About Aberlour...

Aberlour is Scotland's leading children's charity and has been recognised as a Top 100 best places to work winner by the Sunday Times for 2025.

Our strategy is to be bold and brave, to ensure that every child in Scotland has an equal chance. As an organisation we are ambitious to deliver real and lasting change for children, young people and families.

We are committed to doing all we can to deliver on Scotland's Policy aspirations (The Promise, UNCRC) to be the best place to grow up for all children, young people and families.

What we are looking for...

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team.

You will play a key role in leading and delivering the best care and support for children. As an experienced leader you will work with key strategic partners in Forth Valley and Edinburgh to design and deliver services and models of care that offer the required support for children, young people and families.

You will oversee the leadership and management of our established and developing services including our newly opened mother and child recovery house; our community services which keep children and families together; our youth support services; and our intensive perinatal and volunteer led perinatal support services. You will also work with commissioners to identify future needs and growth opportunities.

You will have demonstrable management level experience in social care within the public, private or voluntary sector. You will thrive on building positive relationships with commissioners, local government, NHS, other third sector partners and trusts to identify opportunities for growth and additional funding. You will also be driven to influence local and national strategy, policy and practice to the benefit of vulnerable people.

You will hold a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 9 or above plus a management qualification at SCQF level 8 or above.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead lasting and meaningful change for children, young people and families.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. At Aberlour we have strong values - Respect, Integrity, Innovation and Challenging - which influence our everyday work. If you choose to apply for this role please tell us about your values in your supporting statement. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees click here.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme, life assurance worth 3x salary and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.

We also follow Data Protection Guidelines - Here is our privacy policy.

Incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law places the Commissioner at the leading edge of child rights strategic litigation. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to influence the development of Scots law and drive real systemic improvements in children’s lives.

This pivotal role helps promote and safeguard children’s rights in accordance with the duties of the office as set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003. Reporting to the Head of Legal, our Legal Officers (Solicitors) are responsible for the lawful and effective discharge of the Commissioner’s powers and duties.

As a key member of staff, you will exercise the Commissioner’s power to undertake investigations, and the new strategic litigation power brought in by the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. Working as part of the Legal Team, you will be responsible for ensuring the office achieves maximum strategic impact by undertaking swift, robust assessment and human rights analysis of cases and issues, providing advice on the most appropriate response, drafting submissions/terms of reference, carrying out investigations, instructing counsel and directly legally representing the Commissioner where appropriate.

Where required by the Commissioner or Head of Legal, you will also provide advice on and exercise the Commissioner’s statutory functions.

Alongside developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, you will be expected to work directly with children and young people to gain their views and understanding on various complex rights issues, this includes working with our Young Advisers Group.

We’re looking for someone with experience of successfully undertaking litigation in a fast-paced environment, and who evidences a commitment to rights-based practice, collaborative working and the highest professional and ethical standards

Are you an experienced, dynamic litigator who wants to work differently, using a child-centred approach that ensures that children and young people are kept at the heart of the process?

Are you motivated by the opportunity to play a key role in supporting Clan Childlaw deliver our vision of a Scotland where all children and young people are empowered to use their rights ? This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented lawyer, who has a strong commitment to social justice. You should have significant experience in strategic litigation, ideally within our areas of focus, but if you bring experience of and commitment to using your legal skills to improve lives then we want to hear from you .

Comprehensive training will be provided to support you in developing your knowledge and practice in our key areas, and you will be expected to obtain certification as a lawyer for children.

The role of Lead Solicitor – Strategic Litigation is an opportunity for a dynamic lawyer with a drive to shape and grow our unique child-centred legal services, increasing access to justice for children and young people across Scotland and play a key role in using strategic litigation to progress children and young people’s rights in Scotland.

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.

"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

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.

*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.

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

Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes books, reading and writing have the power to change lives. A love of reading inspires creativity, improves employment opportunities, mental health and wellbeing and is one of the most effective ways to help break the poverty cycle. We work towards a Scotland where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive through literacy.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to join Scottish Book Trust as Director of Programme. The position offers full time working within our Senior Management Team.

What we offer

• Part time, permanent role

• Competitive salary

• Flexible hybrid working between home and our Edinburgh City Centre Office, with great access by train, bus, and tram

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Company Sick Pay

• Pension with additional 5% employer contributions

• Death in service benefit

• Free access to employee assistance programme

Are you a strategic and creative thinker?

Do you have at least 5 years’ experience at a senior level in programme development and management?

Do you have experience of delivering innovation and change and engaging staff in a culture of creative excellence and continuous improvement?

You could join our organisation as a member of the senior management team and contribute to the success of our nationwide programmes, which include Bookbug, Book Week Scotland, Reading Schools, supporting writing and authors, and effective, valued research and evaluation.

The Director of Programme (DP) works with the CEO, Director of Finance & Operations and Director of Marketing to establish and deliver the strategic direction of Scottish Book Trust. The DP is responsible for overseeing the creative direction of all SBT programmes, leading on their strategic development and continuous improvement and has overall accountability for delivery. The DP will be a key lead negotiator for funding arising from Scottish Government departments.

