About Us

Kindred is a vibrant organisation supporting over 800 families of children with complex needs each year. Established in 1990 at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh (RHCYPE), our organisation has always been parent-led. Our core services are delivered by dedicated teams based in hospitals and through our Community team. We also provide specialised counselling services and a Parenting Programme (Early Positive Approaches to Support).

Our vision is that parents of children with complex needs in Scotland will have early access to peer-led support and information.

About The Job

As CEO, you will lead Kindred in achieving its mission of supporting families of children with complex needs. You will manage the implementation of the Strategic Plan and drive growth by enhancing the charity’s visibility while maximising the impact of our work. As an organisation we are evolving and you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Kindred. You will work closely with the Senior Management Team and maintain an expert knowledge of issues relevant to our service users (including statutory provision, benefits, charitable funding and other support available through the voluntary sector).

As CEO, you will lead Kindred with passion and dedication, ensuring our mission of supporting families of children with complex needs remains at the heart of everything we do. You will work closely with our Board of Trustees to develop and implement strategic plans, build strong partnerships, and secure sustainable funding. Your role will involve overseeing day-to-day operations, managing our talented team, and advocating for the needs of our families.

Main Areas of Responsibility

People Management: Work with the Senior Management Team to ensure effective management of Kindred’s staff team including liaising with external HR support. Develop Kindred’s team to support the delivery of Kindred’s services and strategic plan.

Fundraising: Lead on a competitive and responsive fundraising strategy, supported by our fundraising team.

Governance: Support Kindred’s Chair and trustees in providing strategic leadership and governance. Ensure Kindred’s governance processes are robust and effective.

Finance: Ensure Kindred’s finances are managed to a high standard with timely reporting.

Kindred Services: Ensure operations are supported to enable the delivery of high-quality services to our service users in line with our objectives.

Administration: Enable the smooth running of our organisation including leading on the development of online systems.

Public Profile: Represent Kindred in the charity sector and liaise with key stakeholders to support our brand and strategic impact. Maximise technology use to increase our public profile and the impact on the community.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a candidate who can hit the ground running in this role and therefore we require candidates to have:

• Senior Leadership Experience: Proven track record in senior leadership roles within an organisation.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve organisational goals.
• Financial Management: Strong financial acumen and experience in budget management and financial reporting.
• People Management: Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, build strong relationships, and create a positive work culture.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including funders, partners, and government officials.
• Policy and Governance: Knowledge of charity governance, regulatory frameworks, and data protection.
• Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience in report writing, journal writing, public speaking, and media engagement.
• Fundraising and Income Generation: Experience in securing funding and developing fundraising strategies.
• IT Proficiency: Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Ideally you will also have:

• Postgraduate qualification in management or a relevant field.
• Personal experience of caring for a child with complex needs.
• Understanding of practice supervision and/or qualification in counselling
• Experience of liaising with Scottish Government, local authorities and health boards
• Current driving licence