Head of Policy, Participation and Research
- Full time or Part time
- £48,086
- Hybrid
- Closing 2nd February 2024
- Advertised from 10th January 2024
- Permanent, 37 hours per week (30 hours considered
Role
Are you a dynamic and experienced leader who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of LGBTQ+ young people across Scotland? Can you bring a mix of youth participation experience to policy influencing and research work? If so, we want to hear from you.
Join our vibrant team of staff and volunteers delivering high quality support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people right across Scotland.
We are passionate about equalities at LGBT Youth Scotland. This means that everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, pregnancy or maternity. In line with our commitment to race equity and trans inclusion, we are particularly seeking applications from People of Colour and trans people. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to apply or attend any interview, please let us know.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative person to lead our Policy, Participation and Research team.
Based from home or a local office, with travel across Scotland you will:
- Lead the growth and development of our youth participation practice, ensuring that young people’s voices are heard by policy makers across Scotland
- Lead the Policy, Participation and Research team, which includes the youth participation, research and policy and influencing functions of the Charity
- Lead the delivery and further development of our youth participation and research programmes, supporting policy and influencing in line with LGBT Youth Scotland’s strategy.
This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure young people’s voices are centred across the charity both internally and externally, making a lasting, and sometimes life-saving, impact for LGBTQ+ young people
We want to hear from you if you have:
- 5 years or more senior level policy, participation and research experience
- A passion for putting young people’s voices at the forefront of your work
- An understanding of LGBT identities and the key issues facing LGBTQ+ young people – or a willingness to learn this
Application notes
Closing Date: 2nd February 2024 (5pm)
First Interview Date: 20th or 21st February 2024 (Glasgow or Edinburgh)
Second Interview Date: 28th or 29th February 2024 (Glasgow or Edinburgh)
For more information and guidance on how to apply for this job visit
We are an equal opportunities employer. Company Limited by guarantee SC244805, Scottish Charity SC024047.
Careers that care!
Do you have a passion for connecting with people to achieve their goals in life, and enjoy the sense of achievement in empowering vulnerable people?
If so, we have a fabulous Service Manager opportunity for you to join our awesome team, leading our Dumfries & Galloway Learning Disability service. Because People Matter at Turning Point Scotland, why not join us to reach your full potential.
Embark on an emotionally rewarding journey and apply today!
About the role
As the Registered Manager, you will be an experienced leader leading a team working with individuals who have a wide range of support needs, providing them with practical and emotional support and encouraging them to achieve their own personal outcomes in all aspects of their daily lives e.g. keeping safe, meaningful activities, community involvement, physical health, relationships, emotional health and wellbeing.
As the Registered Manager you will:
- Maintain the continuing relevance of services to individuals’ needs and purchaser requirements by ongoing planning, monitoring and evaluation.
- Oversee the financial aspects of the service, managing significant budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and making financial decisions.
- Where a need or an opportunity is identified, lead on the development of new services, support business growth and maintain reputational excellence.
- Comply with governance, law and legislation including local authority compliance, Care Inspectorate (at level 5 and above), SSSC and safeguarding procedures.
- Support the senior management team in the streamlining, promotion and monitoring of quality assurance systems which meets the needs of individual services as well as the overall service delivery in the region.
- Develop, monitor and implement supervision and appraisal systems for staff.
About You
You will have passion and drive to take forward a well-established Service and Team. Be passionate; and committed to the overall aims and objectives of the service and have the belief that people can live fulfilling lives with the right support in place.
You should also have:
- Experience of working with vulnerable people and leading a service delivery team, including managing the provision of a safe operating environment in a relevant context.
- The ability to negotiate with a wide range of internal and external partners and build positive relationships including local authorities and housing associations.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to effectively prioritise your own time and workload to meet a number of different and competing tasks in sometimes pressurised environment.
- Social Service and Health Care at level 9 (SCQF) or other speciality/qualification recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes as well as a relevant management qualification.
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Executive Director of Youth & Enterprise
- Full time
- £40,000 – £50,000
- On site: Edinburgh
- Closing 26th December 2025
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.
Top job! Head of Influence and Campaigns
- Full time
- £51,257 – £57,613
- Hybrid: Edinburgh or Glasgow
- Closing 9th January 2026
Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services.
In this role, you’ll:
- Lead the development and delivery of high-impact influence and campaigning activity that drives policy and practice change for children and families.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across communications, policy, services and fundraising to deliver bold, integrated campaigns.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, partners, influencers and decision-makers.
- Ensure campaigns are informed by evidence, data and the lived experience of children and families.
- Provide leadership and direction across policy and participation, creating a culture of connection, accountability and impact.
We’d love to hear from you if you have:
- Significant experience leading influence, campaigning, policy or public affairs work at a senior level.
- A proven track record of delivering campaigns that achieve meaningful change.
- Experience of leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders and partners.
- A collaborative, values-led approach and commitment to children’s rights and inclusion.
What we offer:
- A workplace with values of with love, with purpose and with strength
- 40 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
- Pension scheme and wellbeing support
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Access to Westfield Health, giving colleagues and their families confidential counselling support, wellbeing resources, and access to health and lifestyle benefits to support physical and mental wellbeing.
- Blue Light card discount
- A Fair Work accredited workplace
Our Values
Living our values, you will help create a workplace where our people can thrive, ensuring we deliver the best possible support to children and families.
With love, we put children first.
With purpose, we transform lives together.
With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.
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Do you have a good understanding of social and/or economic policy issues and a proven ability to undertake policy development or campaigning work on specific issues in a wider context? Then join Shelter Scotland as a Senior Advocacy Officer and you could soon be playing a vital role in helping us to deliver positive change for those affected by the housing emergency in Scotland.
About the role
Your main focus will be to lead Shelter Scotland in effectively advocating for the structural policy changes required to end the housing emergency, driving forward our strategic goals to secure more social homes, strengthen housing rights, and build a lasting movement for change. You’ll develop and communicate clear, evidence-based policy recommendations – drawing on research, lived experience, and sector insight – to influence key stakeholders across government, parliament, and beyond. You’ll commission and manage external research, lead stakeholder events, and work collaboratively across teams to ensure our policy work supports public affairs, media, and operational activity. You’ll also line manage an Advocacy Officer, supporting their development and overseeing their performance.
Role specifics
You’ll bring strong experience in crafting high-impact communications that influence decision-makers and persuade key stakeholders. With a solid understanding of Scotland’s political landscape and public policy processes – particularly within the Scottish Government and Parliament – you’ll have a proven track record of driving change through effective advocacy and relationship-building at a senior level. You’ll be proactive in spotting opportunities to influence policy, responding strategically to external developments. Alongside this, you’ll have experience managing externally funded projects, including budgeting and reporting, and will be confident leading and motivating a team to achieve shared goals.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About the team
The Advocacy Team is part of Shelter Scotland’s Communications and Advocacy Department and is responsible for developing the charity’s policy positions, research plan, and public affairs and professional stakeholder engagement.
The Advocacy team works closely with colleagues in Community Advice and our Telephone and Online Advice services to capture evidence of how Scotland’s broken and biased housing system is impacting communities, and colleagues in Communications and Engagement to translate this evidence into compelling public campaigns and fundraising appeals. The team have led the organisation on developing an anti-racism evidence base, the economic and social benefits of social housing investment and the case for a human rights-based approach to meeting housing need.
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