🟢 Actively Hiring · 8d ago ⏳ Closes in 83 days 🇬🇧 UK Corridor 🛡️ UK Work Eligibility 🏢 Government

Chief Executive

🏢 NHS Scotland · 📍 United Kingdom · 🕒 Oct 14, 2026 · Ref: OP-VERIF-CEDA7172
Benchmark Compensation (Annual Base)
£88,171 - £114,606
£7,348 - £9,551 / mo
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Position Overview & Specifications

Chief Executive

Based in Lerwick

Salary Range: £88,171-£114,606 plus relocation expenses (£8k)

plus Distant Islands Allowance of £2,119

Closing date for applications – Monday 17th April 2023

NHS Shetland is one of the fourteen territorial boards of NHS Scotland, providing primary, community, mental health, hospital and community services and employing c830 staff looking after the health needs of some 23,000 people, spread across 15 islands. The Board also works jointly with Shetland Council to provide social care services and is responsible for strategic planning, health improvement and public health provision. The Board has an annual budget of £73m and a 5-year strategic capital budget of around £5m.

Shetland is unique, the remote and rural nature of our service brings its own challenges, however you can be assured that the facilities and equipment are as good as any you’ll get on the mainland. Moreover, the friendliness and professionalism of your new colleagues will help you to quickly find your feet and feel at home in your new surroundings. Shetland is well served by air and sea links with regular flights from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh and a car ferry to and from Aberdeen. The islands have an outstanding quality of life with a modern infrastructure but are also steeped in Scots and Norse traditions.

The Board seeks to appoint a high-calibre Chief Executive who can continue to take the organisation forward via transformational change, build on its reputation for quality of care and as an excellent environment for patients and staff. At the core of the organisation are its values:

  • Dignity and Respect
  • Quality and Teamwork
  • Openness, Honesty and Responsibility
  • Care and Compassion


In line with all other health providers there are a number of challenges to be faced and Shetland have focussed on the following key corporate objectives:

  • To improve and protect the health of the people of Shetland
  • To provide quality, effective and safe services, delivered in the most appropriate setting for the patient
  • To redesign services where appropriate, in partnership, to ensure a modern sustainable local health service
  • To provide best value for resources and deliver financial balance
  • To ensure sufficient organisational capacity, capability and resilience


In order to achieve these corporate objectives, there are several key result areas the new Chief Executive will be tasked to attain:

  • Setting the tone and culture of the organisation
  • Strategic leadership of the system, developing and delivering the vision in partnership, ensuring that there is ownership of the change strategies, and effective two-way communication
  • Promoting and recognising the importance of people in delivering the vision
  • Providing clear strategic direction to the leadership and across the organisation, ensuring focus on the delivery of the key result areas
  • Taking a strategic perspective while being able to motivate, support and challenge staff
  • Actively promoting dialogue and involvement with the public, patients, press and politician
  • Strategic management of external relations
  • Horizon scanning for trends and anticipating those policy issues that will impact upon the strategic direction of the system


This is an outstanding opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives and welfare of the people of the Shetland Isles and to experience a lifestyle which is unique, offering an unrivalled mix of outdoor and cultural experiences within a family-oriented environment.

To find out more about living and working in Shetland go to www.shetland.org. Further information on NHS Shetland can be found at https://www.shb.scot.nhs.uk/index.asp

If you feel this could be an opportunity that fits your capabilities and aspirations please contact our recruitment partners, Eden Scott michelle.lownie@edensscott.com. You can also call Michelle on 07769 551635 or Sarah Gracie on 07999 421314

Further information about the role and details on how to apply are available at https://www.edenscott.com/employer/nhs-shetland

Stakeholder sessions and interview will take place in Shetland on 22 and 23 May 2023.

In promoting equal opportunities, we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

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