Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG) are seeking an Executive Director of Youth & Enterprise. As Director you
will collaborate with the MYDG Board of trustees to develop organisational strategies, ensure the highest safety
standards are in place and followed. Ensure compliance with HR policies and procedures, oversee the financial
aspects, including fundraising and budget management of both the youth development work and social enterprise.
You will raise the profile of MYDG in the community build strong relationships with stakeholders, and act as an
inspiring role model for both young people and staff
About the role:
Muirhouse Youth Development Group is a young person focused community Charity. We deliver high quality youth work,
providing experiential education programmes, personal and social development, skills acquisition programmes and
vocational qualifications. MYDG exists to support young people at key points in their life - Organisation for
all, no matter who you are, where you are at, where you have come from and where you are going. We strive to be
a fully diverse organisation working with our community to ensure this is woven throughout our way of work.
Key responsibilities:
Fully accountable for the entire funding cycle, ensuring organisational sustainability. Must be able to generate
large funds across multi-year, short-term and social enterprise income streams.
Develop, implement and lead the organisation into the future.
- Manage Team & Stakeholders
Build, Develop, Lead and manage a strong team to achieve MYDG’s Goals. Ensuring HR compliance and strong governance
are in place. Acting as an inspiring role model, being the face of the charity.
Essential Experience
To be successful in this role , you will have skills and experience in the following areas;
- Executive Financial Leadership: A verifiable track record of personally securing and managing in annual funding
from diverse sources, including complex multi-year grants, philanthropic trusts, and earned income
streams.
- Social Enterprise Development: Demonstrated success in developing, launching, and scaling a
commercial venture or social enterprise (e.g., outdoor centre, hospitality, or training arm), including full
accountability for business planning, market analysis, and sales/marketing strategy.
- Strategic Youth
Sector Leadership: Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role within a youth, community, or third-sector
organisation, demonstrating the ability to set and achieve strategic goals and drive impact in a
community-focused environment.
- People & Governance Management: Extensive experience leading and
motivating multi-disciplinary teams (staff, sessional workers, and volunteers), with a deep, practical
understanding of HR compliance, safeguarding, and Board governance within a Scottish charity
context.
- Stakeholder & Partnership Management: A proven ability to act as the public face of an
organisation, representing its values, and building high-level relationships with funders, community leaders,
partners, and political stakeholders.
Job specification
Development of Organisation and Team:
- Collaborate with the MYDG Board to develop strategies and operational plans aligned with the organisation’s
vision and strategic priorities.
- Shape, implement, and lead the successful execution of MYDG, ensuring
alignment with strategic objectives.
- Strengthen MYDG’s capacity to meet aims and objectives while
maintaining a sustainable structure.
- Maximise the potential of the MYDG Team, sessional staff,
volunteers, and young people.
- Oversee the management of MYDG staff, ensuring accurate staff records and
financial documentation are maintained through effective delegation.
- Represent and promote MYDG’s
history, present context, and future aspirations to ensure the organisation’s brand is widely known and clearly
understood.
- Ensure resources within MYDG are effectively connected to outcomes for young
people.
Management of MYDG Team:
- Lead, manage, and supervise the MYDG Team.
- Provide guidance and support to MYDG’s Youth Development Team
to ensure strategic outcomes are met.
- Oversee staff scheduling and manage hours for the
Team.
- Provide the MYDG Board with monthly leadership reports and relevant updates to ensure strong
governance and effective management of the organisation, meeting all legal, financial, and ethical
responsibilities.
- Facilitate clear communication across the organisation and take responsibility for
maintaining the health of key partnerships and relationships with external stakeholders.
- Identify
training needs and opportunities for the team and oversee the implementation of annual staff appraisals and
development plans.
- Act as an inspiring role model for both young people and staff.
- Delegate
tasks appropriately and ensure accountability.
HR Procedures and Policies:
- Ensure policies and procedures are current, relevant, and adhered to, leading by example while ensuring legal
compliance across the organisation.
- Manage and oversee recruitment processes for MYDG
staff.
- Handle / Oversee HR responsibilities, including contracts, staff appraisals, development plans,
timesheets, holidays, PVG checks, and expenses.
- Ensure adherence to health and safety, & well-being
standards for all staff, volunteers & users.
- Keep the staff handbook updated and ensure its proper
implementation.
Partnership Work:
- Lead and manage partnership initiatives for MYDG.
- Maintain regular communication with key
partners.
- Identify and foster new partnership opportunities.
- Ensure partnership agreements are
prioritised, maintained, and adhered to.
- Build and maintain relationships with funders and partners,
ensuring alignment with agreements.
Funding and Budgeting Responsibilities:
- Fully accountable for the entire funding cycle of MYDG’s work, including identifying funding sources,
applications, and commissioning.
- Ensure the Team meets its key outcomes in line with MYDG’s goals and
funder expectations.
- Provide an overview of all finances in collaboration with the finance
administrator.
- Oversee and review funding proposals submitted by the Youth Development Team.
Social Enterprise & Commercial Leadership
- Lead the development, implementation, and review of comprehensive business plans for the Pilton Retreat social enterprise to ensure profitability and sustained mission delivery.
- Direct all market research activities to identify potential customers and market niches for the centre, ensuring competitive and sustainable pricing.
- Develop and oversee a robust marketing and sales strategy to drive revenue and promote the social and ethical value of choosing MYDG's enterprise services.
- Ensure the commercial strategy adheres to best practices in social enterprise traits (i.e., profits are reinvested into the youth development mission) and builds long-term financial sustainability for the entire organisation.
- Actively manage the balance between commercial success and the maintenance of high-quality community outcomes and youth engagement.