We’re on a journey to create fairer communities by facilitating 10 million social entrepreneurs globally by 2030. Do you want to help make this a reality?
We’re seeking a qualified and experienced leader to join our team as our Strategic Partnerships and Development Lead.
Reporting to the Head of Adult Learning, you will lead and expand the Academy’s work, delivering on contracted programmes and driving new business opportunities.
In this role, you will shape the growth of our learning offering by forging impactful partnerships, managing client relationships, and overseeing high-quality programme delivery. You will take responsibility for meeting ambitious targets while ensuring our work continues to create meaningful and measurable impact.
Playing a central role in strategic planning you will manage the team to deliver operational plans that maximise performance, reach, and programme effectiveness. This requires an effective line manager, who champions team wellbeing and provides mentoring and coaching to help them build their skills and capacity.
You will support strategy execution, sales activity, facilitator engagement, process improvement, financial oversight, quality assurance, contract compliance, monitoring and evaluation, and client account management—helping to secure the long-term sustainability and success of the Academy and being a key contributor to organisational development.
Having the right mindset, attitude and approach is as important for us as having the right experience and skills. We appreciate that the best person might not have all the listed criteria yet so if you think your experience, skills and attitude will help you to make a great contribution in this role and you have the right mindset, we would welcome an application from you.
Organisation profile:
At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.
We strengthen their role in local communities through transformational learning programmes that will increase their community impact.
Our programmes are accredited, responsive to learner needs, and are delivered by experienced Facilitators who are social change leaders themselves.
Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.
About you
We’re looking for someone to join our team with a strong belief in equality, human rights and social justice. You will have an understanding of the experiences, strengths and challenges faced by refugees, people seeking asylum, and other New Scots communities, and the motivation to support the development of the New Scots Edinburgh Refugee Integration Strategy, working closely with key stakeholders and statutory partners.
You will also work with colleagues to produce responses to public consultations and policy proposals from statutory partners in partnership with key third sector stakeholders.
About us
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is a charity that was established in 1868. In July 2025, we published a new strategic plan to guide our work for the next five years.
Our purpose is to serve the needs of people and communities across Edinburgh by supporting our members and third sector organisations to be effective and drive the change they need.
We work in three areas - advocacy, capacity building and collaboration - underpinned by research and analysis to inform our work to support third sector organisations and the communities they serve.
EVOC is a living wage employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity and welcome applications from members of all communities.
Benefits:
About Sunny Cycles
Sunny Cycles is a community-focused cycling organisation which enables people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of cycling and cycling activities. Founded in 2022, we support mental health, social inclusion, and accessibility by providing led rides, cycling lessons, adaptive cycling for disabled people, and creating welcoming spaces for refugees and New Scots. We operate a community hub at Glasgow Green, and Victoria Park offering free or low-cost cycling sessions for individuals facing financial hardship, social isolation, or discrimination. We provide adapted bikes for those who cannot ride standard 2 wheelers and work with individuals and groups within the community to enable people to experience the mental and physical benefits of cycling.
Sunny Cycles operates as a registered charity and a social enterprise. As we grow, we are looking for a Development & Enterprise Officer who can strengthen our income generation pathways and support the long-term sustainability of our work, including our expanding work with disability and care-home cycling programmes.
Role Purpose
The Development & Enterprise Officer will lead on developing and delivering income-generating opportunities that support Sunny Cycles’ mission. This includes building partnerships, developing commercial activities, strengthening our social enterprise offer, managing budgets and ensuring financial sustainability so we can move away from grant funding.
The role is ideal for someone who is proactive, entrepreneurial, and passionate about inclusive cycling and community wellbeing.