Partnership and Policy Manager
- Full time
- £28,119
- Hybrid: (main bases in Clarkston and Barrhead) with East Renfrewshire wide travel required
- Closing 20th October 2025
- Advertised from 18th September 2025
- 35 hours (evening and weekend work may be required). Contract: 24 months from date of appointment.
Role
Are you ready to lead transformative partnerships and shape the future of the Third Sector in East Renfrewshire?
VAER is seeking a Partnership and Policy Manager to support our work across Community Planning, partnership development, and strategic policy engagement. This is an exciting and influential role, at the heart of our work as the Third Sector Interface for East Renfrewshire.
You will:
- Facilitate effective Third Sector participation in local planning and decision-making.
- Strengthen networks and partnerships across communities and sectors.
- Provide high-quality policy insight and briefings to support our leadership team.
- Empower Third Sector organisations to engage confidently in service design and reform.
- Collaborate across a National Network of 32 Third Sector Interfaces, influencing National, Regional and local Policy developments.
We’re looking for someone keen to develop:
- A strong grasp of the Scottish public policy landscape.
- Develop experience in strategic partnership working and Community Planning.
- Excellent facilitative leadership and diplomacy skills.
As part of VAER’s senior team, you’ll work alongside passionate colleagues and play a key role in building a stronger, more connected, and empowered Third Sector.
Apply now and be part of a movement for positive change.
JOB Role:
Join Our Team as Partnership and Policy Manager – Drive Change, Shape Policy that Empowers Communities.
VAER is offering an incredible opportunity for a passionate and driven individual to step into key new role of Partnership and Policy Manager. Join our dynamic team and lead the way in strengthening partnerships, shaping local policy, and ensuring the Third Sector has a powerful voice at the heart of Community Planning in East Renfrewshire.
As a vital member of our team, you will take the lead in delivering VAER’s Third Sector Interface role—bringing together organisations, fostering collaboration, and championing the sector’s role in planning and decision-making across East Renfrewshire’s strategic forums.
We’re looking for someone with strong facilitative leadership, who can inspire and enable Third Sector organisations to work together, build capacity, and lead transformational change in their communities. You’ll develop a deep understanding of Scotland’s public policy and reform landscape, alongside an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities facing the Third Sector today.
You’ll work alongside our confident, diplomatic, and strategic leadership team—capable of representing a range of sector voices, building consensus, and driving progress in complex planning environments.
Joining VAER’s senior management team, you’ll work closely with our skilled teams in Third Sector capacity building, volunteer development, and community engagement. Together, you’ll help develop a strong and influential Third Sector Forum, playing a leading role in policy development and service design across the region.
Key Objectives:
- Provide clear, concise, and timely policy briefings, insights, and local intelligence to the Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer.
- Strengthen VAER’s role as a leading Third Sector Interface and strategic Community Planning Partner.
- Support the sector to engage confidently and effectively in policy and planning processes that impact local communities.
This is more than a job—it’s a chance to be a catalyst for real, lasting change in East Renfrewshire.
Application notes
Download application pack at va-er.org.uk/join-our-team or call 0141 876 9555
Application Deadline: 20/10/2025
Lead for Community Transport
- Part time
- £33,063 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Dumfries or Stranraer
- Closing 4th January 2026
Where the role fits in our organisation
You are responsible for oversight of the TSDG community transport programme, the priorities of which are identified by the Community Transport Strategic Development Group (CTSDG). The role requires work across many of TSDG’s thematic areas including; Communities and Sector Support, Employability, Skills and Learning and Local Economies and Enterprise.
What You'll Do
We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about connecting communities to each other, for work, learning, leisure and social needs through a high quality, integrated transport model. One key purpose is enabling our communities to live fulfilling lives. Community transport is more than just moving people from A to B. It can be a mechanism for social inclusion, poverty reduction and improved wellbeing. The community transport programme is built on partnership working, so you will ned to be someone who thrives on; building relationships, supporting collaboration, and helping organisations grow their capacity to make a real difference in people’s lives. As part of the Lead Officer Group, you will also actively participate in shaping our ways of working at TSDG.
What You’ll Do
- Continue development and delivery of a multi-year plan for the design of a regional community transport model for Dumfries and Galloway.
- Build a business case for structures and a choice of viable operating models, including the development of a region-wide social enterprise for community transport.
- Actively partner with the local authority, regional transport partnership, NHS, enterprise agency, transport partners, the third sector and communities, to facilitate integration of community transport.
- Incorporate partnership outcomes and regional transport strategies in to planning, programme design and outcomes.
- Manage project reporting, including for the CTSDG, Community Planning Partnership, SLT and Board.
- Remain up to date with national and regional policy relevant to third sector organisations working in, or aligned to, transport and community transport, community connections, health and wellbeing and the social/local economy.
- Manage the Connecting Communities Development Officer.
More about you
- You have experience in related subject matter, such as economic development, social enterprise, community infrastructure and/or transport.
