The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Research Officer to support our team in Scotland.

This is an exciting opportunity to design and implement impactful research and evaluation projects. You will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to collect and analyse data, ensuring that our work is informed by lived experience and reflects the diverse needs of the communities we serve.

What does the role involve?

• Lead and support research projects, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Produce high-quality reports, presentations, and academic publications to share findings with varied audiences.
• Conduct systematic and pragmatic evidence reviews to inform our initiatives.
• Collaborate with colleagues in communications and policy to ensure our research drives meaningful impact.
• Represent the Mental Health Foundation at events to promote our research and vision.

Requirements

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

• A degree or relevant equivalent in a relevant field with substantial research elements, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proven ability to manage research projects and deliver results on time and to budget.
• Excellent communication skills to present complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Commitment to ethical research practices and inclusivity, with a focus on addressing inequality and adversity.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

Fixed term from April 2025 to 31st October 2026 (with possible extension).

About the role

The Legal Policy Manager will play a key role in empowering the children’s sector to use the law to drive systemic change and ensure children experience their rights in practice.

This exciting new role will be central to delivery of an innovative joint project between Clan Childlaw and Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights), funded by the Human Rights Fund.

Clan Childlaw is a leader in child-centred strategic litigation that drives systemic change, while Together represents over 600 organisations working to promote and protect children’s rights in Scotland.

The post holder will support strategic legal interventions, including the use of the UNCRC, to drive change for children and young people in Scotland.

The project aims to empower and enable Scotland’s children’s sector to use the law to advance children’s rights. These legal interventions may include strategic litigation, and seeking legal opinions, as well as wider measures such as supporting Together members to challenge rights breaches through informal processes etc.

Responsibilities include managing Clan’s Strategic Litigation Group, helping Together members identify opportunities for legal intervention, identifying strategic cases for Clan, and developing resources to promote the implementation and advance of children’s rights.

Location: Edinburgh or Glasgow

You can choose the location that works best for you. We operate hybrid working with the opportunity to work from home some of the time. The role will also require travel between our office locations on a regular basis and throughout Scotland as required.

About Clan Childlaw

Clan wants a Scotland where all children and young people’s rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled. For that to happen, Scotland has to be a place where all children and young people can stand up for their rights. That means children and young people need:

• Lawyers that are experts in working with children
• People around them who can enable them to use their rights and amplify their voices
• To be respected as rights-holders, who are entitled to hold duty-bearers to account if their rights are not fulfilled.

Clan is an award-winning, independent children’s charity that actively supports children and young people to take ownership of their rights. We are the only charity in Scotland that provides free, independent legal representation exclusively for children and young people, which is child-centred by design. Because our lawyers work directly with children and young people whose lives are affected by legal decisions, we bring that unique practice-based knowledge to every aspect of our work. This includes our specialist training, our helpline supporting others who help children to use their voices and their rights, and our work to influence children’s rights respecting changes to practice, policy and law.

What We Do

• We stand with others who help children use their rights –

Through our membership and training for legal professionals and in legal education we are making being a “children’s lawyer” an accredited legal skill set in Scotland. Our practical training and helpline and support for advocacy in Children’s Hearings provides adults that support children and young people information and guidance that they can use to empower young people to stand up for their rights.

• We stand out through the excellence of our work –

We want our work to have as much impact as possible. We listen to what children and young people tell us about what they need from lawyers and others who support them to use their rights. We use what we learn to develop and design the services they need and talk about why young people’s rights matter, and why children and young people need lawyers.

• We stand for change –

We are lawyers for children and young people representing children and young people in court, at Children’s Hearings, and in important meetings working to give them equal opportunity to heard and use their rights. We take cases that make change for individual children and young people and help shape better rights respecting policy and practice. We use our knowledge of the law, and experience as practising lawyers for children and young people, to ask decision makers and lawmakers to change the law and the way the law is used to make sure that children and young people's rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Our Values

Our values are the principles we uphold in all our work, no matter what. They are the foundation of our workplace culture. Everyone who works at Clan shows our values in all they do and say.

We are supportive: We listen and respond, we provide encouragement and emotional help to children and young people, to others who support young people, and to each other.

We are bold: We are confident and courageous in amplifying the voices of children and young people. We are prepared to take risks when we need to, to defend children and young people’s rights.

We are dynamic: We are always active, always progressing. We are positive, full of energy and new ideas. We ask for change where it is needed.

What we can offer you

Clan Childlaw’s mission is very important to us, but our people are important too. We recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and a friendly supportive work environment. We offer:

• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) increasing to 35 after 2 years’ service
• Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme after 3 months service
• Offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the option to choose the base location that works best for you.
• Flexibility around your working day, with the opportunity to work your hours within the hours of 7am to 7pm, and the option to work from home some of your working week.
• Access to our employee counselling service.

Learning and development is important to us and our team. We hope it’s important to you too. You will be encouraged to engage in learning and continued professional development.

