Garvald Edinburgh is a long-established Scottish charity supporting adults with learning disabilities through
creative day opportunities, workshops, community participation, and public-facing social enterprise activities.
Rooted in the principles of social therapy inspired by Rudolf Steiner, Garvald places creativity, respect,
rhythm, individuality, and community at the centre of personal development.
The organisation exists to offer adults with learning disabilities meaningful opportunities to develop skills,
confidence, and a sense of belonging, achieved through purposeful creative work, strong community integration,
and innovative social enterprise.
Operating across multiple sites in Edinburgh, Garvald employs approximately 180 staff and has an annual turnover of
over £4.5 million. The organisation is entering a period of important development, guided by a multi-year
strategic plan that includes organisational review, enhancing financial stability, facilities planning, digital
transformation, and the continued growth of social enterprise activity. This is a pivotal moment in Garvalds
history, offering the opportunity to shape the organisation’s future while strengthening its values-driven
culture.
The Board of Trustees is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead Garvald through this next phase. The CEO will
provide strategic, operational, cultural, and organisational leadership, ensuring that Garvald continues to
deliver high-quality, ethical, and person-centred services across all sites.
Reporting to the Chair and supported by a strong Senior Management Team, the CEO will shape and implement long-term
strategy, embed a distributed leadership model, oversee financial sustainability, and strengthen governance,
compliance, and risk management. They will also act as the organisation’s principal ambassador, building and
nurturing relationships with commissioners, funders, partners, staff, members, and families.
The successful candidate will be someone who can hold complexity without losing clarity, lead change without
compromising care, and inspire confidence and trust through their presence, integrity, and values-led approach.
You will be confident in leading a large, multi-site organisation, with a strong understanding of regulation,
finance, workforce dynamics, and governance. You will have experience of strategic leadership, organisational
change, and financial sustainability, alongside the ability to engage effectively with all stakeholders—from
trustees and commissioners to staff, members, and families.
Above all, the next CEO will be someone who combines strategic rigour with emotional intelligence, humility, and
steadiness. You will be capable of setting direction, making difficult decisions, and developing innovation,
while remaining grounded in Garvald’s values and the principles of social therapy.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected, innovative, and values-driven organisation at a transformative
moment, ensuring that Garvald Edinburgh continues to be a place where adults with learning disabilities can
reach their fullest potential and make a lasting contribution to the wider community.