Top job! Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland
- Full time
- £72,120
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 8th January 2025
- Advertised from 4th December 2024
Role
The Electoral Commission is the independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance across the UK. We work to ensure public confidence in democratic processes by enabling free and fair elections, promoting transparency in political finance, and advocating for reform that enhances our democracy.
We’re seeking an exceptional individual to lead our operations in Scotland at a pivotal time for electoral reform and innovation. As the Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland, you will:
- Represent the Commission in Scotland, engaging with voters, political parties, electoral officials, civic society, and media to strengthen trust in electoral processes.
- Lead the Scotland Team, managing the delivery of our activities and ensuring alignment with both UK-wide and Scotland-specific objectives.
- Oversee the Commission’s accountability to the Scottish Parliament for devolved functions.
- Influence policy, scrutinise legislation, and lead the implementation of electoral reforms.
- Act as the primary spokesperson for the Commission in Scotland, including media representation.
You’ll join our senior leadership team, contributing to the development of the Commission’s UK Corporate Plan and Scotland-specific strategies, ensuring the unique Scottish context is integrated into all aspects of our work.
We’re looking for:
- A strong leader with extensive experience in a complex organisation or government setting.
- Knowledge of Scotland’s political and media landscape.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
- Proven impartiality and political sensitivity.
- Experience in budget and project management.
This is your opportunity to contribute to the integrity of Scotland’s democracy at a time of significant change. We value independence, diversity, and continuous improvement, offering a supportive environment where your expertise can shape the future of elections in Scotland.
Application notes
For more information, including the Job Pack and how to apply, please visit the Aspen People website at jobs.aspenpeople.co.uk/job/head-of-electoral-commission,-scotland-714.aspx
Applications close on Wednesday, 8th January 2025.
Interviews will provisionally be held on Thursday, 23rd January 2025.
For more information or a confidential discussion, contact Catriona Mackie or David Currie at Aspen People on 0141 212 7555.
Top job! Interim Head of Legal and Policy
- Full time
- £65,800
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 20th January 2025
Are you passionate about Human Rights?
Do you want to help improve the realisation of Human Rights for everyone in Scotland?
Do you have the skills, values, experience and expertise to help make that happen?
Are you interested in strengthening Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution?
If so, you could be just what we are looking for!
The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is Scotland’s human rights watchdog.
We are an independent, expert body that works with and for the people of Scotland; we monitor, listen, and speak up for all our rights and respond when things go wrong. We are a public body created by statute, with a mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Scotland.
The Commission is established as a National Human Rights Institution. As such we are part of a global network of bodies accredited by the United Nations to monitor state compliance with international and national human rights law and treaties. We are independent of government. It is the job of National Human Rights Institutions to use the rule of law to promote and protect the human rights of all of the people who live in any given country and assess the actions of the state on that basis. This is how the Scottish Human Rights Commission approaches its work.
Recruitment
We have a number of opportunities for people who share our values and passion for human rights to join our growing team. We are a small organisation with big ambition to use our mandate to further the realisation of people’s human rights in Scotland, and these key strategic posts, working together with colleagues across the Commission, will be integral to our success over the coming years.
The Commission is recruiting for four positions.
This follows an expansion of our mandate with the enactment of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024; investment in the development of a People and Culture Programme that will enable us to conclude the implementation of our Independent Governance Review from 2023; and to fill a vacancy following the upcoming departure of a member of the team.
In April the Commission embarked on its new 4-year Strategic Plan for 2024-28, focused on standing up for those in need of protection and holding those responsible for human rights to account. This requires us to build a Commission team infrastructure that is equipped to deliver this, and the current opportunities will support us to enhance our engagement with the Scottish Parliament, the media, and the application of the law through strategic litigation and monitoring of human rights across Scotland.
The Commission is committed to being agile, engaged, accessible, open to collaboration and above all visibly committed to the realisation of rights in Scotland, as an authoritative and challenging partner in pursuit of that goal.
These posts are a critical to enhancing the skills and capacity of our existing team in order to achieve the Commission’s goals.
This is a critical post for the Commission, and will be in central in strengthening the impact of the Commission in informing the human rights legal and policy framework and for the progressive realisation of rights in the everyday lives of people in Scotland
Reporting to the Executive Director, this is a key leadership role with responsibility for ensuring organisational effectiveness of the legal and policy function and as an integral part of the Senior Leadership Team as the Commission delivers its People and Culture plan in 2025. The postholder will effectively lead and manage the Legal and Policy Team to deliver its core work programmes of advice to Parliament, international treaty monitoring, spotlight monitoring, and strategic litigation opportunities via the Commission’s powers to uphold human rights. The role will be responsible for quality assurance of legal and policy outputs in addition to ensuring delivery of key commitments in the Commissions Strategic Plan.
Appointment of Members to the Scottish Food Commission
- Management Board
- Sessional
- On site: Edinburgh
- Closing 17th January 2025
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence the development of a new non-departmental public body: The Scottish Food Commission. The Commission is being set up to provide an oversight role of provisions made in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. It is expected that the Commission will be formally established by mid-2025.