"I have never worked in such a lovely organisation before! I feel valued, seen and heard as an individual here." - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

"I love my job at Clan. It's busy and varied and no two days are ever the same. We have a great team here and everyone is really supportive." - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

If you’re thinking of applying but would like to have a chat about it first please get in touch at clientrecruitment@worknest.com

We’re looking for someone who has experience in a similar role, who understands the Scottish and UK political systems and can lead on Close the Gap’s parliamentary engagement work. You’ll have experience in policy advocacy, and be able to think creatively to identify opportunities for progressing our policy priorities in innovative ways. You’ll be a core part of our team, who’s proactive about getting things done, and willing to take the lead on key projects and policy areas. Committed to an intersectional approach to women’s labour market equality, you’ll also be supporting research projects which aim to gather evidence on the experiences of women who are most marginalised in the labour market.

Purpose

To effectively influence policy development around women’s labour market equality by producing policy analysis, briefings and consultation responses, and participating in strategic policy work. To lead on Close the Gap’s parliamentary engagement work, influence parliamentary processes, and shape Close the Gap’s approach to progressing its policy advocacy priorities. A key part of this role is building strong relationships and working collaboratively with organisations, parliamentarians, and government officials to influence and promote Close the Gap’s policy priorities.

Responsible to:Head of Policy and Development

The post is fixed term, funded until 31 March 2026 with a potential extension, depending on funding.

Close the Gap values diversity in our workforce, and recognise the benefits it brings to the organisation. We therefore particularly encourage applications from racially-minoritised people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in the organisation.

We’re strongly committed to enabling flexible working for staff, and will consider all options to enable applicants to work flexibly.

Organisation profile

Close the Gap is Scotland’s policy advocacy organisation working on women’s labour market participation. We work strategically with policymakers, employers and unions to address the causes of the gender pay gap. We deliver advocacy to influence policy and legislative change; produce research, analysis and insight into women’s diverse experiences of the labour market; and influence employers to develop intersectional, gender-sensitive employment practice.

Want to work in one of the most influential places in Scotland? Now is your chance!

This is an excellent opportunity to join us as an Assistant Clerk at the Scottish Parliament. We have a number of vacancies and are also looking to expand our pool of Assistant Clerks who can be considered for future vacancies. As we’re also recruiting to a pool, if you’re not available to start with us immediately, you can also apply now to be considered for inclusion in the pool.

We’re looking for enthusiastic multi-taskers to work within our Committee and Chamber Office. Working in either office you’ll be part of a team in which you’ll play a key role in supporting the Members of the Scottish Parliament in inquiring into and debating issues of importance to the people of Scotland, in holding the Scottish Government to account and in deciding on new laws.

You’ll demonstrate an acute awareness of the political background with the ability to apply this within a high pressured and high-profile environment. You’ll have exceptional interpersonal skills and will establish effective relationships, both within and out with the Parliament, providing politically impartial advice.

As a leader, you’ll role model the Parliament’s values by empowering and motivating others, acting impartially and exercising sound judgement in everything you do. You’ll have excellent problem solving and organisational skills and will manage competing priorities to meet tight deadlines. You’ll have political nous, and ability to understand and apply procedure, and an ability to communicate with great accuracy and impact.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a Minority Ethnic background and candidates with a disability. All appointments will be made on merit. We have a values-based culture of respect and inclusion embedded in our organisation, and everyone has the ability to make a difference.

We offer a great range of benefits including: 41.5 leave days (including public holidays), flexible working, paid professional subscriptions, family-friendly policies, Season Ticket advance loans, an onsite gym facility, Health and Wellbeing Schemes including discounted gym membership, a confidential counselling and information service, and the Cycle to Work Scheme.

You’ll also have the opportunity to join the Alpha Civil Service pension scheme, where we’ll offer you an employer contribution of 28.97% of your basic salary.

For full information about this role and to apply for this job please visit our careers page. Please visit the recruitment process to further understand our application process and gain some hints and tips on your application.

SFHA is the membership body for, and collective voice of, housing associations and co operatives in Scotland. Our members collectively provide safe, warm affordable rented homes for around half a million people. We exist to represent, support and connect our members.

We are now looking for a Policy Lead to help us understand the issues our members are facing and work to find solutions. Although you’ll work flexibly across policy areas where needed, you’ll have a particular focus on issues around developing new homes, and building safety and maintenance, and are likely to have experience in one or both of these areas.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you’ll organise our engagement with members in these areas, develop policy, create reports, briefings and consultation responses, represent SFHA externally and build strong relationships with our members.

Scotland is facing a housing emergency, and our members are a crucial part of tackling it. This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a job that really matters.

We offer excellent terms and conditions, including strong support for training and development.

Are you passionate about youth participation and ensuring that LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland are given the opportunities and skills to speak truth to power? Can you work with trans and non-binary young people to help them shape an existing platform of work so that they are achieving their aims? Can you provide goal orientated support for young people? If so, we want to hear from you.

Join our vibrant team of staff and volunteers delivering high quality services supporting LGBTQ+ young people right across Scotland.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative person to oversee our Trans Rights Youth Commission and our work with Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs).

