About Smart Works

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed. After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.

More information about who we are can be found on our website.

About the role

Smart Works is volunteer-powered and exists to empower all women who need help getting into work. As such, a fantastic opportunity has arisen for a proactive self-starter with outstanding leadership skills to take on the pivotal role of being the Head of Smart Works Scotland. Reporting to the Chair of the Trustee Board, the role is responsible for developing and delivering our core strategies and for the overall operation of our two centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

In practice, this involves leading a small staff team to thrive in their roles and deliver outstanding results, with direct line management responsibilities for 3 team members out of 8. It also includes representing our charity to a range of stakeholders across the region, contributing to our ambitious client targets and unlocking vital funds to deliver the Three Year Plan.

A major focus of this role will be to deliver, and support team members to aid delivery, of our annual fundraising target (c. £400k) via, grants and trusts, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and identifying new income streams.

The Head of Smart Works Scotland must build strong working relationships with the staff team and Board of Trustees, foster excellent collaborations with a variety of stakeholders and have significant experience across multiple fundraising streams.

Whilst the successful individual will be supported by the Chair, Board of Trustees and colleagues in other centres, they will be expected to work autonomously and confidently in carrying out their duties. There may be occasional evening and weekend work in order to support fundraising, networking and key events as required.

The role will be based in our Edinburgh or Glasgow centre, and flexible working options are available.

If you are passionate about supporting women, are flexible, have excellent organisation and prioritisation skills and can liaise confidently and successfully with a broad range of stakeholders, then this is an ideal opportunity.

Duties and responsibilities

• Leading a staff team of 8 across two centres, ensuring all team members are thriving in their roles and continuing to develop their skills.
• Supporting each direct report with project deliverables and identifying continuous improvement opportunities in our ways of working.
• Oversee the smooth running of both centres, ensuring all client and service delivery targets are on track and all protocols such as safeguarding and governance are adhered to.
• Setting and delivering our core strategies, across all functional areas.
• Working with various staff members on targeted campaigns and corporate partnerships, providing guidance and support on the annual fundraising target c. £400k via our three revenue streams - Corporate, Community and Events, Grants and Trusts.
• Manage the day-to-day costs of the budget, contributing to timely process reconciliation with the Board Treasurer and Group Finance Team.
• Delivering financial activities to target, maintaining an up to date database with relevant income tracking and pipeline information to facilitate regular financial reporting to the Board of Trustees and timely process reconciliation with the Board Treasurer and Group Finance team.
• Supporting the team to raise awareness of our charity and increase our supporter community through social media campaigns and in-person events throughout the year.

Personal Specification

Essential Criteria

• Outstanding interpersonal and team management / leadership skills.
• Significant experience of generating income from a variety of sources, including Events, Trusts, Foundations, Community and Corporate sponsorship.
• Demonstrable experience of securing new business and onboarding new partnerships.
• Experience of managing four figure+ partnerships across the following activities: employee fundraising, sponsorship, commercial or grants.
• A strong networker, with relationship management experience across seniority levels and sectors.
• Strong presentation skills, with prior experience delivering engaging sessions to large audiences.
• Experience of balancing changing priorities and responding to delivery needs.
• Proactive approach to problem solving, with an entrepreneurial attitude towards fundraising strategy.
• Ability to work autonomously and also have a strong team focus and ethic.
• Good working knowledge and experience using Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, CRM systems.
• Target driven, with excellent organisation and time management skills to meet deadlines and monthly / quarterly KPIs.

Desirable Criteria

• An understanding of the employment and skills landscape in Scotland.
• Experience of working collaboratively with volunteer teams and / or in the not for profit sector.
• Financially aware, able to interpret basic financial accounts for reporting purposes.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join Humanist Society Scotland as our Head of Ceremonies.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be involved in far-reaching wedding, funeral and naming services across the entire country. Over one million people in Scotland attend a humanist ceremony every year and this role holder has a unique opportunity to shape how these services are delivered across a wide range of communities the length and breadth of Scotland.

As the Head of Ceremonies, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of our ceremonies department, ensuring seamless operations, maintaining high standards, and fostering relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

We are especially interested in hearing from someone who has experience in strategic development of marketing and promoting services.

As a highly motivated self-directed individual you will manage a network of over 140 celebrants and line manage two support staff. We are seeking someone with considerable people management skills and a strong knowledge of marketing and promotion to direct and ensure delivery of growing the current demand and market share for our services.

In order to avoid conflict of interest and as this role has key management responsibilities in overseeing the delivery of all of our ceremony services this role holder cannot also hold a position as a celebrant. Individuals who are interested in becoming a celebrant can register their interest here instead.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee Day-to-Day Operations:

• Provide guidance and support to the ceremonies support team, including line management of two staff.
• Maintaining strong relationships with key contractors such as our celebrant trainers, emergency out of hours support and celebrant area officers.

• Budget Management:

• Ensure good oversight and planning of related budgets including delegating responsibilities to members of team where appropriate

• Promotional Plan:

• Developing and implementing business plans for sustainable growth, based on sound research and analysis of the competitive markets and future opportunities and then creating and implementing strategies to grow the business.
• Utilise various marketing channels and techniques to reach target audiences effectively.

New Celebrant Recruitment:

• Oversee recruitment and training provision for new celebrants working closely with our trainers.
• Working with our celebrant network to develop meaningful mentoring relationships for new celebrants.
• Ensure feedback from trainees helps further develop and improve our training.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Coordination:

• Coordinate ongoing CPD opportunities for celebrants, including organising gatherings and training sessions to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Reviews Oversight:

• Oversee and coordinate professional reviews of ceremonies.

Complaints Management:

• Address and resolve complaints from clients in a timely and professional manner.

Relationships with External Stakeholders:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including funeral directors, wedding venues and other relevant partners.
• Collaborate with external partners to expand our celebrant network and reach new audiences.
• Sharing best practices and learning from professional networks of other humanist leaders and groups.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience in a leadership role, preferably within service delivery. This could be in the public, private or third sector.
• Previous professional success in creating a meaningful promotional and marketing strategy to help increase market share.
• Ability to proactively anticipate emerging trends and threats and apply business intelligence to react in response.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritise effectively.
• Sound people management skills including the ability to handle delicate issues such as bereavement, complaints and conflict resolution.
• Strong customer service experience both internal stakeholder facing and external public facing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated proficiency in budget management.
• Independent work ethic with ability to self motivate and direct including ability to work on own initiative and prioritise workload.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, and an understanding of GDPR principles.
• Has strong experience of ensuring that decisions are data-driven and evidence led.
• Is a committed team player and is used to collaborative working throughout the organisation.
• Good knowledge of humanist principles and practices.
• Professional experience of the wedding or funeral industries would be desirable but not essential.

Join our team and contribute to creating meaningful and memorable ceremonies that celebrate life and humanist values. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a dynamic environment, we want to hear from you!