About us

The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) is a small charity making a big difference. QNIS supports, develops and inspires Scotland’s community nurses and midwives to be agents for health improvement and catalysts for social change. We help them develop their wellbeing and commitment to self-care so they can drive positive action to build a healthier, kinder, fairer, greener Scotland.

About the role

The current post holder has been leading QNIS for 10 years and is moving on to take up a new role. For the right person this is a great opportunity to shape the evolution of the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland as it enters a new chapter. As Chief Executive and Nurse Director, you will have the chance to lead the strategic direction of the charity. Working with a group of expert and committed trustees, the postholder will be responsible for the development of a small charitable organisation with a large reputation.

As Chief Executive, the postholder is accountable for the running of the charity, providing leadership and management to the team of 10 staff (6.5 WTE) and the delivery of programmes. They will lead on strategy, vision and values creating a compelling narrative to support income generation. They will nurture and manage relationships with funders and potential funders to enable a sustainable future.

As Nurse Director, the role requires representing the Institute and community nursing/midwifery in strategic forums, bringing professional expertise, good evidence and wisdom to high level discussion.

The post holder is accountable to the Board of Trustees (QNIS Council). They have regular meetings with the Chair and an annual appraisal. The post is full time (37.5 hours), based in our office in central Edinburgh, with scope for flexible working from home. We are offering a salary of £84-90k depending on experience. There is 10% employers’ contribution to a group pension scheme, life cover and 28 days annual leave plus 10 bank holidays and an additional birthday leave day.

About you

A nurse, or midwife, you will be an experienced leader and manager. You will be highly numerate, able to set, monitor and manage financial plans including fundraising. You will be experienced in and knowledgeable about governance, particularly managing risk.

To support and supervise the team, you will be an experienced programme manager; familiar with designing and managing processes, budgets, evaluation and reporting on impact. You will be a highly skilled facilitator of learning and improvement, experienced in creating safe spaces for development. You will bring a range of creative, methodologies for improvement and change.

With a broad and deep knowledge of the health and social care policy landscape of Scotland, you will have a nuanced understanding of the range of issues affecting community nurses and midwives and Scotland’s public health challenges.

You will be highly self-aware and committed to wellbeing and self-care of yourself and others, bringing your own compassionate and creative leadership to setting a healthful workplace culture for the team at QNIS.

For more information about the role and the organisation, please download the Excellence Profile and visit the QNIS website.

As a member of the senior management team, the Assistant Director (Programmes and Participation) is instrumental in leading Together’s strategic initiatives across a broad spectrum of programme development, with a significant focus on enhancing the rights and participation of babies, toddlers, and early years children. This role is pivotal in supporting the Director by managing essential areas of operational and strategic responsibility, facilitating the effective implementation of Together’s strategic priorities, and ensuring programmes are impactful and aligned with organisational goals.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Overseeing the development of Together’s programmes, leading innovative initiatives and supporting Together's Director as a spokesperson on key children’s rights matters.
• Developing and managing fundraising strategies, building and maintaining strong relationships with funders and stakeholders, and overseeing the financial management of all programmes and participation budgets.
• Enhancing children’s participation initiatives and implementing participatory practices across all programme activities.
• Management and mentoring of the Programmes and Participation team, encouraging a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous learning within the team.

Throughout the role, the post-holder will be expected to involve Together’s membership – including children and young people – whenever possible and appropriate.

Reporting to: Director