The Scottish Food Commission will play a significant role in reshaping the Scottish food system. The recommendations and advice provided by the Commission to Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities will be pivotal in ensuring that Good Food Nation Plans are continuously improved.
Responsibilities
As the first members of the Scottish Food Commission, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future and strategic direction of this new public body.
You will work closely with the chair of the Scottish Food Commission to identify the immediate strategic priorities and ensure the long-term viability of the body.
You will also work closely with Scottish Government officials and the Chief Executive, once in place, to enable the new public body to take on its statutory functions and full budgetary control.
Once the body is fully established, as members you will play a key part in ensuring the Commission effectively fulfils its oversight role and provides constructive challenge, that is evidence based, to Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities in relation to their Good Food Nation Plans.
These are high publicity roles that will attract great interest from key stakeholders interested in the Scottish food system.
Role Criteria
Priority criteria – applicants must provide evidence against at least one of the following:
1. Experience of research, analysis or evaluation methods;
2. In depth knowledge of one key food system challenge;
3. Experience of audit, assurance and finance;
4. Expertise in behaviour change.
Essential criteria - applicants must meet all six of the essential criteria.
1. Understanding of the complexity of the food system in Scotland;
2. Seeing the bigger picture;
3. Understanding of good governance;
4. Understanding of how government works at local, regional and national level;
5. Analysis and decision-making;
6. Communication and constructive challenge.
Please read the full details of the criteria in the person specification section of the applicant information pack.
About Us
Kindred is a vibrant organisation supporting over 800 families of children with complex needs each year. Established in 1990 at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh (RHCYPE), our organisation has always been parent-led. Our core services are delivered by dedicated teams based in hospitals and through our Community team. We also provide specialised counselling services and a Parenting Programme (Early Positive Approaches to Support).
Our vision is that parents of children with complex needs in Scotland will have early access to peer-led support and information.
About The Job
As CEO, you will lead Kindred in achieving its mission of supporting families of children with complex needs. You will manage the implementation of the Strategic Plan and drive growth by enhancing the charity’s visibility while maximising the impact of our work. As an organisation we are evolving and you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Kindred. You will work closely with the Senior Management Team and maintain an expert knowledge of issues relevant to our service users (including statutory provision, benefits, charitable funding and other support available through the voluntary sector).
As CEO, you will lead Kindred with passion and dedication, ensuring our mission of supporting families of children with complex needs remains at the heart of everything we do. You will work closely with our Board of Trustees to develop and implement strategic plans, build strong partnerships, and secure sustainable funding. Your role will involve overseeing day-to-day operations, managing our talented team, and advocating for the needs of our families.
Main Areas of Responsibility
People Management: Work with the Senior Management Team to ensure effective management of Kindred’s staff team including liaising with external HR support. Develop Kindred’s team to support the delivery of Kindred’s services and strategic plan.
Fundraising: Lead on a competitive and responsive fundraising strategy, supported by our fundraising team.
Governance: Support Kindred’s Chair and trustees in providing strategic leadership and governance. Ensure Kindred’s governance processes are robust and effective.
Finance: Ensure Kindred’s finances are managed to a high standard with timely reporting.
Kindred Services: Ensure operations are supported to enable the delivery of high-quality services to our service users in line with our objectives.
Administration: Enable the smooth running of our organisation including leading on the development of online systems.
Public Profile: Represent Kindred in the charity sector and liaise with key stakeholders to support our brand and strategic impact. Maximise technology use to increase our public profile and the impact on the community.
What we are looking for
We are looking for a candidate who can hit the ground running in this role and therefore we require candidates to have:
- Senior Leadership Experience: Proven track record in senior leadership roles within an organisation.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve organisational goals.
- Financial Management: Strong financial acumen and experience in budget management and financial reporting.
- People Management: Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, build strong relationships, and create a positive work culture.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including funders, partners, and government officials.
- Policy and Governance: Knowledge of charity governance, regulatory frameworks, and data protection.
- Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience in report writing, journal writing, public speaking, and media engagement.
- Fundraising and Income Generation: Experience in securing funding and developing fundraising strategies.
- IT Proficiency: Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Ideally you will also have:
- Postgraduate qualification in management or a relevant field.
- Personal experience of caring for a child with complex needs.
- Understanding of practice supervision and/or qualification in counselling
- Experience of liaising with Scottish Government, local authorities and health boards
- Current driving licence
Top job! Head of Policy and Public Affairs
- Full time
- £39,114 – £45,008
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 6th January 2025
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) in a role that will lead all of SYP’s political, policy, and campaign work.
SYP has a proud history of delivering youth-led campaigns that deliver meaningful policy change. Our campaigns for Votes at 16, Equal Marriage, and the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law, to name only a few, have improved the lives of young people across Scotland.
SYP’s political profile and impact have never been higher. Our new Head of Policy and Public Affairs will drive forward all of our political work and ensure that we deliver even more of the changes to policy and legislation that young people expect of us.
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