Head of Equalities and Human Rights (SNEW)

Job details

• Job reference: 254022
• Salary: Band 8B (£76,888 - £82,251)
• Job closing date: 07/08/2026
• Job Type: Administrative Services
• Location: Waverley Court
• Employment type: Permanent
• Hours Per Week: 36
• Job posted date: 17/07/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Public Health

Post: Head of Equality and Human Rights

Location: Waverley Court, Edinburgh

Salary: AfC Band 8b – 36 hours per week, permanent

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for advancing equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights? NHS Lothian is seeking an exceptional Head of Equality and Human Rights to provide expert leadership and drive meaningful change across our organisation and the wider Lothian health and care system.

This is a unique opportunity to influence policy, shape culture, and ensure equality and human rights are embedded in everything we do for our staff, patients and communities.

About the Role

As our senior specialist lead for Equality and Human Rights, you will advise the NHS Lothian Board and Corporate Management Team on all aspects of equality, diversity, inclusion, human rights and British Sign Language (BSL) duties. You will lead the development and delivery of strategic plans, governance arrangements and performance frameworks that support both statutory compliance and our ambition to create a truly inclusive organisation.

Working across a complex healthcare environment, you will:

• Lead NHS Lothian's equality and human rights strategy and programmes.
• Provide expert advice on equality legislation, human rights, inclusion and cultural transformation.
• Develop and oversee statutory reporting, performance monitoring and impact assessment processes.
• Build strong partnerships with executive leaders, clinical teams, staff networks, trade unions, community organisations and public sector partners.
• Represent NHS Lothian at national forums and influence the development of policy and best practice across Scotland.
• Lead and develop a small specialist team while influencing change across the wider system.
• Champion a Human Rights Based Approach and support meaningful engagement with diverse communities and colleagues.

About You

We are looking for an inspiring and collaborative leader who can operate confidently at a strategic level while maintaining a strong focus on inclusion, partnership and improvement.

Why Join Us?

At NHS Lothian, we are committed to creating a culture where everyone is valued, respected and able to thrive. This role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the experiences of both our workforce and the communities we serve.

You will work with senior leaders across the organisation and partner organisations to ensure equality, dignity, compassion and human rights remain at the heart of healthcare delivery.

Join us and help shape a more inclusive, equitable and human rights-focused future for healthcare across Lothian

For further information and an informal discussion please contact Susan.Webb2@nhs.scot or Tom.Power2@nhs.scot

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

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