The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) is seeking a motivated and organised individual to join our team as Assistant Development Officer (ADO). This new post has been created to enhance the Club’s delivery of key programmes and provide vital support to our Development Manager across several cross-cutting areas of activity. It’s an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful youth and community engagement work, and to help shape the future of Scotland’s birding community. The post will be line managed by the Development Manager.

About the Role

This post will take a lead on several high-impact programmes and provide broader development and administrative support to the SOC. The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Coordinating the Scottish Bird Camp, SOC’s flagship youth initiative, and contributing to the development of a new schools-based outreach programme targeting underrepresented young people in Scotland.
• Managing the Club’s Winter Talks Programme, working with speakers and SOC branches to deliver a diverse and inspiring programme of 80+ talks per year.
• Supporting the Club’s branch network, assisting with volunteer communications, outreach activities, and local development projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver the annual Scottish Bird Camp, liaising with partners, staff, and young participants.
• Oversee the development and production of the SOC’s Winter Talks Programme in collaboration with branch volunteers and external speakers.
• Provide administrative and practical support to the Development Manager, branches, and other staff involved in delivering development projects.
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers, speakers, and external partners to ensure a coordinated and professional approach.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in event planning and coordination, preferably including cyclical or multi-stakeholder events.
• Demonstrated experience working with young people in a supportive, inclusive, and safe manner.
• Excellent organisational and multitasking skills with the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a confident and professional approach to stakeholder engagement.
• A solid understanding of safeguarding practices and willingness to undertake training as required.
• Ability to work independently while also being a collaborative and supportive team member.
• Confidence using digital tools such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Zoom, and Canva.
• A strong commitment to inclusion, equity, and engaging underrepresented communities.
• Well-established contacts in the ornithological and/or wider natural history community, enabling effective speaker recruitment and broadening the reach of SOC’s Winter Talks Programme.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience delivering youth-focused environmental or conservation programmes.
• Knowledge or strong interest in ornithology or natural history.
• Familiarity with SOC’s structure and branch network.
• Experience with social media and digital communications for outreach and event promotion.
• Experience using project or event management software and/or CRM systems.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a passionate and knowledgeable team working at the heart of Scottish ornithology. This role offers flexible working, the chance to make a lasting impact on youth and community engagement, and an opportunity to shape national programmes that connect people with birds and nature. To learn more about the Club and our work, please visit the-soc.org.uk.

Established in 1936 and one of Scotland’s leading wildlife bodies, the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) with some 3500 members. Its purpose is to advance the study and appreciation of birds in Scotland by promoting their documentation, promoting interest in them, promoting their conservation, providing a focus for information about them and encouraging the appreciation of relevant creative arts.

The Club’s headquarters, which also feature a renowned ornithology library, wildlife art gallery and sales outlet, are in Aberlady, East Lothian. Fifteen nationwide Branches are led by members who organise events, outings and projects in their areas. Staff contribute a national series of events, conferences and training activities for members of all ages. Publications include the highly regarded quarterly journal Scottish Birds, mobile app (Where to Watch Birds in Scotland), regional bird reports, e-newsletters and other online media.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Treasurer is a key member of the SOC Council and serves as a trustee of the Charity, with all the associated duties and responsibilities. More details on these responsibilities can be found in the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) guidance for charity trustees: OSCR Guidance.

While professional qualifications are not required, the role requires an interest in the financial operations of the SOC and a broad understanding of financial requirements for charities in Scotland.Further details on the role can be found here.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Elected at the SOC AGM (usually in November) for an initial two-year term, with re-election every two years.
• Provides financial advice and guidance to staff and branch officials as needed.
• Attends Council and Management Committee meetings (each held four times per year) and presents a written financial update at each.
• Convenes and chairs Finance Committee meetings (3–4 per year), reporting recommendations to Council.
• Attends the Club’s AGM (usually in November) to present the End-of-Year Accounts.
• Meets with Brewin Dolphin (SOC’s investment managers) at least annually to review investments and assess risk levels.
• Works with Council to maintain and update SOC’s Investment Policy, including setting reserve levels.
• Regularly liaises with the Finance Officer to ensure smooth financial operations.
• May be consulted on HR issues and trustee induction.
• Out-of-pocket expenses incurred on SOC business are reimbursed.
• SOC FINANCIAL PROCESSES
• The SOC Council has collective responsibility for the Club’s finances.
• The Finance Committee oversees financial strategy and budgeting, meeting 3–4 times a year. It consists of the Treasurer, the Finance Officer, and two other members.
• SOC’s financial year runs from April to March.
• SOC uses Xero for bookkeeping, holds accounts with the Royal Bank of Scotland, and has investments managed by Brewin Dolphin.
• Two staff members, the Treasurer, and a past President (from the Lothian branch) currently have signatory responsibility, with protocols ensuring that transactions over a specified amount require two signatures.
• The Finance Officer manages day-to-day accounting and banking procedures.
• The Treasurer provides financial updates and forecasts to the Council and the Management Committee at each meeting, working closely with the Finance Officer.
• The Treasurer, Finance Officer, and Independent Financial Examiner (currently Whitelaw Wells) oversee the end-of-year financial process, culminating in the submission of the independently examined accounts to OSCR.
• The Club’s core income sources include membership subscriptions, events, sales, commission from artwork sales, and legacies. Legacy income is highly variable, requiring careful financial planning.
• SOC branches maintain some financial independence but provide annual financial summaries to SOC.

