Work with us - ScotlandIS

At ScotlandIS we believe that Scotland has the potential to be the country known for innovation, for an ethical approach to data, an integrated approach to public services. We are agile enough to be able to seize this opportunity but big enough to make a real impact and to show the world how it’s done.

Scotland has the opportunity to become a Digital Nation, a true Digital Democracy.

As the voice of the industry, we’re in a unique position to lead and facilitate this – join the team and help make this vision a reality.

Current vacancies

Chair – Scotland Life Sciences Cluster Development Organisation

Help shape the next phase of Scotland’s life sciences cluster.

28DIGITAL and ScotlandIS have recently been selected to establish Scotland’s Life Sciences Cluster Development Organisation, working with industry and partners across the wider ecosystem to strengthen collaboration, commercial growth and Scotland’s international competitiveness.

We are now seeking an experienced industry Chair to lead the CDO Advisory Board and act as a senior industry voice for the cluster.

This is an opportunity to help shape a genuinely national, industry-led organisation that connects Scotland’s life sciences businesses, research capability, health system, investors, regions and wider innovation ecosystem.

The Chair will:

chair the CDO Advisory Board, meeting monthly from mid-November;
hold the CDO Lead to account for delivery;
represent the CDO at the Industry Leadership Group, subject to agreement;
open doors across sub-sectors and regions – to customers and markets as much as to institutions – and champion the cluster publicly; and
help shape the pathway towards a future standalone entity, as its likely founding Chair.

We are particularly interested in applicants who can demonstrate:

Essential

Senior industry leadership in Scottish life sciences, through a current or recent senior role in a life sciences business rather than publicly funded innovation infrastructure.
Strong standing across the sector and credibility beyond their own sub-sector.
Practical experience of commercial growth and route to market – helping life sciences businesses commercialise and grow, reach customers, enter new markets, or take a product or service from development to revenue.
Evidence of convening, chairing or building consensus among organisations with different interests.
A commitment to a national, inclusive cluster and an understanding that key capability sits across the whole of Scotland.
The independence and capacity to commit approximately nine days between November 2026 and March 2027, with no conflict that cannot be managed through declaration.

Desirable

Commercialisation, manufacturing or scale-up experience.
Board or non-executive experience and an understanding of governance and the path to an independent organisation.
International networks that can support the CDO’s outward engagement.

We welcome applications from people who add to the diversity of Scottish life sciences leadership and from those based outside Central Scotland. Meetings are held online by default, with occasional in-person meetings in rotating locations, so location is not a barrier.

Commitment

The expected commitment is approximately nine days between November 2026 and March 2027, with reasonable expenses supported. The initial term runs to 31 March 2027, with the intention that the role continues into the next phase subject to funding and the Chair’s agreement.

How to apply

Please send a current CV, a statement of no more than two pages setting out why you want the role and what you would bring to it, together with a declaration of any interests.

Application deadline: 5pm on Friday 23 October 2026.

Send applications to: martin.beaton@28digital.eu

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online on the morning of Friday 30 October 2026. Please note that this interview session is fixed and will not be moved.

Shortlisting decisions will be made by Wednesday 28th October.

Candidates who are not appointed may be invited to join the CDO Advisory Board.

The Chair is expected to be in place by Friday 6 November 2026. The appointment will be made through an open and transparent process by an independent industry selection panel.