottish Prison Service website. We are committed to your personal and professional development and offer a wide range of career progression opportunities.

Closing: 17 August 2026.