The 'go to' organisation for Local Government improvement in Scotland

The Improvement Service’s Digital Public Services (DPS) Team develops and delivers a portfolio of digital products and services to many Scottish public sector organisations. These services support organisations and partners to deliver innovative, high-quality and secure digital public services.  Achieving efficiency savings, helping to provide sustainable frontline local services, and contributing to better customer experiences.

We have an established reputation for delivering new and innovative digital public services end-to-end;  with services enjoying a growing footprint, locally, regionally, and nationally.

A specific focus for DPS is to enhance our solid reputation as a centre of expertise in identity management and the delivery of national shared service applications and technology platforms. This will include expanding the reach of our digital public services beyond local government and health, supporting citizens, and particularly our most vulnerable citizens, to access a wide range of online public services securely.

The DPS team delivers a range of products and services including mygovscot myaccount, getyournec.scot, Data Hub, parentsportal.scot, Tellme Scotland, One Scotland Gazetteer, Spatial Hub and bisaccount.  mygovscot myaccount underpins several of the products and services delivered by the DPS team. It is used by all Scottish local authorities and has over 2.48 million registered account holders, over 50% of the eligible Scottish population. The IS also provides overall governance for the National Entitlement Card scheme, working closely with the National Entitlement Card Programme Office based in Dundee City Council.

The Technical, Assurance, Security, and IT Team (TASIT) play a key role by ensuring our services are delivered to the highest technical, information assurance and security standard. We’re seeking an Information Assurance Officer to help improve our management of potentially sensitive information, manage data sharing agreements, conduct regular internal security audits, and serve as the main point of contact between the Improvement Service and data protection authorities. The ideal candidate will have excellent organisational, communication, and management skills, along with an ability to offer guidance to colleagues and workshops for staff members. In this role, the Information Assurance Officer will often be asked to independently communicate with all relevant employees to promote data protection compliance within the organization.

Creating trust, positive interactions and experiences with our customers will help ensure our company continues to draw new and retain existing customers as we look to continue to expand the reach of our products and services.  We aim to deliver the best customer centric services in the sector.

Scope of the role

The Digital Public Services Portfolio has been developed and designed to support local government and other partner organisations radically transform services and operational delivery in the digital age, principally by leveraging new technology and by applying innovation. It is also designed to help citizens manage their digital relationship with government.

As customer demands and expectations continue to grow, new developments involving new technologies and fresh innovation will see new capabilities introduced to the portfolio to broaden appeal, sustain growth and to help meet emerging and future needs.

This is where you come in! This is an exciting new opportunity for a highly capable candidate to join our professional team as an Information Assurance Officer. Our applications and technology platforms must comply with the standards set by regulators and accreditation bodies; they must also be fully secure and robust to ensure business continuity is maintained. Having strategies and plans in place to protect the organisation’s people, information assets and technologies are paramount.

The Information Assurance officer has many duties. These duties all relate to the protection of UK and EU residential data and the education of colleagues regarding the correct use of said data. The post holder will support the information assurance agenda across the Improvement Service, including assisting and supporting in the collation and dissemination of cyber assurance policies, standards, procedures, and staff guidance relating to information assurance across the organisation. There are also many additional responsibilities an Information Assurance Officer might fulfil.

Here are the primary duties of an Information Assurance Officer:

• Responsible for the maintenance, reviewing and updating of all information assurance documentation for all DPS products and services.
• Educating a company's employees on correct data use and compliance.
• Conducting regular data security audits to maximise data safety.
• Training peers in similar roles within data processing departments.
• Monitoring a company's ongoing ability to remain data compliant.
• Informing the senior leadership team of their GDPR obligations.
• Advising the senior leadership team on how to comply with data security laws.
• Acting as a contact point for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

For further information, download the full job description.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for this position, please visit My Job Scotland.

The closing date for applications is 22 June 2025.

Interview information

Competency-based interviews will take place on 2 July 2025.

For more information about competency-based interviews, see our guide to competency-based interviews. You may also find it useful to read our current Business Plan 2025-26.

About the Improvement Service

The Improvement Service (IS) is a publicly funded company limited by guarantee, with a total annual budget in the region of £12 million. We exist to support councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all Scottish people through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services.

Working for the IS means joining a team of professionals, who work together to strive for continuous improvement in the public sector and ultimately, better outcomes for Scotland’s communities.

Our company headquarters are based in West Lothian, located conveniently for commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Pay is only one of the benefits of working for the IS, our terms and conditions are progressive and flexible and employees are rewarded with a generous annual leave entitlement of forty one days per year as well as a flexible working policy.

The IS is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all its activities to promote inclusive processes, practices and culture.

The IS is a Disability Confidence Committed Employer. We are committed to interviewing anyone with a disability who meets the essential criteria.