Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes books, reading and writing have the power to change lives. A love of reading inspires creativity, improves employment opportunities, mental health and wellbeing and is one of the most effective ways to help break the poverty cycle. We work towards a Scotland where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive through literacy.

We are looking for an enthusiastic administrator with excellent communications and organisational skills to join the Early Years team at Scottish Book Trust.

What we offer

• Full time, fixed-term role

• Competitive salary

• Flexible hybrid working between home and our Edinburgh City Centre Office, with great access by train, bus, and tram

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Company Sick Pay

• Pension with additional 5% employer contributions

• Death in service benefit

• Free access to employee assistance programme

Among many other programmes, Scottish Book Trust delivers Bookbug, Scotland’s national early years book gifting programme, which provides a free, high quality, book bag for every baby, toddler, three-year-old and primary 1 child in the country and is funded by Scottish Government.

The Early Years Operations Administrator provides reliable and efficient administration to support the smooth running of the Early Years programme, with a particular focus on operational aspects.

scottishbooktrust.com/bookbug

Paragon Music is an inclusive arts company inspiring people to create and perform their own music and dance. We are passionate about using music and the arts to raise people’s aspirations, self-image, teamwork, communication and learning. We believe that music and the arts have the power to transform lives when guided by two key principles - Equality and Inclusion.

Paragon’s vision is a more equal and inclusive society where people flourish individually and together through music and dance.

About the role

Paragon is seeking skilled and motivated individuals to join our Board of Directors. We are recruiting people who possess strategic vision, good independent judgement but above all, people who share our values of equity and inclusion.

We welcome applications from those with lived experience of disability including mental health conditions. We also welcome applications from those protected under the 2010 Equalities Act due to age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Those with care experience, caring responsibilities and on low incomes are encouraged to apply and we will accept applications in any format and meet any interview expenses.

We welcome applicants with experience in any discipline or industry, either paid or voluntary. At the moment we are particularly keen to recruit people with skills and experience in any of the following areas:

· People & Wellbeing (HR)

· Accountancy

· IT - Technology & Science

· Fundraising

· Marketing

· Sustainability

Previous experience in a similar position would be welcome, although not required as training opportunities and a full induction will be offered.

The Board meets 4 times per year for 2-3 hours on weekdays, usually in the evenings. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and training and ongoing support will be provided, the role is non-remunerated.

We are seeking 2 people to join our Board in 2024 to work alongside our existing board trustees in supporting The Work Room in its mission to empower artists in making thoughtful and pioneering dance for diverse contexts at home and internationally.

We’d love to hear from you if you share our values and are:

• Keen to generously share your experience and skills to support our work with independent dance artists;
• Committed to working inclusively to ensure our work is accessible and relevant;
• Interested in experimentation and new ideas as we respond to current and future challenges.

You don’t need to have previous experience of being on a board and for many of our existing trustees, this has been their first experience in such a role. The Trustees work collectively and you will be provided a full induction to help you understand the role and responsibilities of being a charity trustee.

We also want to make sure our board is made up of a diverse range of intersectional identities and experiences. The Work Room recognises systemic exclusion within the arts sector and we are striving to put equity and inclusion at the heart of our work. We are working towards an Anti-Racism practice and we want the board to reflect the diversity of our membership.

The Work Room operates a co-chairing approach in which two members are responsible for effectively facilitating and steering the board and governance processes. We are specifically seeking one new trustee who will take on the role of Co-Chair.