About ACOSVO

Established in 2000, ACOSVO is a growing membership organisation of 750+ voluntary sector Chief Executives, Senior Leaders and Chairs across Scotland. Our vision is that voluntary sector leadership in Scotland is influential, resilient, and trusted.

ACOSVO holds a unique position being the only organisation of its kind in Scotland with its members comprising of the key decision and change makers in the sector.

By offering a wide range of services, networks, personal and professional development opportunities, and relevant member benefits we’re here for voluntary sector leaders at every stage of their leadership journey.

Through engagement with members and partners ACOSVO has created a new Strategy for 2024-2029 with a new vision, aims, objectives and importantly a new suite of values that will underpin delivery. It is ambitious and we have created a new Head of Operations position to play a critical role in supporting the organisation to achieve the outcomes identified in the Strategy.

We are dynamic and committed to strive every day to do better for our membership. We do this by supporting and challenging each other, engaging with our members, and prioritising learning. We have a culture that enables us to deliver at our best and our values are very important to us.

Further information about ACOSVO and our new Strategy can be found at acosvo.org.uk

About the Role

ACOSVO is a small team with big aspirations and it is a very exciting time to join as a member of our Senior Leadership team. As Head of Operations you will be responsible for the overall success of our operations including planning and processes, finance and resource management, and organisational reporting. You will be responsible for HR, digital, driving membership growth and delivering high levels of efficiency and member satisfaction. As part of the Senior Leadership team you will act as an ambassador for ACOSVO, explore new ways to develop our activities, generate income, and provide line management that maximises peoples potential.

This is a permanent position, working 35 hours per week.

Additional benefits include 25 days annual leave plus 11 public holidays, pension scheme (employer contribution of up to 6%), and death in service at 1 x salary.

The working location for this role is hybrid working from home or our workspace at Greyfriars Charteris Centre, 138 – 140 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9RR. There will be a requirement to work at other locations in Scotland and these times will be arranged in advance.

We are happy to talk about flexible working such as location and when the hours are worked within our core hours of 8am-6pm Monday to Friday.

Please note that this role is not suitable as a job share.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Position within Structure: Senior Leadership Team

Travel Requirements: Throughout Scotland with occasional UK Travel

The Veterans’ Foundation (VF) is an independent grant-making charitable foundation. It has established a substantial grants’ programme to support charities and organisations in the UK that provide charitable support to those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families. The charity has grown rapidly since inception in July 2016 and has to date (Oct 24) given away more than £25M to good causes and handed out around £1.6M to good causes each quarter for the past year.

Head of Grants will have the following responsibilities:

• Provide the lead for the Grants’ Department in the VF, managing relevant staff to best effect and shaping the Grant-Making Policy to suit the VF’s objects.
• Provide high quality policy, communications and strategic advice to the CEO and Trustees.
• Liaise with other organisations (eg Cobseo, AFCFT, OVA, other charities) to formulate policy and to enable smooth and effective operation of the VF’s Grant-Making Policy.
• Deliver the Grant-Making Policy approved by the Trustees.
• Suggest changes to the Grant-Making Policy to the Trustees when necessary, having identified impact and backed by research where possible.
• Ensure the quarterly and annual grant-making schedules are maintained, including arranging meetings and providing briefing packs for Trustees.
• Manage workloads to match staff employment contracts.
• Provide effective grant-making processes and identify improvements when necessary.
• Oversee the grant management aspects of Salesforce.
• Provide good coordination between the Grants Department and other departments in VF and with contractors.
• Promote the VF culture: cheerful, efficient and engaging effectiveness.
• Lead and manage the grants’ communications strategy.
• Overseeing the measurement of the impact of VF grants.
• Other duties and responsibilities as appropriate to the post and requested by the CEO.

Experience and Qualifications. Candidates should possess the following experiences, qualifications and skills:

Experience

• Proven experience and success in a relevant Third Sector grants’ management role.
• Good understanding and knowledge of the Armed Forces’ elements in the Third Sector.
• Experience of conducting due diligence into grantees.
• Understanding of business functions such as HR, finance and information security.
• Demonstrable competency in planning.
• Working knowledge of IT and comms systems, including Salesforces and MS 365.
• Excellent organisational and leadership abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent (Must)

Are you passionate about helping children fulfil their potential and build a better Scotland? We are too!

This is a unique opportunity to lead Children’s Parliament, an internationally renowned and respected organisation promoting children’s human rights, as we look to recruit an inspirational and highly skilled Director.

We want someone who can lead and develop a passionate team of expert practitioners in raising awareness and understanding of children’s rights amongst children and adults. Together we need to help them understand how we can improve children’s lives, support the people and organisations who support our children, and help to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.

The Director will lead a Senior Leadership Team, consisting of the Head of Programmes, Head of Operations and Senior Programme Manager. The Director will inspire our talented and dedicated team, using their professional networks to advocate for children as the face and voice of Children’s Parliament, and realise the opportunities we have to change lives for the better. They will work with partners and stakeholders to drive culture change in the environments in which children live, learn and play and support a new chapter for Scotland’s human rights journey following the UNCRC incorporation for which we successfully campaigned this year.

We are seeking a dynamic and effective leader who will stand up and champion children’s rights. They will need to demonstrate their experience in senior leadership roles, including strategic planning, financial oversight, leadership, and risk management.

The ability to support and drive a diverse and skilled team is essential. Having experience of rights-based, creative practice will be important in being able to provide ongoing support, expertise and guidance across Children’s Parliament’s programmes. A comprehensive understanding of the political and policy landscape for children's and wider human rights in Scotland is vital as is the ability to effectively engage with a range of stakeholders.

The Director will need to demonstrate their belief that children are equal and valuable citizens. As a leader, their passion should shine through their words and actions, backed up with the expertise to navigate the challenges of ensuring Children’s Parliament continues as an internationally recognised beacon of good practice and inspiration.

Reports to: Chair of the Board and accountable to the Board of Trustees

Direct reports: Head of Programmes, Head of Operations and Business Development