Are you a strong relationship builder with excellent communication and facilitation skills, practical experience in grant making and an understanding of rural communities? If so, we’re keen to hear from you. We have an exciting opportunity for a well organised and motivated team player to join our Communities Team, supporting a portfolio of community benefit funds in the South West of Scotland.

The Communities Team supports communities to distribute place-based funds coming from a range of sources, notably onshore and offshore wind farms. We provide fund governance, grant administration and related services for a range of commercial clients and community organisations, with a strong commitment to community-led approaches. We are looking for a new Community Fund Adviser to support funds in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, and who brings practical experience of supporting boards of community organisations and working knowledge of how companies and charities are governed.

Your key responsibilities will include supporting local fund decision-making bodies with fund strategy and spend, implementing day to day grant-making processes, and engaging with a broad range of community stakeholders to maximise, monitor and communicate the impact funds are making.

Please note, that while this role is home based, regular travel across the portfolio area is required; you will require access to a car and an ability to attend 2-3 evening meetings a month.

Foundation Scotland offers a range of staff benefits including Pension Scheme, Life Assurance, 2 days volunteering per year, flexible working options and a progressive pay system.

After being with us for over five years, our current Dundee and Perth & Kinross Regional Manager is relocating to England in November 2023 to be closer to family. As a passionate, experienced professional in the identification, creation and management of a wide range of great partner relationships, you will ensure the Career Ready programme in Dundee City and Perth & Kinross continues to thrive across 8 schools in Dundee and 9 in Perth & Kinross.

This is a wonderful role that requires a broad range of skills, so you will be well organised, confident and able to positively influence a wide range of people, approaching opportunities that are well researched and outcomes with an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s also a great chance to develop personally.

Leading our work involves growing, developing and maintaining the brilliant employer and education partnerships that deliver the Career Ready programme, which includes the Local Advisory Board, the Local Authorities (key sponsors), schools (we have a Career Ready coordinator in each school), the Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group, and the many employer organisations and their people who volunteer as mentors, provide quality paid internships and deliver engaging masterclasses.

By assimilating what, why, when and the how of our work, you will be able to:

Lead and develop our Career Ready partnerships in Dundee and Perth & Kinross, optimising the programme experience for all stakeholders and securing ongoing or new employer support for the growing number of students each year (c.64 in Dundee and 50 in Perth & Kinross) who participate in the 18-month long Career Ready programme annually.

Lead programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and business development by working closely with the Career Ready Dundee and Perth & Kinross Local Advisory Board; Leanna Sinclair, Partnerships Development; Janine McFarland, Head of Programme & Operations; and the Career Ready Regional Manager and Scotland Operations team on a continuous improvement agenda that is focused on quality, impact and sustainability underpinned by attention to detail with efficient and effective processes.

• £34,000 – £37,500 DOE (pro rata)
• A working from home allowance of £300 (pro rata) pa is provided
• 33 days holiday (pro rata) plus 2 additional days in the summer. In addition, Career Ready is closed between Christmas and New Year and the time off is not taken from annual leave entitlement
• 6% of salary contribution to a private pension subject to an employee contribution of 3%
• Access to our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to discounted BUPA private healthcare membership, personal accident insurance and a Cafeteria Benefits system that allows staff to buy holidays
• Interest-free season ticket or bicycle purchase loans
• Business expenses including mileage allowance for car usage

We are looking to recruit two Community Development Officers in Aberdeen, to engage key partners and stakeholders in the region tailoring support, training, and education to create suicide safer communities.

What you will do:

• Identify, develop and maintain effective partnerships with local communities, volunteers and key partners across the region to engage them in the prevention of young suicide.
• Proactively promote suicide prevention including raising the profile of PAPYRUS and engaging with those personally affected by young suicide.
• Equip a wide range of stakeholders to enable them to create sustainable suicide safer communities through the provision of tailored support, training, and education.
• Deliver training and awareness raising products to a variety of groups including professionals, parents, young people, volunteers, and other trainers.
• Contribute to the development and review of projects, and education and training products, in line with the strategic plan.
• Contribute to and promote campaigns, training and opportunities as outlined in the Regional and Strategic Plans.
• Represent the charity at events including conferences, panels, working groups and through media channels as required.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Previous experience working in a community setting, delivering information and training sessions, leading workshops, or educational activities.
• A proven track record of networking and building and managing effective relationships, tailoring the approach to meet the differing needs of the audience.
• Experience as a qualified ASIST Trainer or willingness to gain qualification and experience.
• Experience of using own initiative and creativity to develop a project, programme, or area of work.
• The ability to travel to different locations across Scotland and the wider UK to attend meetings, events and deliver training.