About Starcatchers

We champion exceptional, innovative arts and creative experiences for our youngest children, those aged from birth to 5 years old and their parents and carers. The voice, needs and interests of this audience are at the heart of all our activity, providing inspiration and provocation in the development of projects and programmes. Our work is created by highly specialist artists who are attuned to the requirements of making work for and with this unique age group. Supported by nearly 20 years of high-quality work, evidenced through research and evaluation, Starcatchers is recognised around the world as being at the forefront of artistic practice for Early Years.

Primary Purpose

This is a new role within a refreshed Starcatchers Staff Team for 2025/26 and beyond. The post-holder will be pivotal in the development of our Community Engagement activity leading on the implementation of this work, supporting the specialist Starcatchers Artists who lead on delivery, nurturing existing and seeding new relationships within communities and securing funding to sustain activity moving forward.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Community Engagement

• To lead on the development and delivery of all Starcatchers' Community Engagement activity including current programmes
• Seed new activities in line with organisational priorities
• To ensure the implementation of a continuous improvement framework within the team
• To ensure the principles of Starcatchers Voice of the Baby research are embedded and reflected in artistic practice
• To ensure the participation of the babies, young children, parents and carers who engage in Starcatchers activity is evident in all aspects of service delivery
• To develop and maintain relationships with partners to support the delivery andpotential future development of project activity
• To oversee the implementation of research and evaluation surveys across all Community Engagement activity and provide feedback and figures for reporting,evaluation and development purposes
• To manage the Community Engagement budgets and ensure delegated budgets operate within organisational monitoring and reporting arrangements.
• To regularly attend Community Engagement sessions and provide support to delivery staff
• To ensure the Health & Safety policy is implemented in accordance with best practice and all activity is planned to include risk-assessment and compliance with Health and Safety and event management regulations
• To ensure the effective implementation of Starcatchers policies and procedures
• To provide line management support to the Community Engagement Artists

Fundraising

• To identify and apply for funding for Community Engagement programmes, both existing and new initiatives
• To support or lead on reporting to funders as required

General

• To play an active role in the strategic development of Starcatchers as a member of the Management Team
• To fully participate in company meetings and events as required
• To contribute to the on-going fundraising of the organisation as required
• To attend relevant training as and when requiredTo positively represent Starcatchers at eventsAny other duties appropriate to the post and organisation

The Project

Built in 1829, the former Royal High School is one of the most remarkable buildings in Edinburgh, and one of the most important neoclassical buildings in Scotland. It holds a truly awe-inspiring location with stunning views of Edinburgh.

The Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT) was formed in 2015 to conserve the history and heritage of the former Royal High School for cultural and community benefit commensurate with the building’s history and Category A-listing and UNESCO World Heritage site status.

The building has not had a permanent use since 1968 but the RHSPT has bold plans to redevelop the building through a £69m capital project into a cultural destination and iconic arts venue. It will become the National Centre for Music, where innovative programming, partnerships with our city’s festivals, and collaborations with Scotland’s talented musicians and performing companies will generate a vibrant creative energy every day. Visitors will listen, watch, learn, discover and practice music in every room.

The unused grounds surrounding the former Royal High School building will be transformed into a beautiful garden that is free for all to visit, located at the foot of the city’s iconic Calton Hill.

The Role

The Finance Manager will oversee all aspects of financial operations, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our financial data and reporting. Responsibilities will include managing day-to-day finance activities, reviewing fully accrued monthly management accounts for the Board, and producing a trial balance with supporting evidence for the annual audit.

This is a permanent role with responsibilities split across two organisations. The Finance Manager will work for RHSPT through the delivery of the £69m capital project, supporting the National Centre for Music in a modest way with comparable tasks, and will then move to employment with the National Centre for Music (separate charity number SC052564.) when it takes control of the site in 2027. Both organisations currently work from the same offices and are close collaborators. Further detail will be provided to applicants prior to interview.

Museums Galleries Scotland is the National Development Body for the Scottish museums sector. We’re here to support more than 440 museums and galleries, whether through strategic investment, advice, advocacy, skills development or other means.

We are looking for a Grants Assistant to support the delivery of MGS’s grants programmes and capturing their impact.

The Grants Assistant brings strong administration skills and a keen attention to detail to assist across all elements of the grants process, dealing promptly with enquiries and delivering excellent customer service to grant applicants. They will bring an enjoyment for number work/aptitude for maths and be comfortable working with databases, have strong communication skills and a can-do approach, with collaborative working an essential part of the role.

Overview of Responsibilities

Manage telephone and email enquiries about the grants programme Carry out basic financial checks on grant claims Liaise with applicants around award acceptances and project reports Add new organisations to the grants processing system and keep information up to date, including editing funding website pages Support grants impact analysis and reporting; and draw out examples of best practice for case studies to demonstrate impact Support the promotion of grant programmes to the sector in consultation with colleagues Support the delivery of funding rounds Occasional administrative support for the Accreditation scheme

The above mentioned tasks and responsibilities constitute an overview and not an exhaustive list. Workload and priorities are ultimately determined by the annual MGS Operational Plan.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Supporting and maintaining processes
• Working with databases
• Strong customer focus and ability to communicate positively with a range of people
• Interpreting financial information
• Keen attention to detail
• Excellent organisational skills
• Processing, interpreting and presenting/reporting data
• Microsoft Office and other relevant software

Preferred:

• Experience/knowledge of grants administration Knowledge of GDPR

How You Work

MGS has a behavioural competency framework which describes how we expect people to go about their work day-to-day. Staff must demonstrate the following skills areas at an appropriate level:

Works collaboratively Communicating with impact Respect, inclusion and integrity Effective decision-making Sector focus Drive for results Innovation, agility and building capability

In particular this role requires someone who conveys energy and enthusiasm about their work and takes a proactive approach to collaboration, organises and plans work effectively, readily contributes ideas and willingly adapts working practices to support changes.

All staff are expected to champion and help deliver MGS’s commitments to anti-racism and climate.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS – Occasional regional travel may be required