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 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 Civic Trust is recruiting for its next Director to lead our small team based in Glasgow. With a mission to celebrate Scotland’s built environment, take action for its improvement. and empower its communities, the Scottish Civic Trust is proud to represent Scotland’s civic sector and strives to support amenity and heritage groups across Scotland to make a difference in their locality. Established in 1966, the Trust is the national co-ordinator for Doors Open Days and is an advocate and campaigner on issues of national significance, including our involvement in the restoration of Edinburgh’s New Town, the saving of New Lanark and most recently focussing attention on securing the future of the Egyptian Halls in Glasgow.

We are currently recruiting for a talented and dynamic individual to become our new Director, our most senior position. You will be responsible for enhancing the charity’s reputation and influence, acting as an advocate for the heritage sector, developing effective partnerships, inspiring greater support including generating income, developing our thematic work, running a charitable organisation, managing, motivating and developing a small team of staff, and reporting to and working closely with our Trustees. This is an exciting and rewarding role with the opportunity to make a huge personal impact.

We respect every individual’s unique contribution and value the benefits a diverse workforce can bring to the Trust and want to make inclusion part of what we do every day.

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.

This is an exciting time to join Carnegie UK, as we seek to influence discussion and policy around Collective Wellbeing. We define this as everyone having what they need to live well now and in the future, and the importance and impact of that central focus has never been more needed.

Carnegie UK has £40m of assets under management and an annual income in the region of £1.65m. As a team, we are committed to understanding and accounting for our impact on the planet (expressed through our climate programme) and for the historic marginalisation of minority groups within our communities (expressed through our programme on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). This includes investing in ways that align with our mission.

The Head of Finance, Governance and Risk provides all accounting and financial management for the Trust. The post-holder has overall responsibility for Carnegie UK’s systems of financial control and supports the CEO on financial and investment strategy and planning. They also support the Finance Committee (comprised of Trustees and two co-opted members with investment expertise), the Audit and Risk Committee, and the wider Board of Trustees, and act as the first point of contact for the Investment Manager and the auditors.

The role includes responsibility for leading on the organisation’s approach to identifying, assessing and managing corporate risk, and for advising on formal and regulatory aspects of our governance. The Head of Finance, Governance and Risk is a key member of Carnegie UK’s Senior Management Team, reporting to the CEO. As such, the postholder will take an active role in forward planning and decision making within the organisation and will be expected to act as a role model for our values and ways of working.

In summary, key areas of responsibility include:

• Investments - management and stewardship of the capital and income of the Trust
• Provision of financial information and management of budgets
• Procurement and best value
• Salaries and pensions
• Governance – the operational approach to all governance matters
• Risk – embedding risk evaluation

This is a role which plays an important part within the organisation. By joining us, you will be committing to help achieve Carnegie UK’s mission of improving collective wellbeing and be motivated by the prospect of working in a values-led organisation with a focus on continuous learning.

We are looking for an experienced finance professional for this important role. The successful candidate will have excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills and be required to take initiative and work independently. We are seeking the following attributes:

• Highly organised, with the ability to work independently, but with a clear appreciation of the relationships between different aspects of the team’s work and pro-active in making connections.
• Actively shares knowledge, information and resources within teams and across the organisation to encourage collaboration.
• Communicates effectively with colleagues, Trustees, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Can represent Carnegie UK effectively at high-level meetings, building rapport with audiences and presenting ideas with authority.
• Seeks and promotes a culture of continuous improvements to ways of working.
• Balances innovation and risk to maximise impact.
• Is approachable and solutions-focused when problems arise and encourages a supportive environment which focuses on lessons learned.
• Reports clearly to the appropriate governance structures.

We are passionate about the organisation’s mission and are looking for a Head of Finance, Governance & Risk to share that enthusiasm and help build on our success, taking responsibility for some of the key aspects of our strategy and working in a truly unique environment with a great team.

Our people (staff and volunteers) are at the forefront of delivering our strategic objectives and we’re looking for an experienced, inspirational and strategically minded Head of People to join a well- established, respected and loved charity. We are focused on supporting and developing our people, delivering high quality services and being an employer of choice

The successful candidate will be a Fellow or Member of the CIPD and will be HR generalist with extensive strategic and operational experience in large and diverse organisations. You will have a proven track record of delivering complex change projects.

We are looking for an experienced Head of People with the drive and enthusiasm to lead the existing team and continue the ongoing programme to modernise our processes and lead the delivery of our HR services. We’re looking for an innovative thinker, an inspirational leader and someone who really lives our values.

Committed to the success of our colleagues, you’ll directly impact and shape our culture by delivering HR excellence through a variety of projects. You’ll also mitigate risk and ensure compliance while contributing to the development of the HR operational and strategic plans, supporting corporate objectives and embedding core values and behaviours across the Hospice.

If you share our commitment and vision, please feel free to get in touch for an informal chat or visit, and we would be delighted to receive an application from you.

Do you want to make a real difference to the lives of families and children? An exciting opportunity has arisen for an exceptional professional to lead COVEY.

The Board is seeking to appoint a new CEO to lead the organisation and to provide strategic direction to its staff, volunteers and supporters. You will have effective and comprehensive leadership, management and communication skills, with experience of leading high performing teams. You will be a confident communicator and ambassador for COVEY.

If you have a strong empathy with this area of work; if you value integrity, compassion and teamwork; if you want to work in an inclusive and nurturing environment; if you have an understanding of the challenges some families face and knowledge of the causes and impact of poverty, then this could be the next career challenge for you.

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 .