The post holder line manages five heads of teams for Early Years, Reading Communities, Research and Evaluation, School Communities and Writing Communities, ensuring programmes are effective, impactful, and delivered to the highest standards.

At Baby Bank Scotland we support families living in poverty by appealing to the local community to donate items they no longer use or need. Since the organisation was established in 2017 we have been volunteer led, supporting thousands of families through providing essential items. We are now in a position to recruit a member of staff to develop our organisation, and we are looking for an experienced Manager.

Main purpose of the job:

We are seeking a compassionate, organised, and motivated Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our Baby Bank, based in Hamilton. This is a hands-on and varied role that requires strong interpersonal skills, administrative capability, and a genuine passion for helping others. You will provide a high level of administrative support to establish standard operating procedures and to prepare the organisation for further growth.

We are looking for someone with experience in:

• Financial Administration; income and expenditure monitoring and reporting; providing support to the Treasurer
• Volunteer management; recruiting and supporting the volunteers who contribute to the successful operations of the Baby Bank
• Building and maintaining relationships with partner agencies; including funder, local partners, and community groups.
• Supporting growth and promotion; including income generation and promoting the service through social media, local events, and outreach.

Fostering Compassion is a groundbreaking humane education project for vulnerable children who may be showing worrying behaviour towards animals or are struggling with compassion and empathy in general. Unique in our approach, our activities share the stories of rescued animals in a way that the children draw parallels between their circumstances and the animals, helping them see animals as sentient beings sharing similar emotions to them. Through sharing the animals’ stories, the children gain a greater understanding of their circumstances, providing a platform for them to open up about their own abuse and neglect, encouraging healing. We work to address the links between animal abuse, child abuse, elder abuse and interpersonal violence.

We are looking to recruit a Deputy Chief Executive Officer to assist and work alongside the CEO to provide strategic leadership for Fostering Compassion, ensuring that our services are delivered to the highest standards of quality and performance, fulfilling our mission and core values, leading by example.

You will support the CEO in acting as the ‘face’ of the organisation, maintaining relationships with stakeholders, donors and service users and providing direct management for the Volunteer Development Officer and the Fundraising Development Coordinator.

You will assist the CEO with the ongoing growth, development and expansion of Fostering Compassion to ensure longterm sustainability.

Responsibilities and Duties: Under guidance, the person in this role will

• Provide support to and work alongside the CEO preparing strategic plans and budgets
• Preparing and presenting (as required) Board papers and reports to enable the Board to effectively govern the Charity. To report and contribute to the Board of Trustees and CEO as appropriate.
• In conjunction with the CEO, oversee and Support the Volunteer Development Officer and Fundraising Development Co-ordinator
• Expand Supporter Base and assist with Development Plans
• Assist with development and delivery of services to a high standard
• Assist with Payroll and Staff assessments
• Assist with support and needs of Service Users and Event planning and execution
• Nurture and develop Community Relations and Partnerships
• Assist with identifying funding bodies
• Assist with Social Media and Website maintenance
• Liaise with the CEO regarding the overall financial arrangements of the Charity, ensuring relevant budgets are adhered to
• Contribute to strategic discussions
• Ensure that the gathering of performance data from services is consolidated into collective reports as required
• Ensure policies and procedures are up to date
• Ensure that disputes and complaints are dealt with quickly and effectively.
• Carry out other tasks and responsibilities of any nature as determined from time to time by the CEO, to ensure the effective management of the Charity.

Report to:The CEO. They are expected to work as part of a team but also be able to act on their own initiative

Work Hours: 70 hours per month. Work pattern flexible by agreement (some weekend work may be required. FTE £36,400)

Remuneration: £20 per hour (gross)

Location: Office based at our premises in Ormiston

Probationary period: 3 months

Requirements and skills

Essential:

• Proven experience in a similar position at Management level
• Sound knowledge of the not-for-profit sector and Charity Governance ideally including experience of Financial planning, Human Relations management, Organisational development and managing change
• Ability to work closely with the CEO while also working on your own initiative
• Have a demonstrable understanding of financial management, including budgeting and forecasting
• Have the ability to lead by example and display the personal drive, energy and coordination skills required to motivate staff and volunteers while working with them as part of a successful and established team
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills able to effectively promote the charity, its values, mission and ethos to stakeholders, funders and service users
• The ability to ensure that organisational change is managed in a restorative and positive manner, providing direction and leadership to staff and volunteers as appropriate while motivating and inspiring
• To provide cover for the CEO during absence and leave.
• Working knowledge of databases and MS Office (especially Excel)
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection, disclosure and safeguarding procedures
• Knowledge and experience of and with Social Media platforms
• A pleasant, outgoing personality
• Must love animals

Preferable:

• Knowledge of the Link
• Knowledge of the Human-Animal Bond
• Event management skills
• General Fundraising Skills
• Creativity

We are open minded about getting the right person for the position so even if you don’t feel you meet all the essential criteria, you may still want to apply.

Note: As part of the interview process we will be asking candidates to deliver a 5 minute presentation outlining their ideas for the growth and expansion of the charity to ensure long term success and sistainability.