Our current Treasurer will remain in position until November 2025.

Are you passionate about conservation and great at connecting with people? Maybe you’re looking for a career path where you can make a genuine impact? We are looking for a dedicated individual to join our team as Membership Recruiter and help grow our community of wildlife supporters!

In this role, you’ll engage with the public at exciting venues and events across Scotland, encouraging people to support wildlife conservation by becoming members of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

About us:

We Are Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity, and with 1 in 9 species in Scotland at risk of extinction, our work has never been more important.

From major species and landscape restoration projects, to managing our network of wildlife reserves and campaigning for nature, we work for Scotland’s wildlife year-round.

We want to give a voice to nature, but we can’t do it without the support of our members.

This role as Membership Recruiter is critical to the success of our work, and for the future of Scotland’s wildlife and wild places.

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Membership Recruiter to join our team.

No day is the same for our Membership Recruiters – you will travel around varied, exciting and unique venues throughout Scotland, all within a 1 hour radius of your home base, unless otherwise arranged with your line manager. Your days will be spent managing your own membership stall, actively engaging with the public and inspiring them to become members of the Trust.

Our membership recruiters are often the first point of contact for people who are yet to learn about our work. And so, whilst the main part of this role is to recruit new members, our recruitment team also work hard to inspire the public to become as passionate about wildlife as we are. Whilst experience is desirable, we are open to meeting the right fit for our team, and this position comes with direct training, with your fuel and parking costs paid for on top of your salary and commission. You’ll also have your own vehicle provided for business use.

As a member of our recruitment team, you will:

• Actively contribute to our vision of a healthier, wilder, Scotland.
• Attend venues and events as a Membership Recruiter
• Use appropriate communication and sales techniques (with no ‘hard sell’) to encourage members of the public to join the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

The successful candidate will:

• Be an engaging communicator – you can comfortably build rapport with members of the public and colleagues.
• Be a self-starting individual who is confident with lone-working.
• Be well-organised with good administrative skills.
• Have some knowledge of conservation and wildlife in Scotland.
• Hold experience in a customer-facing role such as Direct or Field Sales or Customer Service with experience of working to targets.
• Have the flexibility to work weekends.
• Be comfortable with working outdoors and independently.
• Have a full UK driving licence – there is no requirement to have your own vehicle.

About Edinburgh Cat Protection League (ECPL)

The ECPL is a small independent registered Scottish charity established nearly 80 years ago. Our cat shelter premises and office are based in the Leith area of Edinburgh. The sole purpose of the charity is to provide care, comfort, shelter and veterinary attention to stray and unwanted cats and kittens and we undertake to re-home these cats to the most suitable owners. In providing a re-homing service, the charity undertakes, through its staff, to educate intended pet owners on the care and maintenance of cats. The ECPL is currently engaged in a comprehensive constitutional and governance review and is in the process of restructuring as a CLG (Company Limited by Guarantee) with charitable status.

Recruitment of new Trustees

Role

We are currently seeking to recruit at least 3 new trustees to help strengthen and inspire the existing board with new ideas and goals at this exciting time of change and restructuring for the ECPL. The new trustees will bring their individual expertise to help shape the charity going forward, setting overall policy, providing strategic guidance and financial oversight and ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.

Who are we looking for?

First and foremost we are looking for applicants with a love of cats, a genuine interest in their welfare and a commitment and enthusiasm to be part of the charity going forward.

In addition we would particularly value individuals with skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Veterinary medicine
• Financial/accounting/budgeting
• HR
• Investment management
• Property management

Commitment

You will be asked to commit to attending a minimum of 4 board meetings each year with at least 2 in person meetings in addition to the AGM. Initially it is intended the meetings will be in person with the option to join some meetings virtually once the new board is established and the new structure of the charity is complete. Meetings are arranged in advance to suit diaries. The roles are voluntary although reasonable public transport travel expenses will be reimbursed as necessary.