Could you be our new Scottish-based Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer?

Are you looking for your next policy challenge? Do you want to grow your experience and have a hand in shaping the future of end of life care in Scotland? Would you love to work with Hospice UK the UK’s leading hospice care charity?

Hospice UK is looking for a hands-on and creative Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer to drive its strategic aims in Scotland.

What we need

Based in Scotland but working to a hybrid pattern you’ll be reporting to the country Policy and Advocacy Manager. You will identify routes to positive change, influence decision makers, support development of policy positions and build new professional partnerships. Your work will be focused on the interests of people at the end of life and their families and carers, alongside our member hospices, as we work towards our vision of hospice care for every person in need.

This is a vitally important role helping Hospice UK drive our vision and shape the strategic direction of hospice and end of life care in Scotland, at a time when death, dying and bereavement has never been higher on the public and political agenda. In particular we will be looking for someone to develop our relationships with key individuals within Scottish Government.

You’ll also have responsibility and freedom to explore how we develop our influencing and advocacy work in Northern Ireland.

This is a full time role, initially on a fixed term contract of one year.

What can you bring?

We are seeking a confident self-starter who is able to bring order to the complexity of the continuing development and delivery of our policy presence in Scotland and Northern Ireland, creating opportunities to achieve our policy and advocacy ambitions. You’ll need to show that you are self-motivated, resilient, creative and energised by working with a lot of different people at all levels of seniority

You will already have gained some experience in policy and/or advocacy, and can show a track record of contributing to and achieving positive change. You’re probably bursting with ideas, as well as having great judgement and can show your ability to deal sensitively with your stakeholders.

More details of the role can be found in the job description and person specification available on our website.

About us

Hospice UK is the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK. Our vision is hospice care for every person in need and our mission is to enable hospice care to transform the way society cares for the dying and those around them.

Hospice care supports approximately 300,000 people with terminal and life-limiting conditions in the UK each year, with tens of thousands of those in Scotland. Hospices also have an important role in supporting families, especially in providing bereavement support.

Our strategic goals for 2017 - 2022 are to:

• Extend our reach and enable hospice quality care to be delivered in any setting
• Tackle inequality and widen access to hospice care
• Work with communities to build capacity and resilience to care for those at the end of life
• Empower a strong, dynamic and responsive hospice sector

Location

There is a strong preference for candidates to be based in Scotland, however the team and organisation prides itself on being flexible and trusting, so other options would be considered. The role is hybrid so can be as home-based as you want, but there’s an opportunity to have a hospice-based desk too, depending on where you live.

The head office of Hospice UK is in London. The post will have full web-based connection to Hospice UK, regular access to your line manager who is based in Scotland and daily contact with your colleagues through email, face to face events, and internet based video calls and telephone.

The responsibilities and powers of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner are set out in the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003. The Commissioner is appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Scottish Parliament and is entirely independent of the Scottish Government.

We are looking for a skilled finance professional who can hit the ground running operating Sage software and providing expertise to the team. Are you someone who thrives on producing accurate and timely work and enjoys the implementation of new financial procedures? If you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description, we would love to hear from you. As this post involves direct work with children and young people, you will be required to obtain PVG scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) is a small charity making a big difference. QNIS supports, develops and inspires Scotland’s community nurses and midwives to be agents for health improvement and catalysts for social change. We help them develop their expertise to drive positive action to build a healthier, kinder, fairer, greener Scotland.

About the role

This is a new role to develop the strategic direction for external affairs on behalf of the charity. It is an opportunity to tell the story of the outstanding work of Scotland’s community nurses and midwives to policy makers and the public, as well as the role of QNIS. With the team, the postholder will develop a communication, policy and influencing strategy which enables QNIS to share the evidence of its programmes with a range of audiences. This is vital to our fundraising and sustainability.

The role includes developing an effective network of policy and communications contacts on behalf of the charity, building relationships with Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and parliamentarians, health, and care organisations. In addition, the postholder will take an overview of all QNIS outputs ensuring that the brand of QNIS is clearly defined and consistent.

