Role Summary

The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) seeks a highly skilled Project Manager to lead the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne project, delivering significant conservation and adaptation works at Ellisland Museum and Farm. The post is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to players of the National Lottery and South of Scotland Enterprise.

Introduction

The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) safeguards the 1788 farm designed and built by the poet Robert Burns on the banks of the Nith near Dumfries. The A listed steading is the best preserved of all the poet’s homes, the only one he built, and the place where he wrote a quarter of his musical output, including the international anthem to friendship, Auld Lang Syne. The farmstead sits in 140 acres comprising woodland and fields which were first enclosed by Burns himself. RBET is a membership Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a volunteer board of Trustees formed in 2020, although the site itself has been held in trust since 1928. It is located six miles north of Dumfries off the A76. It is an accredited museum, with seasonal opening, holding events and group visits off-season, depending on capacity. A small team of volunteers maintain the grounds and riverside walks for free public enjoyment all year.

The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust’s charitable purpose is as follows:

To hold the lands and farm of Ellisland, and such other funds and assets as may from time to time be comprised in the Trust Property, in trust for the following purposes:

(a) the advancement of education

(b) the advancement of the arts, heritage and culture

(c) the promotion of the life and works of Robert Burns

(d) to maintain a museum and collections for the benefit of the public

The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust Mission Statement is as follows:

“Ellisland is the place to fall in love with Burns. We will increase awareness of Ellisland as central to the artistic development of Robert Burns in poetry and romantic song. We will enhance understanding of the site as the best place to see the natural world through the poet’s eyes. We will create a world class visitor experience and a vibrant centre for creative learning to ensure the unique collection, buildings and landscape are accessible to a diverse range of modern audiences.”

Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne

In September 2024, our trust secured the offer of a development stage grant of up to £489,206 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne. In November 2024 we were awarded up to £313,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise towards the project. We expect to receive Permission to Start by January 2025. The development stage of the project is costed at £945,000 while the full cost after delivery and re-opening is £7.4m, which includes start up activity costs.

Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne intends to bring the spirit of Burns – love, kindness and equality – into the 21st century and widen access to Ellisland with a vibrant programme of events, activities and artist residencies. We will restore the 1788 cottage, creating an immersive visitor experience, and develop a gallery/museum to display the collection, which is at risk in the deteriorating buildings. Our barn will be sensitively adapted as a Centre for Song, so future generations are inspired by Burns’s “sweet poetic ground.” We will increase visitor numbers and develop new income streams to protect the built heritage, collection and outdoor spaces, including woods, paths and fields created by Burns. This will increase economic prosperity in South Scotland and enhance wellbeing with skills training, jobs and volunteering opportunities.

A full brief can be downloaded below.

As the #1 Modern University in Scotland (World University Rankings 2025), Edinburgh Napier University strives to deliver the best teaching, to the widest range of students who can benefit from it, in ways that are appropriate to the needs of students and employers. Philanthropic support from our donors provides critical support to some students and adds great value to increase the excellence of teaching and research, in ways not possible through core-funding alone.

Our Development and Alumni Relations Office works with a wide range of alumni and partners. The team’s aims are to raise philanthropic funds for scholarships, research and capital programmes and to strengthen the University's life-long relationships with alumni and friends worldwide.

As such, we are currently recruiting a Senior Development Manager (Fundraising/Major Donations) to take responsibility for raising funds to meet targets for student support and the portfolio of key projects.

The Role:

As Senior Development Manager, you will have the opportunity to use your proven experience of major gift fundraising to build and maintain key relationships with funders and raise philanthropic revenues to achieve income targets.

Your experience in a similar fundraising, venture philanthropy or business development role will put you in an excellent position to use your skills in networking, influencing, proposal writing, negotiation and securing agreements, to manage and build a portfolio of prospects, and engage new donors who are financially and emotionally invested in the value of education and research at Edinburgh Napier.

In that regard, you will have the chance to play a major role in delivering funded opportunities for current and future students whilst raising the profile and support for exciting, innovative projects and interdisciplinary research programmes. As an applied university, you will quickly see the impact of your work to help transform the lives of individuals, communities and our environment both here in Scotland as well as around the world.

We anticipate that you are the type of person that will use your resilience, strength of character, outgoing personality and dependability to build relationships and grow sustainable funding. This role will give you remit to use these skills and qualities to build meaningful associations with individuals; trusts and foundations; lottery and other statutory funding bodies as well as internal stakeholders such as academic staff, project champions and University executive leadership.

Should you have a background in Higher Education fundraising, Third Sector/Charity fundraising then this role will provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills and experience, while managing an energetic team who have established a track record of funding growth over the past five years, getting visible results and having a major impact on the fantastic opportunities available at our institution.

What we will need from you:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant discipline
• Significant fundraising experience, which should include: -
  • scoping fundraising project development, including budgeting
  • growing and managing a portfolio of prospects including individuals, trusts, foundations or statutory bodies
  • case for support/ proposal writing
  • preparing solicitation plans
  • face-to-face major gift asks
• Excellent networking and negotiation skills
• Excellent organisation, planning and time management skills

For a full role description, please click here.

Benefits we offer:

We offer 41 days annual leave (includes bank holidays), a generous pension scheme (17.6%), flexible working and professional development opportunities. Further information regarding our benefits can be viewed here.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is excited to be recruiting for the role of Marketing & Communications Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for the development and delivery of individual marketing and communication plans to promote every aspect of Trust activity to raise the profile of the Trust and develop key audiences. The role holder identifies new opportunities to engage with audiences and markets through promotional materials and creative campaigns including marketing across digital platforms, direct marketing, website development and public relations.

About Scottish Historic Buildings Trust

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a Charity and Building Preservation Trust with over 40 years’ experience saving derelict and redundant buildings throughout the whole of Scotland. Everyone has driven or walked past a forlorn and unloved historic building at some time. You may have wondered why it isn’t being used or why doesn’t someone do something with it? The answer is often complex and the solutions equally so. It takes a special group of people to identify a way forward and restore these buildings to the benefit of the community. SHBT is a dynamic and innovative charity that does just that and our Marketing & Communications Manager is key to our success.

Diversity

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.

Further information

For an informal chat about the job, please contact Fiona Lawrence, Operations Manager, by email on fiona@shbt.org.uk

This is a senior post within The Scottish Civic Trust reporting to the Director.

Main purpose:

To oversee the day-to-day running of finance function with responsibility for all aspects of management accounting (including all necessary reconciliations), cash management, budgeting and forecasting, and administration of all payroll matters.

The post will provide support to the Director on finance matters ensuring that information and advice is available to support strategic decision making.

The Finance Manager will also be expected to contribute, and sometimes lead on, relationships with tenants within The Tobacco Merchant’s House and premises management.

Management of the Administration Officer is also a key aspect of this role.