About Citizens Advice Scotland

Scotland’s Citizens Advice Network is an essential community service that empowers people through our local bureaux and national services by providing free, confidential, and independent advice. We use people’s real-life experiences to influence policy and drive positive change. We are on the side of people in Scotland who need help, and we change lives for the better.

The Citizens Advice network is made up of 59 local Citizens Advice Bureaux, each its own independent charity, and Citizens Advice Scotland as the national charity and membership body, which includes the GB delivery of Extra Help Unit service, a group of specialist case workers supporting vulnerable energy and post consumers. We provide advice across over 200 locations and deliver 12 national advice projects for UK and Scottish Government including the Money Talks advice service and the Help to Claim Universal Support advice service.

Last year the network helped nearly 180,000 people and unlocked £147million for people through things like social security payments and employment entitlements. Our online advice received over 5.4 million page views and our awareness raising campaigns reached millions of people.

Our vision is for a Fairer Scotland where everyone has the advice and information they need to realise their rights, and that the barriers to accessing those rights are effectively challenged.

Our Network mission:

• We help people navigate systems and access their rights

• We build resilience in local communities

• We support the realisation of human rights

• We help change policies and practices to ensure they work for people

About the job

The Data Governance Manager is a new role to develop and maintain a framework of data governance through the provision of support, expertise, advice, policy development and training to ensure that the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland continues to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR) and other associated and relevant legislation. Citizens Advice Network is made up of CAS and the member Bureaux who are independent charities with their own governance arrangements. You will be responsible for working with the Bureaux across Scotland and CAS colleagues to provide support and development services focused on how we manage our data both as independent organisations and collectively as a network. You will be the principal interface for data governance within CAS and between CAS and CAB.

You will have key individual responsibilities to deliver quality and compliance in data governance across CAS and the wider network and for supporting good practice in corporate records management. You will be responsible for supporting governance activities relating to the collection or creation, management, and use of data across CAS Network. You will also have responsibility for sections of the Membership Standards Committee work-plan that relates to data quality and improvement. The role focuses on data collected across CAS and from service users across Scotland that contributes to decision making when it comes to funding activities and advocacy for wider societal change. This role will also ensure reliability of records management across CAS and the production of information workflows based on business analysis for prevention and early intervention for our network’s clients to reduce negative outcomes. You will provide high quality, accessible and well managed data governance support to within CAS and also to Bureaux Chairs, Boards and Senior Management.

Working within a new Strategy, Governance, Performance and Risk Unit you will have support from a Data Improvement Officer, a Data Improvement Analyst and an externally employed Data Protection Officer.

This role offers you the opportunity to work at the heart of supporting Scotland's largest independent advice network and to make an invaluable contribution to citizen’s lives.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

*This role is based in our Edinburgh office. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the majority of CAS staff have been working from home, but we have now started a transition back to the office and expect all staff to be attending the office in some capacity from the end of June 2022. CAS have introduced a blended working policy to allow our employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home, and the number of days you will be expected to attend the office each week can be discussed as part of the recruitment process. Candidates should be prepared to attend the office on their first day for an induction, and to attend the office thereafter as required.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 40 days leave (including public holidays) and a pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution. We have a flexitime scheme which enables our employees to work flexibly in line with organisational requirements, and as an inclusive employer we are happy to consider other flexible working arrangements where appropriate. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the Job Pack.

For more information, please refer to the Job Pack which can be downloaded on our vacancies page.

CAS benefits:

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 40 days leave (including public holidays) and a pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution. We have a flexitime scheme which enables our employees to work flexibly in line with organisational requirements, and as an inclusive employer we are happy to consider other flexible working arrangements where appropriate. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the Job Pack.

We require someone who can work independently and to a high standard. Overseeing the day to day finance function of the Bureau and providing support to the Chief Officer and Depute Chief Officer.

A good standard of education and organisation skills are essential, as is knowledge of computer systems and their applications. The post requires a Basic Disclosure certificate.

We are looking to recruit a new manager to lead the team of volunteers and staff in the delivery of the advice service at Denny and Dunipace CAB. This is a wide and varied role and will involve working closely with the board of directors, partners and funders in addition to the staff and volunteer team, to maintain and develop the work of the bureau which serves the West of Falkirk Community.

Main responsibilities for the role include:

• Overall operational control and management of the Bureau within the guidelines laid down by the Board and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS)

• Line management of all paid and unpaid staff

• Ensuring all aspects of client enquiries are efficiently and effectively handled

• Representing the Bureau to other agencies

• Working with the Board to review and develop strategic aims

• Maintaining and developing projects provided by the bureau including leading on accessing funding to further benefit the service

• Ensuring effective use of IT

• Undertaking the role of Company Secretary as required by the Trustees

Please see attached job description and person specification for full details of the role

Employee benefits

Denny and Dunipace Citizens Advice Bureau offers excellent terms and conditions. Denny and Dunipace Citizens Advice Bureau is an inclusive employer considering flexible working arrangements where appropriate.