- You have strong relationship-building skills and experience of working collaboratively with partners from different sectors.
- You are able to analyse information, capture learning, and communicate it clearly through reports, presentations, or other formats.
- You are able to facilitate group discussions, workshops, or events that bring together different perspectives.
- You are skilled at organising, planning, and problem solving, and you can adapt to varied and changing priorities.
- You are self-motivated, a team player, and committed to continuous improvement.
Connecting Communities Development Officer
- Part time
- £27,192 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Dumfries or Stranraer
- Closing 4th January 2026
Where the role fits in our organisation
This role will develop volunteering and employability as part of our Community Transport programme. As such the role requires work across many of TSDG’s thematic areas including; Communities and Sector Support, Employability, Skills and Learning and Communications and Impact.
What You'll Do
We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about supporting third sector organisations meet the needs of their communities. Community transport is more than just moving people from A to B. It can be a mechanism for social inclusion, poverty reduction and improved wellbeing. You do not need to have knowledge of the region’s community transport sector, but you will need to be someone who thrives on; building relationships, supporting collaboration, and helping organisations grow their capacity to make a real difference in people’s lives. You will support and connect organisations working across all sectors, not just transport, including in health and wellbeing, children and families, local economies and employability.
What You’ll Do
- Build strong, positive relationships with third sector organisations and partners across Dumfries and Galloway to support improved connectivity and community-led opportunities.
- Work with partners to develop community volunteering and employability opportunities alongside our community transport sector and Strategic Development Group.
- Coordinate, facilitate, and develop collaboration between the third sector, statutory, and community voices to share learning and influence planning.
- Capture and share insights, case studies, and good practice to inform local priorities and improve access to support, including funding.
- Demonstrate and communicate the impact of community transport to a range of audiences, including raising public awareness.
- Represent TSDG and the third sector at relevant partnership and community meetings.
More about you
- You have strong relationship-building skills and experience of working collaboratively with partners from different sectors and/or directly with communities.
- You will be confident to capture ideas and input from communities and partners, and working with colleagues across portfolios to develop proposals to work in a better way for people and communities
- You are able to analyse information, capture learning, and communicate it clearly through reports, presentations, or other formats.
- You are able to facilitate group discussions, workshops, or events that bring together different perspectives.
- You are skilled at organising, planning, and problem solving, and you can adapt to varied and changing priorities.
- You are self-motivated, a team player, and committed to continuous improvement.
About you
We’re looking for someone to join our team with a strong belief in equality, human rights and social justice. You will have an understanding of the experiences, strengths and challenges faced by refugees, people seeking asylum, and other New Scots communities, and the motivation to support the development of the New Scots Edinburgh Refugee Integration Strategy, working closely with key stakeholders and statutory partners.
You will also work with colleagues to produce responses to public consultations and policy proposals from statutory partners in partnership with key third sector stakeholders.
About us
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is a charity that was established in 1868. In July 2025, we published a new strategic plan to guide our work for the next five years.
Our purpose is to serve the needs of people and communities across Edinburgh by supporting our members and third sector organisations to be effective and drive the change they need.
We work in three areas - advocacy, capacity building and collaboration - underpinned by research and analysis to inform our work to support third sector organisations and the communities they serve.
EVOC is a living wage employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity and welcome applications from members of all communities.
Benefits:
- 26 days of annual leave per year
- 10 public holidays (6 fixed and 4 floating) per year
- Pension (6% company contribution)
- 3 additional days leave between Christmas and New Year when the EVOC office closes
- A hybrid working approach
- All the equipment you need to work remotely
HTSI brings together a wide range of community groups, charities, and social enterprises. We work collaboratively with five local delivery partners to ensure that the needs of our communities—spanning an area larger than Wales—are met with innovation, partnership, and integrity.
HTSI continues its ambition to be a catalyst for positive change, investing in the strength and resilience of the Third Sector through knowledge sharing, capacity building, partnership, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring our sector’s voice is heard in policy, planning, and service delivery. Our work and impact rest on a team that values expertise, creativity, and a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact. We foster an inclusive, respectful, and empowering working environment, where staff are encouraged to develop professionally, contribute ideas, and take on responsibility.
We are now seeking an inspiring leader who shares our values and vision. The ideal candidate will bring strategic insight, excellent communication skills, and a proven ability to build strong, collaborative relationships. You will be comfortable advocating for the Third Sector at both local and national levels, engaging with policy forums, and championing the interests of our diverse communities. We are looking for someone who thrives in a dynamic and challenging environment, who demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to listen as well as lead. Your leadership will be instrumental in shaping progressive change, securing sustainable funding, and nurturing community-led solutions for the Highlands and beyond.
If you are passionate about driving real and lasting impact, and have the experience and vision to take HTSI forward, we warmly invite your application for this pivotal role.
Full details are available in the recruitment pack below.
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