About Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT)
The Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) is a well-established, dynamic charity dedicated to conserving, enhancing, and promoting opportunities for enjoyment in the natural environment of Perth and Kinross. Our mission is to connect people to nature, inspire stewardship of our stunning countryside, and ensure its sustainability for future generations.
The Opportunity
With the retirement of the existing Director in late summer 2025, the Trustees are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will lead the organisation into its next chapter of growth, ensuring the Trust delivers its ambitious goals to improve and promote access to the countryside throughout Perth and Kinross, making it one of the most accessible and appealing destinations in Scotland. This exciting opportunity will suit a driven, self-motivated, innovative and inspiring leader to manage this small charity in the heart of Scotland.
Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership: Work with the Trustees and staff to develop and deliver the Trust’s vision, mission, and strategic plan, ensuring alignment with environmental, community, and stakeholder priorities.
• Operational Management: Oversee all operations, ensuring efficient use of resources and delivering high-quality projects and programmes.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with partners, funders, local authorities, and community groups to promote collaboration and secure funding.
• Financial Oversight: Ensure robust financial management, sustainability, and reporting, maximising income streams and diversifying funding opportunities.
• Team Leadership: Inspire, motivate, and support a dedicated team, fostering a positive and inclusive organisational culture.
• Advocacy: Act as an ambassador for PKCT, representing the Trust locally and nationally, to elevate its profile and impact.
About You
We are looking for an accomplished leader with:
• A proven track record in senior leadership roles, ideally in the environmental, charity, or public sectors.
• Exceptional strategic and operational management skills.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing funding streams.
• Strong communication, networking, and advocacy skills.
• A passion for the natural environment and community engagement.
• Experience in managing teams and fostering a positive organizational culture.
• Knowledge of Scotland’s environmental landscape and rural challenges (desirable).
What We Offer
• A unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the environment and communities of Perth and Kinross.
• A supportive, collaborative team and board environment.
• The chance to lead a well-regarded organisation with ambitious goals.
We are looking to fill one Part-Time post (28 hours a week) to provide independent advocacy across Perth & Kinross for, children & young people up to the age of 26. This may include children & young people who are part of the Children’s Hearing Process via Children’s Hearing (Scotland) Act 2011, children & young people who have social work involvement and children & young people who may be detained under the Mental Health (Care & Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003; Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000; or the Adult Support & Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.
Independent advocacy is about ensuring everyone can access information regarding their human rights, can understand and access the formal systems within their community, and is supported to have their voice heard within circumstances that affect their life.
At Independent Advocacy Perth & Kinross (IAPK), our advocates are independent from organisations that provide services to the people we support. We do not provide any other services other than independent advocacy, and our advocates have no close ties to family or friends of the individual. This means that we are as free as possible from conflict of interest and can freely speak up for the person.
We are committed to the individual’s voice and wishes being heard; we do not express our own view only that of the individual. Even when a person is considered not to have capacity, we still work to seek out that individual’s point of view.
For more information on the role and our Codes of Best Practice, please visit the website of our governing body, the SIAA.
Our Values:
- Human Rights: We recognise the essential dignity and inherent Human Rights of every person. We encourage those with power to respect rights and secure social justice.
- Independence: We are free from outside control, autonomous in our actions and remain uninfluenced in our work. We only provide Independent Advocacy.
- Partner-Led: We put the people we work with at the heart of our work. We are patient and skillful listeners who enable people to get their voices heard.
- Honesty: We act and communicate with openness, integrity and transparency at all times.
- Courage: We are proud to be champions of our Advocacy Partners and organisation. We support the right to challenge and are willing to question decisions and attitudes.
- Empowerment: We will work with our Advocacy Partners to enhance their capacity to have their voices heard, to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes.
As of 2024, we are reviewing our organisational values, as we are committed to ensuring these represent & support both our service users (referred to as our Advocacy Partners) and our employees. But we would ask all to still consider the above when applying for any IAPK role.
How We Support our Supporters:
As defenders of human rights, IAPK strongly advocates for supporting those whose role it is to support others, including all of our advocates, administration and management staff.
Mental Health:
IAPK works with Mind and Mission to offer three therapeutic check ins per year for all employees. This offers a safe space for anything employees wish to discuss, ensuring further support within a role that will often interact with difficult circumstances.
We also understand that life doesn’t always go to plan, so IAPK offer and support Wellbeing Days, which can be fundamental in taking time for self-care.
Flexible Working:
We also support flexible working across all roles, so you can work with your line manager to find a routine that fits both your post and your individual life circumstances.
Experience & Growth:
IAPK look to support learning and growth within all roles, as we believe this is a key factor in job and life satisfaction. Thereby, various training opportunities, both mandatory and optional will be offered and encouraged throughout the year. Staff are also welcome to discuss futher training suggestions and/or desires with their line manager.
Further Supportive Policies:
We understand that work is one of many parts of life, and so all of our working policies are written and reviewed to ensure they support the many facets of living, such as those pertaining to maternity/paternity & family life, illness/healthcare appointments, commuting, and expenses.
If you would like any further information, or have any questions regarding Reasonable Adjustments, just let us know.
Person Specification:
Prior experience as an advocate is not essential, but all candidates should have a passion for upholding people’s human rights, including their right to be heard, and a desire to proactively learn about Independent Advocacy.
For further details, please see the job description document attached.
Would you love to support community organisations to become stronger and more sustainable? Do you have experience of working with communities, able to provide information and encouragement?
Working as part of the member support team, this role will provide advice and support to our members (primarily in Argyll & Bute, Stirling and Perth & Kinross) build relationships and contribute to the growth of the development trust movement (around 3 days per week). The role will also support four groups in Scotland who are part of our Connection Trailblazers programme, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund (around 1 day per week).
We seek an individual, to work alongside the Ministry Team, to take on the Pastoral Care Coordinator role within the Lower Earn Network (Abernethy, Aberdalgie & Forteviot, Dunbarney & Forgandenny). You will manage the range and quality of pastoral care and work alongside us, with a God-given passion for compassionate care for others and a desire to bring God’s presence, comfort, strength and hope to anyone in need.
As such, the Pastoral Care Coordinator is expected to be actively involved in the life of the congregations. Whilst there is no requirement for the individual to live in the parish, it is expected that their activities will take place within the geographical bounds of the Lower Earn Network.
The Organisation:
Mindspace is a community-based charity organisation committed to supporting and promoting the mental wellbeing of people in the Perth area. Mindspace is funded by NHS Tayside, Perth & Kinross Council, the Scottish Executive and donations. Mindspace’s objective is to promote mental wellbeing in a safe and supportive environment. This is provided through our counselling service, peer support and recovery college.
Purpose of Role:
To provide a counselling service for people who reside in Perth & Kinross ensuring appropriate standards of delivery, client confidentiality, and contribution to the development of the counselling service. Preferable to have experience with young people and couples.
Responsibilities:
Person Specification:
Essential
Qualification
Personal Qualities
Experience