The role includes being part of the senior team at QNIS, shaping responses to relevant policy and professional issues for community nursing, and the ongoing development of the charity. There are currently two staff in the communications team who focus on digital engagement and the post holder will provide leadership and line management support for them.

The post is full time (37.5 hours), based mainly in our office in central Edinburgh, with scope for some flexible working from home. We are offering a salary of £50,825. Benefits include: a 10% contributory group pension with Aegon, with salary sacrifice option; 28 days annual leave with an additional 10 bank holiday days which can be taken flexibly.

About you

A highly experienced communications professional with a proven track record in media relations, policy and parliamentary affairs, you will be able to take an overview of external affairs for the charity. You will bring an energy and creativity to enhancing the brand and outputs of the charity to enable us to better support the nurses and midwives who work in Scotland’s communities.

With a broad knowledge of the health and social care policy landscape of Scotland, you will have an understanding of the range of issues affecting community nurses and midwives and Scotland’s public health challenges.

You will be highly self-aware and committed to wellbeing and self-care of yourself and others, bringing your own compassionate and creative leadership to the senior team at QNIS.

For more information about the role and the organisation, please download the Excellence Profile and visit the QNIS website. The Excellence Profile sets out how we might expect someone who is experienced and flourishing in the role to perform and we are not assuming that an individual will have the full suite of capabilities at appointment.

The Donaldson Trust (“Donaldsons”) is Scotland’s leading charity for neurodiversity. We pride ourselves on our person-centred approach and expertise, recognising the importance of tailored, flexible support services so we can truly meet the individual needs of neurodivergent children, young people and adults.

Our 2019 strategy sets out our ambition to become the national body for neurodiversity in Scotland and we are on a journey to excellence with the purpose of promoting and encouraging neurodivergent people to realise their potential. The newly created role of Director of Services carries strategic significance to our organisation and will impact significantly on the future direction and focus of our organisation.

Playing a crucial role in supporting neurodivergent children, young people and adults, our new Director of Services will ensure Donaldsons continues to provide relevant quality services that meet both current and future needs. Embedding best practice, you will ensure our services ultimately deliver the best outcomes for those we support whilst building both our sustainability and reputation. As an active member of the Executive Team, the Director of Services will work collaboratively and directly contribute to the development of strategies and operational plans that ensure the achievement of Donaldsons’ key priorities.

An inspiring, solutions-focused and forward-thinking leader, you will bring relevant experience in developing, delivering and growing person-centred services coupled with knowledge of the local authority funding environment and national policy, driving service development and funding. Perhaps more importantly, our new Director of Services needs to bring a strong desire to embrace innovation and encourage both internal and external stakeholders alike to think differently in relation to how neurodivergent children, young people and adults are supported more effectively.

Our vision is to be the most respected organisation for the services offered to neurodivergent people in Scotland – if you want to be part of this please review the full role profile provided below or contact Douglas Adam at Livingston James, our retained recruitment partner, via donaldsons@livingstonjames.com to learn more.

Donaldsons is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

The Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) is Scotland’s professional membership body for dance, opera and theatre.

We are currently seeking an experienced Policy and Public Affairs Lead to work closely with the Chief Executive Officer across several key areas of responsibility: research and policy, stakeholder and member engagement, advocacy planning and activity, strategy development and implementation and external communications.

Candidates should have relevant experience gained working in a similar role in a related area, for example, public affairs, advocacy, public relations, communications or Government affairs. They should have excellent relationship skills and strong societal and political acumen.

FST is offering this role as a full time, fixed-term position for one year with the possibility of extension, funding dependent. We also welcome job-share applications and proposals for other approaches to the role including part-time, secondment or consultancy. FST also supports and promotes flexible working.

The FST team are currently operating hybrid working, both from home and the office in Grindlay Street, Edinburgh. Appropriate equipment and IT support will be supplied to the successful candidate(s).

