Top job! Head of Reading Communities
- Full time
- £40,400
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 13th October 2025
- Advertised from 25th September 2025
- Permanent contract
Role
Are you a passionate leader with a love for reading?
As the Head of Reading Communities, you will lead a team of six to deliver impactful programmes across Scotland that use reading and storytelling as tools for connection, well-being, and empowerment.
Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes books, reading and writing have the power to change lives. A love of reading inspires creativity, improves employment opportunities, mental health and wellbeing and is one of the most effective ways to help break the poverty cycle. We work towards a Scotland where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive through literacy.
What we offer
- Full time, permanent role
- Competitive salary
- Flexible hybrid working between home and our Edinburgh City Centre Office, with great access by train, bus, and tram
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Company Sick Pay
- Pension with 5% employer contributions
- Death in service benefit
- Free access to employee assistance programme
You will be responsible for overseeing our flagship programmes, including Book Week Scotland, Reading is Caring, Scotland's Stories and Your Voice, Your Story. This is a strategic role where you will work closely with the Senior Management Team to develop our programmes and influence policy. You'll also be key in building relationships with funders, partners, and policymakers to help secure funding and create new opportunities.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience leading and managing a team in a cultural, educational, or charitable setting. You should have a deep knowledge of Scotland's literature, library, and creative education sectors and understand how they intersect with health and well-being. Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills are essential for this role.
Application notes
To apply go to: scottishbooktrust.com/about/vacancies
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Top job! Head of Individual Giving (Maternity Cover)
- Full time
- up to £42,000
- Hybrid: Glasgow
- Closing 11th December 2025
Scottish Opera is seeking an experienced and inspiring Head of Individual Giving to lead our individual and major gifts programme during a period of maternity leave. This is a key role within our Development team, responsible for generating over £1,000,000 annually through major donors, giving circles, legacies and wider individual giving activity.
Working closely with the Director of Development, you will help shape and deliver our Individual Giving strategy, steward key supporters, cultivate new donors, and oversee a talented Individual Giving team. You will bring creativity, excellent relationship-building skills, and a strong track record of securing philanthropic support.
We are looking for someone proactive, organised, confident in making major gift asks, and passionate about engaging people with the work of Scottish Opera.
If you’re a motivated fundraising professional who thrives on building meaningful supporter relationships, we’d love to hear from you.
What we offer:
• Up to £42,000 per annum depending on experience
• 35 hours per week with hybrid and flexible working available
• 25 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays
• Generous pension contributions (8% employer / 4% employee)
• Free tickets to Scottish Opera dress rehearsals & discounted performance tickets
• Enhanced pension scheme, Cycle to Work scheme, Perkbox, Employee Assistance Programme and Health Cash Plan
A full Job Description and Person Specification is available for download below.
Organisation Manager
- Part time
- £36,000 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Edinburgh Quay, Lower Gilmore Place, EH3 9NY
- Closing 10th December 2025
Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (FCCT) is a dynamic local charity and social enterprise working to make Fountainbridge a better place to live, work, do business and visit. From community canal boat trips to greenspace improvements, volunteer programmes, wellbeing walks and the annual Edinburgh Canal Festival, we deliver projects that promote inclusion, sustainability, and community wellbeing.
We are now looking for a motivated and skilled Organisation Manager to lead our small, dedicated team and help shape the next stage of FCCT’s growth — including the exciting development of our new Canalside Community Space.
About the Role
As FCCT’s most senior staff member, you will provide strategic leadership while staying closely connected to day-to-day operations. This is a hands-on and varied role, ideal for someone who enjoys combining big-picture thinking with practical community-focused delivery.
Key responsibilities include:
Leadership & Strategy
- Provide inspiring and inclusive leadership for staff and volunteers
- Work with the Board to deliver strategic and operational plans
- Oversee impact measurement and reporting, including the Annual Report
Governance
- Act as the key link between the Board and staff
- Support strong governance, including acting as Company Secretary
Finance & Fundraising
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, and reporting
- Drive fundraising, major grant applications, and income generation
- Build strong relationships with funders and partners
Operations & People
- Support and line-manage staff and volunteers
- Oversee social enterprise activities, community programmes, and events
- Lead delivery of flagship initiatives such as the Edinburgh Canal Festival
- Contribute to FCCT’s public profile and digital presence
External Relations
- Act as the public face of FCCT
- Build partnerships with local groups, businesses, and stakeholders
- Champion the value of blue and green spaces and community wellbeing
About You
Essential:
- Strong leadership and management experience in a charity, social enterprise, or community setting
- Proven project management and fundraising skills
- Confident with financial information and decision-making
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
- Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery
- Committed to inclusivity, sustainability, and community empowerment
Desirable:
- Experience in community development, volunteering, environmental or heritage projects
- Income generation or social enterprise experience
- Understanding of impact measurement
- Experience supporting volunteers and inclusive participation
What We Offer
- A varied and meaningful leadership role in a friendly, purpose-driven charity
- Flexible working from day one
- Training and development opportunities
- Pro rata holiday allowance including bank holidays
- Christmas shutdown period
- 5% employer pension contribution
- An annual canal boat trip
Operations and Finance Officer
- Part time
- £32,400 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Edinburgh Quay, Lower Gilmore Place, EH3 9NY
- Closing 10th December 2025
About Us
Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (FCCT) is a registered charity and social enterprise dedicated to making Fountainbridge a better place to live, work, do business, and visit. We create and support opportunities that contribute to community wellbeing, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and cultural vibrancy.