A hybrid role, you will:

• Oversee the Trans Rights Youth Commission (TRYC), ensuring that Commissioners are supported in their role and that regular development days occur
• Provide support to our two Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) and their work within the Scottish Youth Parliament, including attending sittings of parliament and working with the MSYPs on submitting motions
• Embed and strengthen ties between our Participation work and other aspects of the Charity, particularly our Youth Work practice, as well as championing our Participation work externally

This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of youth participation within Scotland and make a lasting, and sometimes life-saving, impact for LGBTQ+ young people, as well as supporting them to make such impacts themselves.

We want to hear from you if you have:

• A strong foundation in participatory or youth work practice.
• A passion for supporting young people to achieve their potential and developing their leadership skills
• A close understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and the key issues facing LGBTQ+ young people, particularly trans and non-binary young people – or a keen willingness to learn this

Are you passionate about youth participation and ensuring that LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland are given the opportunities and skills to speak truth to power? Can you work with our Mental Health Youth Commission to help them shape their work so that they are achieving their aims? Can you provide goal-orientated support for young people and work within models of co-production to help produce and continue the success of platforms of change? If so, we want to hear from you.

Join our vibrant team of staff and volunteers delivering high quality services supporting LGBTQ+ young people right across Scotland.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative person to oversee our Mental Health Youth Commission and our Youth Reference Group.

A hybrid role, you will:

• Developing the Mental Health Youth Commission, including co-designing and honing the programme of work with the Youth Commissioners; working towards the outcomes as developed
• Developing the Youth Reference Group (a group of young people who work with our Board to make sure young people are included in, and informing, decision making at every level) to ensure it’s running well, that participants and the Board are satisfied of such, and that it’s achieving its outcomes
• Embed and strengthen ties between our Participation work and other aspects of the Charity, particularly our Youth Work practice, as well as championing our Participation work externally

This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of youth participation within Scotland and make a lasting, and sometimes life-saving, impact for LGBTQ+ young people, as well as supporting them to make such impacts themselves.

We want to hear from you if you have:

• A strong foundation in participatory or youth work practice.
• A passion for supporting young people to achieve their potential and developing their leadership skills
• A close understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and the key issues facing LGBTQ+ young people, particularly young people with varying experiences of mental health – or a keen willingness to learn this

Carnegie UK is excited to be recruiting two new roles to join our policy team, focusing on research and data – this role is for a new Senior Researcher (Data and Insight).

We are a charitable trust and have been working to improve wellbeing in the UK and Ireland for over 100 years. We seek to influence public policy and practice at a systemic level, building on robust evidence and research to argue for change.

In 2021 we published our new strategy which updated how we work. We are focussed on improving collective wellbeing: ensuring everyone has what they need to live well now and in the future.

Our dual strategic aims are to tackle threats to wellbeing and to put wellbeing at the heart of decision making. We are looking for someone with the skills and experience to work across data sources and be able to generate insights around this to help us to build a compelling body of evidence and policy insight in support of these aims.

This is an opportunity for a proven researcher to work at the interface between data, research, public policy and practice to help generate useful insights. The post holder will work across the UK and Ireland, helping us to understand and advance the kind of policy and practice changes needed to make a difference to people’s lives.

We are looking for someone with demonstrable research experience with a focus on data analysis to join our team. The successful candidate will have an excellent awareness of quality assurance practice and a desire to learn more about wellbeing.

Carnegie UK offers a flexible and supportive working environment and exceptional terms and conditions. We operate a 35-hour working week and provide 5 paid days each year for volunteering. We aim for staff to spend two days a week (currently two days across Monday to Wednesday) together in Andrew Carnegie House in Dunfermline but recognise that this may not always be possible every week.

Carnegie UK is excited to be recruiting two new roles to join our policy team, focusing on research and data – this role is for a new Senior Researcher (Research and Insight).

We are a charitable trust and have been working to improve wellbeing in the UK and Ireland for over 100 years. We seek to influence public policy and practice at a systemic level, building on robust evidence and research to argue for change.

In 2021 we published our new strategy which updated how we work. We are focussed on improving collective wellbeing: ensuring everyone has what they need to live well now and in the future.

Our dual strategic aims are to tackle threats to wellbeing and to put wellbeing at the heart of decision making. For this role we are looking for someone with the skills and experience to work across a range of research projects and be able to generate insights around this to help us to build a compelling body of evidence and policy insight in support of these aims.

This is an opportunity for a proven researcher to work at the interface between data, research, public policy and practice to help generate useful insights. The post holder will work across the UK and Ireland, helping us to understand and advance the kind of policy and practice changes needed to make a difference to people’s lives.

For this role we are looking for someone with demonstrable research experience who is likely to be a mixed methods researcher with experience of qualitative and quantitative research to join our team. The successful candidate will have an excellent awareness of quality assurance practice and a desire to learn more about wellbeing.

Carnegie UK offers a flexible and supportive working environment and exceptional terms and conditions. We operate a 35-hour working week and provide 5 paid days each year for volunteering. We aim for staff to spend two days a week (currently two days across Monday to Wednesday) together in Andrew Carnegie House in Dunfermline but recognise that this may not always be possible every week.

If you have the experience we are looking, then we’d love to hear from you.