Jobs in Highland, Perth and Kinross

About Tay and Earn Trust:

Tay and Earn Trust is a Scottish registered charity, established in June 2013, dedicated to the conservation, sustainable management and enjoyment of the River Tay and River Earn catchments and the communities connected to them.

Rooted in one of Scotland’s most significant river systems, the Trust works to protect and enhance the natural environment while supporting people to engage with, learn from and benefit sustainably from these landscapes. Their work spans environmental conservation, education, community development and wellbeing, reflecting the interconnected nature of healthy rivers, resilient communities and sustainable futures.

At the heart of the Trust’s mission is the conservation, regeneration and improvement of the environment, flora, fauna and fish associated with the Tay and Earn river systems. They promote responsible stewardship of these natural assets, supporting research and practical action that contribute to long-term ecological health and biodiversity.

The Role of CEO:

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will have overall responsibility for the strategic, operational, and cultural leadership of Tay and Earn Trust, ensuring the organisation is financially sustainable, well-governed, and delivering high-quality, impactful projects across its catchment.

You will lead the development and delivery of the Trust’s long-term strategy and business plans, translating vision into measurable outcomes and ensuring alignment with the Inner Tay Masterplan. As the Trust’s senior executive, you will secure and diversify income, strengthen partnerships, and oversee the delivery of major capital and community projects. Acting as the Trust’s principal ambassador, you will build strong relationships with funders, local authorities, statutory bodies, and community stakeholders to raise the Trust’s profile and influence.

This is a dynamic leadership role where strategic thinking, operational expertise, and exceptional relationship management are critical. You will provide robust governance, compliance, and risk oversight, supporting Trustees in fulfilling their statutory duties while maintaining high standards of transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance. You will also lead a small senior management team, establishing a positive, inclusive, and values-driven organisational culture while ensuring staff wellbeing, professional development, and accountability.

The Trust are seeking a candidate with proven experience in senior leadership within a charity, public, or mission-led organisation. You will bring a strong track record in developing and delivering multi-year strategies, managing complex projects, and securing a diverse range of funding. You will be confident operating in a regulated environment, with a deep understanding of charity governance, risk management, and compliance. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential, with the ability to build credibility with Trustees, partners, funders, and stakeholders, and to inspire, motivate, and develop staff across the organisation.

The successful candidate will be a visible and effective ambassador for the Trust, capable of strengthening strategic partnerships and advancing the Trust’s impact in the Tay and Earn catchments. This is a unique opportunity to lead a passionate team, shape the delivery of transformative projects, and make a lasting difference to the communities and environments served by Tay and Earn Trust.

About The Enchanted Forest:

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust (EFCT) is the charity behind Scotland’s longest-running and most successful sound and light show—an award-winning immersive experience that draws approximately 85,000 visitors each year and contributes around £10 million annually to the Highland Perthshire economy. The Trust’s purpose is to transport and delight audiences while celebrating the remarkable natural beauty of Faskally Woods and ensuring the event remains welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all.

Now approaching its 25th anniversary, The Enchanted Forest has grown from a pioneering creative idea into one of Scotland’s most iconic cultural events. Supported by over 100 seasonal staff, local suppliers and businesses, and a strong community ethos, the event has welcomed nearly one million visitors since its inception. Importantly, proceeds from the show are reinvested back into Highland Perthshire, with the Trust awarding grants to local charities and community groups every year.

Values:

EFCT’s values underpin everything they do. They are the motivators and they determine the way they make emotional connections with their audience.

Community - From the team that pulls the event together and the dedicated partners, to the volunteers and visitors – it is one big community. Everyone is important, and everyone is appreciated.

Respect - Caring about customers, the environment, their team and the local community – treating each group with the respect they deserve.

Quality - When customers buy The Enchanted Forest tickets, they are guaranteed excellence. They know their experience is going to be the best. And with each event, they are striving to enhance that further.

Creativity - Innovation, art, spectacle, wonder – The Enchanted Forest is breathtaking. They don’t just want to get it right; they want their customers to be in awe and leave inspired.

The Role of CEO:

In 2026, as EFCT celebrates its milestone 25th event and welcomes its 1,000,000th visitor, the organisation is looking to the future and seeking a visionary Chief Executive to lead its next chapter.

The new CEO will work in close partnership with the Board of Trustees to steer the long-term strategic direction of the charity, ensuring the continued success, sustainability and creative evolution of its flagship event. They will safeguard the Trust’s financial health, uphold best-practice governance, and provide strong, values-led leadership to the operations, creative, and production teams. As the public ambassador for EFCT, the CEO will build and nurture key relationships with partners, funders, local authorities, media, and the wider community—protecting the reputation of the event and amplifying its impact.

The CEO will also oversee the Trust’s community grant-giving programme, ensuring that the surplus generated by the event continues to benefit organisations across Highland Perthshire in meaningful and impactful ways. With responsibility for strategic planning, financial management, operational delivery, risk oversight and compliance, they will ensure that the Trust continues to operate transparently, ethically, and sustainably.

Candidates will bring proven senior leadership experience, ideally gained in a creative, cultural, events, charity or tourism environment. They will have successfully led organisations through development and change, managed complex operational programmes, and implemented financially sound, future-focused strategies. A strong communicator and relationship-builder, they will demonstrate high emotional intelligence, commercial acumen, and an ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams. Importantly, they will share a genuine passion for the mission, community benefit, and unique magic that The Enchanted Forest brings to Highland Perthshire every year.

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Scotland’s most celebrated cultural experiences at a pivotal moment in its history. The next Chief Executive will inherit a thriving, values-driven organisation and play a defining role in shaping its next decade—ensuring the event continues to evolve creatively while delivering real and lasting benefit to the local community.