The Scottish Episcopal Church seeks to appoint a full-time Head of Safeguarding to provide strategic leadership, oversight and advice in the development and implementation of safeguarding policy in the Church. The postholder will lead a small team, manage casework, assist in the delivery of training and liaise across the church with bishops, clergy and congregations in safeguarding matters as necessary.

Applicants should have comprehensive understanding of contemporary safeguarding law, policy and practice, an appreciation of its application in the context of a voluntary or faith organisation, practitioner experience of case management and risk assessment, and an ability to build and sustain long-term working relationships.

Sistema Scotland’s vision is to improve lives and strengthen communities. Working with children and their families, the programme is focused on early intervention and stimulating generational social change, increasing confidence, aspiration, community cohesion, pride and developing high level skills in the young people involved. We deliver our work through the creation of Big Noise programmes within communities, and currently run six programmes in Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Douglas in Dundee, Govanhill in Glasgow, Torry in Aberdeen and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.

The Director for Children, Young People and Communities is a new role within the organisation, which reflects the growth and success of the programme, and the desire to ensure excellence in all elements of the delivery for children, families and communities. For example, you will champion and strengthen our approach to inclusion, tackling child poverty, equality and community & young peoples’ voices.

A key leadership role within the team, the role will work closely with the CEO to support Big Noise Centres to deliver on the organisation strategy. This will rely on close partnership working with all members of the leadership team, and in particular developing key principles of working with the Director of Music. You will also provide line management, support and mentoring for Heads of Big Noise Centres, to maximise their internal and regional leadership capabilities.

A successful leader, manager and strategic thinker, you will have extensive experience of working with children, young people and / or communities, with a social drive and ambition for all to succeed. With knowledge and understanding of the Scottish policy context, you will also have the ability to engage with and navigate the hopes, ambitions and expectations of multiple stakeholders and distil these into tangible actions.

We welcome applications from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. We also welcome applications from all nationalities. If you do not have the right to work in the UK currently, we may be able to offer sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa, provided you meet the criteria as detailed here: gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa .

Crisis is the national charity for homeless people. We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it.

We have an exciting opportunity within Crisis’ Best Practice team in which you will be instrumental in identifying and promoting the solutions to homelessness.

As Peter, the manager of the team says ….

This role will give you the opportunity to make a real difference. You will work with amazing colleagues and have the opportunity to influence national approaches to homelessness. For example, over the last few years our team has:

• Worked with the police to support them to move from an enforcement to support approach toward rough sleepers
• Helped the DWP to introduce a homelessness toolkit for work coaches to help them identify clients at risk of homelessness, and to get them the right support
• Published a guide to homelessness prevention demonstrating 75 ways or ending homelessness
• Provided grant funding to smaller charities to enable them to develop and test new approaches

Your specialism will be to develop the solutions to ending homelessness through a housing led approach. Housing led, or what is known as ‘rapid rehousing’ is an approach to ending someone’s homelessness by moving them into their own home as soon as possible.

You will lead on developing Crisis’ understanding of new and emerging solutions to homelessness and to proactively create opportunities to test these and promote learning, especially (but not only) in Scotland.

About the role

Scotland has made huge strides in tackling homelessness, but more needs to happen and we know the best way of ending homelessness is by preventing it from happening in the first place. Crisis are pleased to support the change planned by Scottish Government through proposals for a new Homelessness Prevention duty outlined in the Programme for Government 21/22.

We know, however, that we can’t prevent all cases of homelessness, so when people do lose their home, they need a rapid response to find somewhere safe and secure to live. This means mainstream accommodation – in houses and flats in ordinary communities.

By protecting all households from homelessness through the law, and by using effective rapid rehousing methods, we can ensure no one is left living in emergency accommodation. With sufficient housing, legal reform, and other bold policy choices, rapid rehousing will be crucial in ending homelessness.

As a Best Practice Lead based in Scotland with a focus on housing led approaches, you will work to identify good practice already happening and show how services can be designed to ensure that a housing-led system provides stable, appropriate accommodation and any necessary support as quickly as possible to people who are homeless or at risk of it.

