Charity registered in Scotland SC016092
Top job! Head of Influence and Campaigns
- Full time
- £51,257 – £57,613
- Hybrid: Edinburgh or Glasgow
- Closing 9th January 2026
Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services.
In this role, you’ll:
- Lead the development and delivery of high-impact influence and campaigning activity that drives policy and practice change for children and families.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across communications, policy, services and fundraising to deliver bold, integrated campaigns.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, partners, influencers and decision-makers.
- Ensure campaigns are informed by evidence, data and the lived experience of children and families.
- Provide leadership and direction across policy and participation, creating a culture of connection, accountability and impact.
We’d love to hear from you if you have:
- Significant experience leading influence, campaigning, policy or public affairs work at a senior level.
- A proven track record of delivering campaigns that achieve meaningful change.
- Experience of leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders and partners.
- A collaborative, values-led approach and commitment to children’s rights and inclusion.
What we offer:
- A workplace with values of with love, with purpose and with strength
- 40 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
- Pension scheme and wellbeing support
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Access to Westfield Health, giving colleagues and their families confidential counselling support, wellbeing resources, and access to health and lifestyle benefits to support physical and mental wellbeing.
- Blue Light card discount
- A Fair Work accredited workplace
Our Values
Living our values, you will help create a workplace where our people can thrive, ensuring we deliver the best possible support to children and families.
With love, we put children first.
With purpose, we transform lives together.
With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.
Top job! Head of Support Line
- Full time
- £51,257 – £57,613
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 9th January 2026
Do you want to create a safer, brighter future for all children in Scotland?
Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We are seeking to appoint the Head of Support line. Guided by our values - with love, with purpose and with strength - we work to keep children safe, families strong and communities connected. Our support line is a lifeline for families, offering emotional, practical and financial support when it’s needed most. The role will be based in Edinburgh with hybrid and flexible working options available.
The role
We’re looking for an inspiring, experienced leader to head this vital service for Scotland’s families. In this role, you’ll oversee the day-to-day running of our high quality multi-channel support line, ensuring families receive timely, effective support through calls, webchat and email. You’ll lead a multi-skilled, experienced passionate team as they modernise this trusted national service. You will, champion children’s rights, innovation and make sure our services evolve to meet the changing needs of children and families.
This is more than an operational role - it’s delivering on our strategic priorities, collaborating with all stakeholders and about amplifying families’ voices, influencing policy and shaping services that make a real difference to children and families. You’ll also work closely with colleagues in business development and fundraising, helping to inspire supporters, strengthen partnerships and demonstrate the impact of our work to funders and donors.
If you have experience managing a helpline or multi-channel services, strong leadership skills and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for children and families, we’d love to hear from you.
What we are looking for
You will be an inspiring leader and will possess a degree or equivalent experience in social care, business management, or related field. In addition to professional training in leadership, safeguarding and service delivery (desirable).
What you can expect from us
As well as a rewarding career and development opportunities, 35 hour week, we offer 40 days annual leave per year pro rata, a contributory pension scheme, generous maternity/adoption and paternity leave, flexible working opportunities and wellbeing support.
With a supportive and inclusive working environment, the salary for this role is £51,257.00 - £57,613.00 per annum.
Our values
Living our values, you will make a direct impact to the lives of children across Scotland. With love, we put children first. With purpose, we transform children’s lives together. With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.
FGDM Coordinator
- Part time
- £30,002 – £35,076 pro-rata
- On site: Selkirk, Scottish Borders
- Closing 5th January 2026
A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team
Children First’s ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families to put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.
Family Group Decision Making is working with family groups in a strengths-based way to support them to create Family Plans, keeping children safe and at home within their family networks.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Family Group Decision Making coordinator. We have funding for a 12-month fixed term post to work alongside the Whole Family Wellbeing Team within Scottish Borders Council supporting families at an earlier stage of intervention.
We’d love to hear from anyone interested in Family Group Decision Making, or strengths-based approaches to working with families, and would like to extend their skill set.
What kind of people are we looking for?
- have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
- are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
- thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
- are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind
What kind of team member will you be?
Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:
- resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
- determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
- big hearted and courageous
- able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
- is compassionate and understanding of trauma
- a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
- inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
- an amazing ambassador for children and Children First
- Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.
At Children First, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects communities across Scotland. Guided by our values, With Love, With Purpose, With Strength, we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. We actively work to remove barriers to inclusion and promote equity in all aspects of our work. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from marginalised communities, and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and supportive recruitment process.
Base
You will be based in Selkirk with travel across the Scottish Borders.
Salary, Conditions, Pension
We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). Additional benefits include cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a Credit Union.