The Director is the senior leader of Firefly International, responsible for driving the charity’s mission to support war-affected children through the provision of education, mental health and peacebuilding programmes delivered in genuine partnership with our overseas partners. This is a hands-on leadership role within a small, donation-dependent charity, suited to an adaptable allrounder who is motivated to lead growth and change rather than maintain the status quo. Firefly has a good track record and a good reputation and has both the will and the capacity to do more and do better, for the children it exists to serve. To do that, it needs to recruit the right Director.

Organisation Profile

Firefly International was established as an arts-based playgroup, as civil war was coming to an end in Bosnia, to bring Bosnia’s Croat, Serb and Muslim children together. The founder, Ellie Maxwell, was a student at the University of Edinburgh at the time. Firefly still works in Bosnia, supporting its locally registered partner, Svitac (Firefly in local language) which is based in Brcko in the north-east, where the population is divided between the three ethnicities. It runs daily classes for pre-school children, outreach sessions with high schools and a youth group for the 16+ age group. All activities aim to build tolerance between different ethnicities and tackle the ignorance that fuels hatred and fear.

Since 2016 it has also been working with a Syrian partner organisation, delivering trauma-informed education. Initially it was working just in the Syrian refugee communities in Turkey. Later, it began work in northern Syria and more recently it has begun teaching in and around Latakia in western Syria. This is the largest of our three programme areas and the one with the most pressing demands for expansion, in response to the gaps in education in Syria today.

Until 7th October 2023 we partnered with a child mental health centre in Gaza. We have had to close the centre but aim to return to Gaza when we can. Meantime, we partner with an Egyptian group who help child medical evacuees from Gaza with therapeutic and educational activities.

Firefly is a long-established charity, small but with a long reach and ambitious goals. It is distinctive in its stated aim of remaining with its partners for as long as it is needed and useful. It encourages the development of projects by local staff in response to local needs. Its income and scope have grown considerably in recent years. It is driven by the need to be as effective as it can be, supporting partners in their aspirations for the children and young people of their own communities.

The Role

This is a full-time role based in Edinburgh for a Director at Firefly International (open to discussing part time or flexible working arrangements). The Director will oversee the strategic direction, daily operations, and overall performance of the organisation. Key tasks include managing budgets, fundraising efforts, supervising staff and volunteers, maintaining strong relationships with partner organisations, and ensuring the effective delivery of programmes. The Director will also represent Firefly to stakeholders, including donors and international partners, and work to enhance its impact and visibility.

The Service Head of Residential Care, is a key member of the Senior Leadership and Management Team (SLMT) and has a critical role in achieving Rossie’s vision and mission. This post has both an inward and outward organisational focus, ensuring delivery of safe trauma informed residential care in line with all internal and national requirements. Our organisation is multi-disciplinary and the post-holder must work collaboratively, in line with our values, with all departments and services. As a Senior Manager, the post-holder will contribute to the development/delivery of the Business Plan, operate within budget and manage all resources effectively and efficiently. This post will be responsible for developing and improving Residential Care and Throughcare services, fostering a sound organisational culture and in line with The Promise and other national developments.

Careers that care!

Do you have a passion for connecting with people to achieve their goals in life, and enjoy the sense of achievement in empowering vulnerable people?

If so, we have a fabulous Service Manager opportunity for you to join our awesome team, leading our Dumfries & Galloway Learning Disability service. Because People Matter at Turning Point Scotland, why not join us to reach your full potential.

Embark on an emotionally rewarding journey and apply today!

About the role

As the Registered Manager, you will be an experienced leader leading a team working with individuals who have a wide range of support needs, providing them with practical and emotional support and encouraging them to achieve their own personal outcomes in all aspects of their daily lives e.g. keeping safe, meaningful activities, community involvement, physical health, relationships, emotional health and wellbeing.

As the Registered Manager you will:

• Maintain the continuing relevance of services to individuals’ needs and purchaser requirements by ongoing planning, monitoring and evaluation.
• Oversee the financial aspects of the service, managing significant budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and making financial decisions.
• Where a need or an opportunity is identified, lead on the development of new services, support business growth and maintain reputational excellence.
• Comply with governance, law and legislation including local authority compliance, Care Inspectorate (at level 5 and above), SSSC and safeguarding procedures.
• Support the senior management team in the streamlining, promotion and monitoring of quality assurance systems which meets the needs of individual services as well as the overall service delivery in the region.
• Develop, monitor and implement supervision and appraisal systems for staff.

About You

You will have passion and drive to take forward a well-established Service and Team. Be passionate; and committed to the overall aims and objectives of the service and have the belief that people can live fulfilling lives with the right support in place.

You should also have:

• Experience of working with vulnerable people and leading a service delivery team, including managing the provision of a safe operating environment in a relevant context.
• The ability to negotiate with a wide range of internal and external partners and build positive relationships including local authorities and housing associations.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to effectively prioritise your own time and workload to meet a number of different and competing tasks in sometimes pressurised environment.
• Social Service and Health Care at level 9 (SCQF) or other speciality/qualification recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes as well as a relevant management qualification.