Charity registered in Scotland SC009898
Top job! Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Full time
- £55,000 – £65,000
- On site: Edinburgh with some travel within the UK
- Closing 14th July 2026
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for delivering meaningful impact? We’re looking for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer to help lead Deaf Action through its next stage of growth, ensuring our services, people, and operations are positioned to deliver lasting change for Deaf communities. Could that be you?
Deaf Action is a Deaf-led charity, supporting and celebrating Deaf people since 1835. We work with Deaf people across Scotland and the South of England, empowering individuals to achieve their potential and fully participate in society with equality of rights, access and opportunity.
Through a range of charitable and commercial services, Deaf Action provides support, access, education, communication services and opportunities that improve the lives of Deaf people. We are committed to innovation, sustainability, and delivering high-quality services that create lasting impact.
Role purpose
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides strategic and operational leadership across Deaf Action, ensuring the organisation delivers high-quality, integrated services in line with its mission, values, and business plan.
Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the COO will be responsible for translating strategy into effective operational delivery, driving organisational performance, commercial growth, and long-term sustainability. The COO provides leadership across service delivery, operational systems, performance management, and organisational development, ensuring Deaf Action operates efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with its strategic objectives.
Key responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across Deaf Action, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and sustainable service delivery.
- Contribute to the growth and development of Deaf Action’s commercial services, helping to maximise income and long-term sustainability.
- Work closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to translate organisational strategy into effective operational plans and outcomes.
- Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure services and operations align with Deaf Action’s mission, values, and commitment to Deaf-led practice and accessibility.
- Lead major organisational projects and cross-functional initiatives, ensuring successful delivery and integration across services.
- Support financial sustainability through effective budgeting, resource management, and oversight of commercial activities.
- Establish robust reporting and accountability frameworks, ensuring clear performance information is available to the CEO and Board.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, funders, stakeholders, and external agencies, representing Deaf Action where required.
- Drive innovation and continuous improvement across the organisation, ensuring that services remain responsive to the needs of Deaf communities.
Person specification
Essential:
- Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role, leading complex, multi-service or multi-department organisations.
- Demonstrable success in commercial income generation, organisational growth or change management.
- Strong strategic planning, operational management, and decision-making capability.
- Experience developing and managing high-performing teams.
- Experience implementing performance management systems and reporting frameworks.
- Strong understanding of core organisational functions, including operations, finance, HR, and service delivery.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Commitment to Deaf Action’s mission, values, accessibility, and inclusion.
Desirable:
- Experience working within the third sector, public service, or mission-led organisations,
- Understanding of Deaf communities and Deaf-led organisations.
- Experience working within the care or support service sector.
- Knowledge of accessible service delivery and inclusive practice.
- British Sign Language (BSL) skills or willingness to develop skills.
What’s on offer?
- Occupational pension scheme with employer contributions of 6%
- 32 days leave pro rata (inc bank holidays)
- 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme provided by Health Assured
- In-house Mental Health First Aiders
- Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and IT Voucher Scheme
- Ongoing support for learning and development through our PDR process
We’re looking for a Youth Service Co-ordinator with a passion for diversity and inclusion to join our team. Could that be you?
Who are we?
Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity, supporting and celebrating deaf people. We were established in 1835 and work with deaf people across Scotland and the South of England. Our work is geared towards empowering all deaf people to achieve their potential and fully participate in society, with equality of rights, access and opportunity.
You can find out more about us at deafaction.org.
About you
Our Youth Service supports deaf and hard of hearing young people to build confidence, develop life skills, improve wellbeing, connect with peers and explore a positive deaf identity.
To co-ordinate and deliver Deaf Action’s Youth Service for deaf and hard of hearing young people, primarily aged 10–18.
The postholder will deliver youth work activity funded by Young Start and Gannochy Trust, supporting young people to improve wellbeing, build community connections, develop life skills and access leadership, enterprise and employability opportunities.
The role includes direct youth work delivery, supporting the Youth Council, co-ordinating sessional youth workers and volunteers, building partnerships, and gathering evidence of impact for funders.
The ideal candidates will be fully committed to our values, which can be found on our website.
Main duties
- Plan, co-ordinate and deliver accessible youth clubs, social events, workshops, trips, residentials and community activities.
- Support deaf and hard of hearing young people to build confidence, resilience, independence, communication skills and positive peer relationships.
- Establish and support a Youth Council, enabling young people to shape activities, influence priorities and take part in decision-making.
- Support young people to access skills, training, leadership, volunteering, enterprise and employability opportunities.
- Build and maintain relationships with schools, Teachers of the Deaf, audiology services, youth services, families and community partners.
- Develop referral pathways and promote the Youth Service to young people, families and partner organisations.
- Co-ordinate Sessional Youth Workers and Volunteers to ensure safe, inclusive and high-quality delivery.
- Ensure safeguarding, child protection, PVG, GDPR, consent, health and safety, and risk assessment procedures are followed.
- Maintain accurate records of attendance, feedback, outcomes and case studies.
- Contribute to reports for Young Start, Gannochy Trust and other funders.
- Work closely with the Project Manager to monitor delivery, budget use, outcomes and service development.
- Represent Deaf Action at meetings, events and forums as required.
- Carry out other appropriate duties as requested by the Project Manager.
Person specification
Essential
- Experience of delivering youth work with children and/or young people.
- Experience of planning and delivering group activities, workshops, events or youth programmes.
- Experience supporting young people to build confidence, wellbeing, independence and life skills.
- Experience involving young people in decision-making, activity planning or service development.
- Understanding of safeguarding, child protection, GDPR, consent and risk assessment.
- Strong organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to build positive relationships with young people, families, schools and partners.
- Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
- Good administration and IT skills.
- Willingness to work evenings, weekends and occasional residentials.
- Willingness to undertake British Sign Language training if not already proficient.
- PVG scheme membership, or willingness to apply.
Desirable
- Professional qualification in Youth Work, Community Learning and Development, Social Work, Social Care, Social Science or another relevant field.
- Experience working with deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or disabled young people.
- Experience supporting a Youth Council, youth forum or peer leadership group.
- Experience co-ordinating volunteers or sessional workers.
- Experience supporting employability, digital skills, enterprise, volunteering or work placements.
- British Sign Language.
- Full clean driving licence.
- Outdoor activity skills.
Knowledge, skills and attributes
- Good understanding of youth work principles and inclusive practice.
- Knowledge of issues affecting deaf and hard of hearing young people and their families.
- Ability to create safe, accessible and culturally appropriate spaces for young people.
- Commitment to youth voice, participation and young people’s leadership.
- Flexible, proactive and able to adapt to young people’s needs.
- Committed to equality, inclusion, safeguarding and accessible communication.
- Able to work collaboratively as part of a wider team.
- Able to motivate young people and support them to recognise their strengths.
Other requirements
- Regular evening and weekend work will be required.
- PVG checks will be required before appointment.
- British Sign Language training will be provided if required.
The role is funded through Young Start and Gannochy Trust until May 2027, subject to continuation funding.
What’s on offer?
- Occupational pension scheme with employer contributions of 6%
- 32 days leave pro rata (inc bank holidays) pro rata for part time
- Long service benefits
- Day off on your birthday
- 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme provided by Health Assured
- In-house Mental Health First Aiders
- Death in service benefit
- Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and IT Voucher Scheme
- Ongoing support for learning and development through our PDR process
- BSL course, if required