Ayrshire Housing is a well-regarded and financially strong housing association with c.1,700 houses in management. Over the years, we have extended the range of housing solutions we offer, along with delivering many award-winning new builds. We enjoy an excellent reputation with a strong track record of development, innovation, and wider regeneration in the communities we serve with much of this activity taking us far beyond housing.

We are a community centred organisation focused on strong partnership working with public bodies, and the private and voluntary sectors. We have a staff team of 36 employees working across all areas of housing support and corporate services, all with the collective objective of providing excellent service to our customers.

We have a tremendous opportunity for a People and Culture Manager to join the association in a newly created role, to shape, develop and support the implementation of our People and Culture strategy.

While upholding Ayrshire Housing’s values, the successful candidate will have a track record of providing comprehensive, professional, and efficient generalist HR support services. They will also be key in helping the association achieve their business objectives by coaching and supporting managers with people management issues, delivering HR projects, and identifying and resolving key HR issues. This will include the ongoing development of management team members in understanding and leading with best practice in terms of managing staff as well as ensuring the organisation has robust and effective processes for recruitment, induction, training, and the wellbeing of all staff.

We offer full EVH terms and conditions of employment, including attractive pension options and hybrid working opportunities.

A basic disclosure check will be required of the successful candidate.

To find out more about the role, please download the Job Description and Person Specification from below or from our website.

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.