About you

To be successful in this role you will have great networking skills and be good at making relationships across different sectors. You’ll be inquisitive and passionate about change and seeing homelessness ended, with a drive and energy to shape the role to do this.

You’ll understand how local authorities and wider public bodies work and be able to build connections and rapport with individuals working there. You’ll understand housing and homelessness systems and the current legal frameworks that underpin them across the UK, but especially in Scotland. You’ll know how services can be designed to make sure that those who need help can get it and how to listen to the voices of those who use it.

We believe diversity is a strength and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness. ​​​​​​​

Working at Crisis

As a member of the team you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• Interest free loans to purchase a train season ticket or a bike or for a deposit to secure a tenancy
• Mandatory pension scheme, with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 25 days’ annual leave which increases with service to 28 days
• Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience and career.

When you join us you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) is a member owned Centre of Procurement Expertise serving all of Scotland's Universities and Colleges. Its core vision and mission is to maximise the value of Scotland’s investment in further and higher education by working in partnership with institutions to support and enable sustainable innovation in procurement and shared service optimisation. APUC provides a wide range of procurement / supply chain related shared services both as a central team and within Universities and Colleges throughout Scotland.

Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) is a forward-thinking institution and the no 1 Modern University in Scotland. The procurement team sits within the University’s finance department but works across all academic schools and departments to offer a strategic and sustainable procurement service. The procurement manager will report into the Head of Procurement and work with colleagues across the ENU procurement team and the wider regional resource sharing and collaboration team, the Edinburgh Regional Procurement Team (ERPT).

Responsibilities:

• Manage approx. £10 million spend portfolio covering IT and School of Computing among other departments;
• Manage end to end tendering (specification to contract award) at both higher value (Government Procurement Agreement) and lower value (Procurement Reform Act) ensuring all key statutory obligations are met;
• Work with departmental contract managers to ensure contracts are monitored and run smoothly;
• Ensure statutory duties such as contract register and award notice publication are regularly reviewed;
• Develop supply chain monitoring programme ensuring relevant suppliers are assessed via in house and partner business sustainability analytics programmes;
• Provide sustainable procurement guidance and reporting on key topics areas such as climate change and net zero, modern slavery, circular economy and Living Wage.

Requirements:

• Relevant work experience in public sector procurement, experience gained in the Higher Education sector and/or in IT procurement is a plus;
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication skills and the ability to be self-directed;
• High levels of professionalism and ethical behaviour;
• Ability and desire to develop.
• ICT or Works experience would be advantageous for the roles

Working at APUC/ Edinburgh Napier University:

• Hybrid working arrangements (on site attendance circa 2 days per week);
• Work within a regional resource sharing and collaboration team, the Edinburgh Regional Procurement Team (ERPT);
• Generous holidays (26 days plus 14 fixed/floating days);
• Flexible hours and working patterns (including working a 9.5 day fortnight as standard);
• Regular training, career development and funding options for MCIPS and other professional and leadership qualifications;
• Positive working environment;
• Pension arrangements with employer/employee contributions;
• Flexible discounts; shopping, restaurants and other services via ‘EdenRed My Lifestyle’ hub;
• Employee assistance programme; staff support and counselling;
• Cycle to work scheme

The successful candidate for this position must have significant experience of working at senior management level, preferably within the charitable sector. You will lead a dedicated, passionate and experienced team providing excellent and effective support for bereaved children and young people in Scotland.

Reporting directly to the Board, you will implement the overall strategy and help maintain the organisational culture. Your excellent interpersonal skills will enable communication at all levels and your enthusiasm and vision for the work will inspire others across the team. As the CEO of the charity, you will forge relationships with appropriate bodies and advance its aims in partnerships. You will oversee excellent monitoring and evaluation processes. Overall, you will be responsible for maintaining the ethos and values of a developing and dynamic organisation.