Introduction to MYDG

Muirhouse Youth Development Group was established in 1997 and has been working with young people from Muirhouse and the surrounding areas ever since. Over the past 30 years, we have built strong, trusted relationships with young people, their families, the local community, and with the high school in which we are based. We deliver a full week of activities for young people, including evening youth clubs and in-school support. MYDG works with young people aged 8–18, and we support their development through opportunities such as our Young Volunteers Programme.

Purpose of the Job

Our Youth Development Workers play a direct role in engaging and supporting young people: delivering issue-based sessions, creating safe and inclusive spaces, and ensuring that young people’s voices are heard and prioritised in decision-making—both within the organisation and in the wider community.

We are looking for someone with a good understanding of the experiences and challenges young people face in the local area, and with experience in delivering impactful group work programmes.

Role Requirements

This role requires the postholder to deliver high-quality, safe, fun, and empowering youth work activities and support services. You will be part of a small, collaborative team working to achieve key outcomes for young people, as required by our funders. The postholder should have the confidence and ability to develop, deliver, and promote a relevant and engaging youth work programme for young people of varying ages.

Key responsibilities include

• Designing and delivering youth work sessions across a range of topics
• Recording, monitoring, and evaluating your work effectively
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and partner organisations
• Upholding and promoting the values of MYDG

Contributing to our online presence through social media and digital platforms

Young Women’s Work – Occupational Requirement

We are currently seeking to recruit a female Youth Development Worker to support our young women’s work, both within mixed settings and targeted group sessions.

This post is open to female applicants only, as the role involves working closely with young women on gender-specific issues. This requirement is considered to be an Occupational Requirement, as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Abundant Borders works to reduce food insecurity, improve wellbeing and strengthen community resilience across the Scottish Borders. We do this by creating and supporting a network of community food gardens where people can learn to grow food sustainably, build skills, connect with others and improve their physical and mental health. Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and our gardens provide welcoming, inclusive green spaces that bring communities together.

About the Role

We are looking for a compassionate, organised and community-minded Green Spaces Officer to support volunteers across our network of community gardens. This role will help people to take part in outdoor activities that improve wellbeing, increase confidence, and strengthen social connection.

Working closely with Garden Leaders and volunteer teams, the Green Spaces Officer will help ensure our gardens are safe, welcoming, inclusive environments where everyone can participate—particularly individuals facing disadvantage, isolation, or poor mental health.

This is a highly rewarding role for someone who enjoys working outdoors, supporting people, and helping communities to thrive.

Key Responsibilities

• Support volunteers to participate in garden sessions in inclusive, safe, positive ways
• Provide 1:1 support where needed, helping individuals to build confidence and skills
• Organise small group activities such as nature walks, seasonal tasks, wellbeing sessions, and gentle gardening
• Work with staff and volunteers to ensure gardens remain welcoming, accessible community spaces
• Help volunteers to set goals, reflect on progress, and engage fully in community life
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and volunteer feedback
• Support the development of wellbeing-focused initiatives within garden settings
• Liaise with referring partners (e.g. mental health teams, housing associations, support workers)

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Warm, patient and able to build trusting relationships
• Comfortable supporting people with additional needs or low confidence
• Passionate about the role green spaces play in wellbeing
• Able to work independently across multiple locations
• Organised, reliable and confident managing small groups
• A good communicator who can work collaboratively with staff, volunteers and partners
• Experience in community gardening, mental health support, social care, outdoor learning or community development is welcome—but above all, we value enthusiasm, attitude and commitment.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Supportive, friendly staff team and trustees
• Training opportunities aligned with the role
• Flexibility within working hours
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference to people and communities across the Borders

About you

We’re looking for someone to join our team with a strong belief in equality, human rights and social justice. You will have an understanding of the experiences, strengths and challenges faced by refugees, people seeking asylum, and other New Scots communities, and the motivation to support the development of the New Scots Edinburgh Refugee Integration Strategy, working closely with key stakeholders and statutory partners.

You will also work with colleagues to produce responses to public consultations and policy proposals from statutory partners in partnership with key third sector stakeholders.

About us

EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is a charity that was established in 1868. In July 2025, we published a new strategic plan to guide our work for the next five years.

Our purpose is to serve the needs of people and communities across Edinburgh by supporting our members and third sector organisations to be effective and drive the change they need.

We work in three areas - advocacy, capacity building and collaboration - underpinned by research and analysis to inform our work to support third sector organisations and the communities they serve.

EVOC is a living wage employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity and welcome applications from members of all communities.

Benefits:

• 26 days of annual leave per year
• 10 public holidays (6 fixed and 4 floating) per year
• Pension (6% company contribution)
• 3 additional days leave between Christmas and New Year when the EVOC office closes
• A hybrid working approach
• All the equipment you need to work remotely

Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG) are seeking an Executive Director of Youth & Enterprise. As Director you will collaborate with the MYDG Board of trustees to develop organisational strategies, ensure the highest safety standards are in place and followed. Ensure compliance with HR policies and procedures, oversee the financial aspects, including fundraising and budget management of both the youth development work and social enterprise. You will raise the profile of MYDG in the community build strong relationships with stakeholders, and act as an inspiring role model for both young people and staff

About the role:

Muirhouse Youth Development Group is a young person focused community Charity. We deliver high quality youth work, providing experiential education programmes, personal and social development, skills acquisition programmes and vocational qualifications. MYDG exists to support young people at key points in their life - Organisation for all, no matter who you are, where you are at, where you have come from and where you are going. We strive to be a fully diverse organisation working with our community to ensure this is woven throughout our way of work.

