The Manager will support the delivery of our innovative childcare services, ensuring that the quality standards and the vision, values, and aims of the organisation are fully implemented. They will provide high-quality childcare in line with all local and national regulations, fostering a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment for children.

Background

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which exists to celebrate and share the power of writers, their ideas, and the words they craft to illuminate, challenge, and inspire.

Since 1983, we have welcomed millions of visitors into conversations with the world’s greatest and most exciting emerging writers, thinkers, artists, and performers. Iconic figures such as Margaret Atwood, Alain de Botton, Oliver Burkeman, Noam Chomsky, Seamus Heaney, Kazuo Ishiguro, Toni Morrison, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and Benjamin Zephaniah have appeared on our stages over the years, alongside a wide range of debut and early career authors.

Across the hundreds of events in our Adults, Young Adults, Schools, and Children’s programmes, the Book Festival offers audiences aged from 0 to 100 an active opportunity to engage with new and different perspectives on the world, create lasting memories through storytelling, fill their minds with fascinating knowledge, and discover the creative secrets of writers and artists.

We strive to be a safe and supported environment for people to have difficult discussions and lively debates in an atmosphere of curiosity and consideration, where different opinions can be respectfully shared. We are proud to platform voices and stories which are often overlooked, and are committed to breaking down barriers to access for those who may not initially consider themselves as a Book Festival audience.

Beyond August, the Book Festival is a year-round force for literary engagement. Working with partners in the local community – including schools, libraries, prisons, hospitals, and other community hubs – we foster a lifelong love of reading, embrace the life-changing potential of creativity, and develop engaged, informed audiences of all backgrounds and ages.

2025 was a bumper year for the Festival, with significant growth in site visits, ticket sales, and new audience members, all of which we aim to build upon in 2026, particularly through delivery of a new website and ticketing system, as well as grassroots audience development initiatives, and data-informed marketing campaigns.

The team

The Book Festival has a permanent staff of 25 throughout the year, expanding over the spring and summer to a peak of around 150 staff during the Festival. All staff members play a role in the ongoing development of the organisation through several full team planning and debrief meetings during the year.

The Development team is made up of 7 roles: Development Director, Sponsorships & Partnerships Manager, Sponsorship & Partnerships Officer, Development Manager (Trusts & Foundations), Development Manager (Individual Giving), Events & Digital Marketing Officer, and Development Assistant.

The role

Purpose of Role

To provide essential administrative and supporter care support across the Development Team, ensuring efficient use of the CRM system, excellent service for donors, members and supporters. This role is central to maintaining accurate data, delivering outstanding supporter care, and supporting income generation across the whole Development Team.

Are you passionate about bridging the digital divide in our communities?

If so, then please see details of the role below

At its heart, the main purpose of this role is to address both the cause and impact of digital inequality within the Gorbals by supporting individuals and communities to gain the skills, confidence and access required. This role will help bridge the digital divide by working collaboratively with third sector partners.

Crossroads Youth and Community Association’s work and values are built on the central belief that “everyone had the right to live gloriously: whatever in society prevents this, should be challenged and whatever in the individual helps should be nurtured”

This role will involve working across the community with young people, families and the wider community.

Care Support Scotland

We are a charity with decades of experience supporting people across Scotland, providing those who need us with support that ranges from Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity, Youth and Adult Homelessness and Older People services. Guided by our values of Respect and Compassion, we empower both the people we support and our colleagues to Thrive every day.

Why work with us?

At Care Support Scotland caring isn’t just a job — it’s who we are. Join our dedicated team and help transform lives while growing your own career.

• Pension contributions matched up to 6%

• Financial Flexibility – Access your wages as you earn them with our Earned Wage Access benefit.

• Employee Assistance Programme through HSF

• Contribution to HSF Health Plan – supporting your everyday health needs

• Generous annual leave – 33 days including public holidays, increasing with service

• Supportive absence policies to help when you need time off

• Death in Benefit Cover – 2x annual salary

• Support with funded qualifications

• Career development and progression opportunities

About the Role

We are delighted to offer this 3-year fixed-term post, made possible thanks to National Lottery Fairer Life Chances fund.

Due to the personal nature of the role, this post is restricted to female applicants in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1, which permits an occupational requirement for specific genders in such circumstances.

• We are seeking a Community Connector to join our new Women’s Homelessness Service in Midlothian. This is an exciting opportunity to support women who have experienced homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

• Working alongside support workers, the Community Connector will focus on helping women to build recovery capital – their personal resilience, social networks, and community connections. The role brings additional capacity for group work, community engagement, and peer-led activities, complementing the direct support already provided by the team.

• You will support women to set goals, explore their strengths and aspirations, and access opportunities that promote wellbeing, recovery, and inclusion. By co-designing groups and activities, and linking women into local services, volunteering, and community resources, you will play a key part in reducing isolation and repeat homelessness.

Who we are looking for?

• Experience of supporting people facing disadvantage or exclusion.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to build trust, deliver 1:1 support, and facilitate group sessions.

• Understanding of the impact of homelessness and multiple disadvantage on women.

• Compassionate, resilient, and committed to inclusion and empowerment.

• A driver with access to a car is essential for this role.

What You will Do

• Provide 1:1 relational support, using tools such as Outcome Star (Home Star) to set and review goals.

• Facilitate co-designed group activities that promote wellbeing, creativity, and peer support.

• Support women experiencing multiple disadvantage to strengthen their recovery capital.

• Build connections with local partners (e.g. Women’s Aid, recovery networks, community groups) to expand opportunities for women.

• Advocate alongside women to ensure their voices are heard and rights are respected.

• Work in a trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and strengths-based way.

(Experience in women’s services, homelessness, or recovery is desirable but not essential. Lived experience is valued.)