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Charity registered in Scotland SC002327
Are you passionate about Housing and ending Homelessness?
Shelter Scotland helps half a million people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
Top job! Head of Services
- Part time
- £62,020 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Shelter Scotland provides the opportunity for individuals to work within a flexible, hybrid environment. We have office bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen. This role can be home based, but travel will be required.
- Closing 12th March 2026
Are you an experienced leader with a passion for delivering high-quality advice and driving meaningful change? Join Shelter Scotland as our Head of Services and be a part of the Community & Services Management Team, playing a key role in shaping and delivering our Strategic Plan.
About the role
This post is responsible for the management and development of the Housing Law Service, the Telephone & Online Advice Services and the Central Support team within Community & Services. Collaboration and joined up working are vital to effectively support the delivery of the Shelter Scotland Strategic Plan.
Role specifics
As Head of Services, you’ll share responsibility for leading Shelter Scotland’s Community & Services department, helping to develop and deliver our annual operational plan in line with our Strategic Plan. You’ll work across teams to deliver key projects and programmes, ensure strong governance, quality and compliance, and use evidence and insight from our services to drive improvement and influence change. You’ll jointly lead high-quality advice services, take shared responsibility for safeguarding, manage budgets effectively and support income generation by building strong internal relationships and contributing to compelling cases for support.
Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About the team
Shelter Scotland is a one of six Directorates of Shelter. Led by the Director of Shelter Scotland, the Directorate comprises two departments: Community & Services and Communications & Advocacy. Both departments are led by an Assistant Director.
As a result of planned retirements and Board renewal, we have two opportunities to join our Board as Trustees for Shelter Scotland:
Role 1 Trustee
Role 2 Chair of the Scotland Committee and Vice-Chair to the Board of Trustees.
We’re looking for people with a range of professional and personal experiences. Strong candidates will relish the chance to join a high-performing Board, working with an extremely talented and highly motivated Executive Leadership Team. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve in Scotland.
Experience in the following areas would be key:
- Knowledge and understanding of the operating environment for third sector organisations in Scotland.
- Experience of public affairs or social policy development in a Scottish context.
- Experience of delivering anti-racism policy and in practice.
- Knowledge and understanding of fundraising in the Scottish context.
What is the Voluntary Sector?
The ‘voluntary sector’ refers to organisations whose primary purpose is to create social impact rather than profit. It is independent from local and national government, and distinct from the private sector. Charities are the largest single category within the voluntary sector.
About Shelter and Shelter Scotland
We are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent. Our Trustees play a vital role in making sure that we achieve our core purpose.
Being a Trustee
Our Board of Trustees is a non-executive Board with overall legal responsibility for the direction, management and control of Shelter and is collectively accountable for compliance with charity law, company law and other legislative and regulatory requirements. As a Trustee, you will have the chance to support and shape our work and strategic direction. Trusteeship can help you gain experience of strategy and leadership. It will give you experience of setting a strategic vision, influencing and negotiation, and managing risk. If you already have significant experience in these areas, it can be stimulating to use it in a different and potentially challenging context. As a Trustee, you will be part of a team and will have the opportunity to apply your unique skills and experience while learning from others. Working closely with a passionate team of people who have different perspectives is often one of the most enjoyable aspects of the role. People with lived or learned experience of homelessness can bring powerful perspectives to our Board and play an important role in shaping our strategy. Terms of Appointment Terms of office are normally limited to a maximum of two terms, each of three years.
Remuneration
Trustees receive no fees, remuneration, salary or other financial benefits nor any other material benefits in their role at Shelter. However, they can claim reasonable expenses for attendance at Board and other meetings or events in line with the Trustee Expenses Policy.
Application Criteria
Charity Commission CC30 Guidance and the Charities Act 2011 disqualifies some people from acting as a trustee. Shelter will not appoint a person who is not allowed by law to be a trustee.