Our work includes community boating activities, greenspace development, volunteering programmes, wellbeing walking groups, the Edinburgh Canal Festival, and a growing programme of community events. We are also preparing to open a new Canalside Community Space and to build a new sustainable trip boat for 2026—an exciting period of growth that this role will help bring to life.
The Role
We are looking for a highly organised, proactive Operations and Finance Officer to play a central role in keeping FCCT running smoothly. This varied, hands-on position is ideal for someone who enjoys both structure and flexibility, and who wants to make a real impact in a small, friendly, purpose-driven organisation.
You will take the lead on finance, HR administration, compliance, and day-to-day operations, supporting colleagues, volunteers, and the Board to deliver our mission. This role will also be essential in helping to set up and run the new Canalside Community Space.
Key Responsibilities
Finance
- Bookkeeping, invoicing, banking, petty cash, and debtor management
- Payroll and payments to HMRC and pension providers
- Preparing bi-monthly management accounts and cashflow summaries
- Supporting budget setting, project financial monitoring, and grant reporting
- Liaising with auditors and maintaining robust financial procedures
- Managing purchasing and supporting loan/funding arrangements for the new boat
Operations & Administration
- Managing office systems, booking systems, contracts, insurance, and compliance
- Supporting HR processes including recruitment, inductions, and training records
- Overseeing data collection, GDPR compliance, and impact reporting
- Providing operational support to events and projects
- Managing IT systems and digital subscriptions
About You
Essential
- Experience in finance administration (incl. bookkeeping, payroll, and management accounts)
- Understanding of charity governance and compliance
- Strong organisational and administrative skills
- Excellent communication skills, including presenting financial information clearly
- High attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities
- Confident IT user (Microsoft Office, accounting/booking software)
- Commitment to FCCT’s values and mission
Desirable
- Experience with Xero
- HR administration experience
- Interest in community engagement, volunteering, environmental or heritage projects
What We Offer
- A varied and rewarding role in a community-focused organisation
- Flexible working from day one
- Training and development opportunities
- Pro-rata holiday allowance (incl. bank holidays)
- Christmas shutdown
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Annual staff trip on one of our canal boats
Services Manager - Enquire (Maternity Cover)
- Part time
- £41,913 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 12th January 2026
Children in Scotland are proud to have been delivering our Scottish Government funded Enquire service for over 25 years now. This national service continues to be a highly trusted and respected source of quality and accessible information and advice on additional support for learning.
The opportunity has arisen to take on the role of Service Manager for a period of 12 months on a maternity cover basis. Sitting within Children in Scotland’s Services, Policy and Participation department, this role will involve effective management of all areas of Enquire service delivery.
We are looking for a brilliant and experienced manager with excellent skills in communication, organisation, people management and budget management. The right candidate will also have a solid understanding of the additional support for learning landscape in Scotland to ensure that we maintain our high standards of delivery across all work streams.
If you feel like this role is for you, and that you have the ability to manage an outstandingly knowledgeable and committed team to provide a high quality service for our nation’s children, families and professionals relating to additional support for learning, then please read on.
About Children in Scotland
Giving all children in Scotland an equal chance to flourish is at the heart of everything we do.
By bringing together a network of people working with and for children, alongside children and young people themselves, we offer a broad, balanced and independent voice. We create solutions, provide support and develop positive change across all areas affecting children in Scotland. We do this by listening, gathering evidence, and applying and sharing our learning, while always working to uphold children’s rights.
Our range of knowledge and expertise means we can provide trusted support on issues as diverse as the people we work with and the varied lives of children and families in Scotland.
Diversity
Children in Scotland values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.
Further Information
For an informal chat about the job, please contact Billy Anderson, Head of Services, Participation and Policy by email on banderson@childreninscotland.org.uk
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