Policy Manager Scotland
- Full time
- £39,000 – £41,500
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 5th August 2025
- Advertised from 22nd July 2025
- 35 hours per week. Permanent.
Role
Do you have experience working in the Scottish policy landscape? Are you passionate about driving meaningful change in mental health and suicide prevention policy? Do you want to make a real difference in people’s lives across Scotland?
Samaritans is looking for a dynamic and experienced Policy Manager to lead our policy and influencing work in Scotland.
About the Role
As Policy Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in our mission to reduce suicide. You’ll lead the development of evidence-based policy positions, influence national and local decision-making, and ensure our voice, and the voices of people with lived experience, are heard at the highest levels. This is an exciting time to join Samaritans Scotland, as we are a lead partner in Scotland’s national suicide prevention strategy, working closely with the Scottish Government and other partners to deliver the actions in the strategy and reduce lives lost to suicide in Scotland.
Working closely with the Head of Policy and Communications, you’ll manage a Policy & Engagement Officer and collaborate with colleagues across the UK and Ireland.
Your role will be challenging and rewarding. You’ll be positive, engaging and passionate, with motivational strengths which will enable you to lead and drive your team and inspire colleagues, external stakeholders, and people who want to stand alongside us in pushing for change. You’ll play a key role in ensuring we influence with one voice and help drive change to support suicide prevention.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of policy positions and research to support suicide prevention in Scotland.
- Manage and mentor a Policy & Engagement Officer.
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including government, public bodies, and the voluntary sector.
- Represent Samaritans externally, including at national forums and events.
- Develop and deliver influencing strategies, including responses to consultations and parliamentary inquiries.
- Ensure the voices of volunteers and people with lived experience are central to our policy work.
What We’re Looking For
Essential:
- Extensive experience in policy development and influencing within a Scottish context.
- Strong understanding of mental health, suicide prevention, and/or inequalities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Proven ability to manage people and projects effectively.
- Experience working collaboratively across teams and sectors.
Desirable:
- Background in mental health or suicide prevention.
- Experience of working with people with lived experience to inform policy.
- Knowledge of the Scottish voluntary sector and charity landscape.
Job Description and Person Specification here
Why Join Us?
At Samaritans, we believe fewer lives should be lost to suicide. You'll be part of a supportive and inclusive workplace that values innovation, resilience, and collaboration. Enjoy a hybrid working environment, professional development opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference.
Working at Samaritans:
For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure. You can access it on our careers page.
Being Inclusive:
We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.
Application notes
For further information and to apply, please visit our website.
Supporter Stewardship & Community Fundraiser
- Full time or Part time
- £30,284
- Hybrid: Home working - with regular travel to Craiglockhart office & across central belt.
- Closing 19th January 2026
You will play an important role within our fundraising team, helping to build relationships, and increase income, in a pivotal year for the charity, as we enter our 30th anniversary year! The role will offer significant scope for development, giving you the opportunity to grow your skillset in a supportive, ambitious, and high-performing team.
This is a meaningful and varied role focused on building strong relationships with local communities, individuals, volunteers, and corporations across Scotland. You will work with members of the fundraising team to create and deliver a gold-standard stewardship experience for donors and fundraisers who support Held In Our Hearts, being actively involved across the cycle of a relationship before, during and after a gift or activity.
You will work with fundraising colleagues to develop and lead on creative, impactful, and engaging fundraising activities that empower supporters and ensure sustainable income for our services.
We are seeking someone with warmth, empathy, initiative, and energy – someone who thrives on connecting with people, meeting targets, and inspiring individuals and communities to make a difference.
This role requires travel across Scotland, including to our Craiglockhart Office, and to attend events and engagement
opportunities, this will also result in some weekend and evening work, for which time off in lieu will be given.
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About us
Express Group Fife is a well-established mental health charity operating in Fife for almost fifty years. We provide group activities for people over 18 experiencing poor mental health. The aim of the groups is to promote positive mental wellbeing by providing a safe place for sharing experiences and peer support.
There are currently 12 groups across Fife each week, supporting about 150 individuals during the year. Every person’s story is unique, and everyone’s route home is different - it doesn’t matter what the situation is – we’re not here to judge, only to help.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join experienced and dedicated team of staff and volunteers working together to make a difference to people’s lives and create real community impact.
As well as leading the team, the Service Manager will contribute to the ongoing development and growth of the charity, ensuring all services are delivered to a high standard.
Key responsibilities include:
- Operational management
- Staff and volunteer management
- Finance, fundraising and accountability
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Communication, marketing and promotion
- Proactive development of the service to meet the needs of service users in line with current mental health strategies in Fife
About you
Our values make us who we are and define our actions and behaviours every day. We’d expect the post-holder to represent our organisation in a way that reflects our values and person-centred way of working.
You will be a strong leader who has gained experience in third sector not for profit organisation. You will have knowledge and understanding of the key issues facing those experiencing poor mental health in Scotland today. You will also have a working knowledge of current legislation, policies and strategies relating to the role.
Some of the criteria and qualities for this post include:
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrable management experience
- Experience of, and success in, securing grant funding
- Ability to build relationships with a wide range of people
- Organised and proactive, creative, and solution-focused
Self-Employed Counsellor
- Part time
- Sessional
- Hybrid: Edinburgh and/or online (must reside in Scotland)
- Closing 5th January 2026
Health in Mind offers a range of counselling services. We are seeking a compassionate and qualified Counsellor to join our team in a self-employed capacity. You will provide face-to-face and online one-to-one counselling individuals facing a range of emotional and psychological challenges across our five counselling services.
Key Responsibilities:
- Deliver confidential counselling sessions tailored to client needs
- Maintain accurate and timely client records
- Work collaboratively and have good communication with the Counselling Team Leader and Administrator
- Uphold ethical and professional standards in line with BACP guidelines
Requirements:
- Recognised counselling qualification (Diploma or Masters Level)
- Registration with COSCA, NCPS, BACP, UKCP, HCPC or other relevant professional body
- Experience working with diverse client groups, including people who have experiences of trauma
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Fundraising Officer
- Part time
- £24,785 pro-rata
- On site: Edinburgh or Highlands
- Closing 19th January 2026
We are recruiting a Fundraising Officer to join Held In Our Hearts, where you will play a vital role in helping to raise funds
that directly support families impacted by pregnancy, baby and infant loss.
This is a meaningful and varied role focused on building strong relationships with local communities, individuals, volunteers, and grassroots groups across Scotland. You will support colleagues to develop creative, accessible, and engaging fundraising activities that empower supporters and ensure sustainable income for our services.
We are seeking someone with warmth, empathy, initiative, and energy – someone who thrives on connecting with people, meeting targets, and inspiring communities to make a difference. This is a unique opportunity to be the local face of our work, fostering support and compassion in every interaction.
This role requires travel across Scotland to attend events and engagement opportunities, this will also result in some weekend and evening work, for which time off in lieu will be given.
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