Key responsibilities:

Financial Leadership

• Fully accountable for the entire funding cycle, ensuring organisational sustainability. Must be able to generate large funds across multi-year, short-term and social enterprise income streams.

Strategic Management

• Develop, implement and lead the organisation into the future.

Manage Team & Stakeholders

• Build, Develop, Lead and manage a strong team to achieve MYDG’s Goals. Ensuring HR compliance and strong governance are in place. Acting as an inspiring role model, being the face of the charity.

Essential Experience

To be successful in this role , you will have skills and experience in the following areas;

• Executive Financial Leadership: A verifiable track record of personally securing and managing in annual funding from diverse sources, including complex multi-year grants, philanthropic trusts, and earned income streams.
• Social Enterprise Development: Demonstrated success in developing, launching, and scaling a commercial venture or social enterprise (e.g., outdoor centre, hospitality, or training arm), including full accountability for business planning, market analysis, and sales/marketing strategy.
• Strategic Youth Sector Leadership: Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role within a youth, community, or third-sector organisation, demonstrating the ability to set and achieve strategic goals and drive impact in a community-focused environment.
• People & Governance Management: Extensive experience leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams (staff, sessional workers, and volunteers), with a deep, practical understanding of HR compliance, safeguarding, and Board governance within a Scottish charity context.
• Stakeholder & Partnership Management: A proven ability to act as the public face of an organisation, representing its values, and building high-level relationships with funders, community leaders, partners, and political stakeholders.

Job specification

Development of Organisation and Team:

• Collaborate with the MYDG Board to develop strategies and operational plans aligned with the organisation’s vision and strategic priorities.
• Shape, implement, and lead the successful execution of MYDG, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Strengthen MYDG’s capacity to meet aims and objectives while maintaining a sustainable structure.
• Maximise the potential of the MYDG Team, sessional staff, volunteers, and young people.
• Oversee the management of MYDG staff, ensuring accurate staff records and financial documentation are maintained through effective delegation.
• Represent and promote MYDG’s history, present context, and future aspirations to ensure the organisation’s brand is widely known and clearly understood.
• Ensure resources within MYDG are effectively connected to outcomes for young people.

Management of MYDG Team:

• Lead, manage, and supervise the MYDG Team.
• Provide guidance and support to MYDG’s Youth Development Team to ensure strategic outcomes are met.
• Oversee staff scheduling and manage hours for the Team.
• Provide the MYDG Board with monthly leadership reports and relevant updates to ensure strong governance and effective management of the organisation, meeting all legal, financial, and ethical responsibilities.
• Facilitate clear communication across the organisation and take responsibility for maintaining the health of key partnerships and relationships with external stakeholders.
• Identify training needs and opportunities for the team and oversee the implementation of annual staff appraisals and development plans.
• Act as an inspiring role model for both young people and staff.
• Delegate tasks appropriately and ensure accountability.

HR Procedures and Policies:

• Ensure policies and procedures are current, relevant, and adhered to, leading by example while ensuring legal compliance across the organisation.
• Manage and oversee recruitment processes for MYDG staff.
• Handle / Oversee HR responsibilities, including contracts, staff appraisals, development plans, timesheets, holidays, PVG checks, and expenses.
• Ensure adherence to health and safety, & well-being standards for all staff, volunteers & users.
• Keep the staff handbook updated and ensure its proper implementation.

Partnership Work:

• Lead and manage partnership initiatives for MYDG.
• Maintain regular communication with key partners.
• Identify and foster new partnership opportunities.
• Ensure partnership agreements are prioritised, maintained, and adhered to.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders and partners, ensuring alignment with agreements.

Funding and Budgeting Responsibilities:

• Fully accountable for the entire funding cycle of MYDG’s work, including identifying funding sources, applications, and commissioning.
• Ensure the Team meets its key outcomes in line with MYDG’s goals and funder expectations.
• Provide an overview of all finances in collaboration with the finance administrator.
• Oversee and review funding proposals submitted by the Youth Development Team.

Social Enterprise & Commercial Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation, and review of comprehensive business plans for the Pilton Retreat social enterprise to ensure profitability and sustained mission delivery.
• Direct all market research activities to identify potential customers and market niches for the centre, ensuring competitive and sustainable pricing.
• Develop and oversee a robust marketing and sales strategy to drive revenue and promote the social and ethical value of choosing MYDG's enterprise services.
• Ensure the commercial strategy adheres to best practices in social enterprise traits (i.e., profits are reinvested into the youth development mission) and builds long-term financial sustainability for the entire organisation.
• Actively manage the balance between commercial success and the maintenance of high-quality community outcomes and youth engagement.