Director of Delivery, Enterprise & Innovation

Director of Delivery, Enterprise & Innovation

Role Specification

Delivery

Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership and Management Teams and the Board, the Director of Delivery, Enterprise & Innovation will direct SOSE's enterprise activities, translating high-level strategy into day-to-day execution to drive measurable impact in the region.

Collaboration

This role will work closely with the Director of Investment & Sustainable Enterprise, who leads on inward investment, strategic opportunities, and supporting programmes. Within the Deliver directorate, there are two Directors: one focused on strategic delivery and innovation, and the other on investment and opportunities. Both must collaborate effectively to maximise economic opportunities that strengthen the south of Scotland's economy. These key roles will work in harmony to drive SOSE's delivery through a portfolio approach to strategic and core projects and programmes. This includes assessing how projects align with regional strategic goals and opportunities, and developing adaptable, streamlined methods to ensure efficient and effective delivery.

Leading The Team

This directorate represents the largest directorate in SOSE with 54% of SOSE staff and is central to the delivery of the strategic objectives. Strong, visible, and people-centric based leadership is essential to ensure the teams remains engaged, motivated and aligned to organisational priorities.

A key focus of this role is to drive positive change, maintain high levels of staff engagement, morale, and motivation while delivering measurable outcomes. The director must actively lead and inspire the team, creating a culture of high performance, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. This includes setting a clear vision, communicating direction with clarity and consistency, and empowering managers and employees to deliver high performance and innovation.

The Director will champion wider efforts to build a resilient, engaged, and mission-driven workforce, cultivating a bold and inclusive culture of collaboration and transparency.

Person specification

The Director of Delivery, Enterprise and Innovation is a key leadership role for SOSE and is responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of strategic and core projects and programmes for the organisation. The Director must be a confident and accomplished leader, highly respected by industry, communities, government and academia, with the vision, energy, personality and skills required to win confidence and trust of all stakeholders. You will present evidence of the following:

Knowledge and attributes:

• Entrepreneurial mindset and a dealmaker, with the commercial ability to drive opportunities in innovative contexts.
• Confident in operating in a changing environment and capable of defining a path forward which may need to evolve as circumstances require.
• A strategic thinker with the ability to see the big picture. Consistently high levels of accountability and responsibility.
• Able to identify, communicate, and drive the delivery of projects. Able to work constructively with the CEO, the team and non-executive directors of the Board.
• High-level communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders (ranging from large businesses, communities, investors, civil servants, academics to SME's).
• Passionate about sustainable growth and innovation.
• Ability to build, guide and motivate the team.

Role specification

Skills and Experience:

• Extensive, proven experience of working at a senior level in the commercial delivery of innovative solutions.
• Previous experience managing a multi-functional team of professionals with demonstrable capability to deliver in complex environments.
• Proven experience of delivery with complex public-private stakeholders. Extensive track record in a project-led environment including project delivery, commercial development, portfolio management and resourcing.
• Experience of running multiple projects with diverse sources of funding, national or international, public or private.
• Experience of working with Board level stakeholders and running Board level presentations. High-level negotiation and relationship building skills with a track record of delivering success through collaboration across industry, SME's, government and partners.
• Experience of developing solutions within multiple sectors that are transferable to the rural economy.
• Experience of working with SMEs, large companies, academia, and government agencies.

Applicants should note the key dates when you may be required to submit information and/or participate in assessment, subject to progression at each stage.

• Closing date for applications is Monday 12th January 2026.
• Screening conversations will take place week commencing 26th January 2026.
• Final Panel interviews will take place in the week commencing 23rd February 2026.

The dates given are indicative and subject to change. Zoom, Telephone and video conference are also available if necessary.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following via the email application box below:

• A CV
• A brief supporting statement that provides evidence of the competencies outlined in the Person Specification
• You will also be asked to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.