Introduction to MYDG

Muirhouse Youth Development Group was established in 1997 and has been working with young people from Muirhouse and the surrounding areas ever since. Over the past 30 years, we have built strong, trusted relationships with young people, their families, the local community, and with the high school in which we are based. We deliver a full week of activities for young people, including evening youth clubs and in-school support. MYDG works with young people aged 8–18, and we support their development through opportunities such as our Young Volunteers Programme.

Purpose of the Job

Our Youth Development Workers play a direct role in engaging and supporting young people: delivering issue-based sessions, creating safe and inclusive spaces, and ensuring that young people’s voices are heard and prioritised in decision-making—both within the organisation and in the wider community.

We are looking for someone with a good understanding of the experiences and challenges young people face in the local area, and with experience in delivering impactful group work programmes.

Role Requirements

This role requires the postholder to deliver high-quality, safe, fun, and empowering youth work activities and support services. You will be part of a small, collaborative team working to achieve key outcomes for young people, as required by our funders. The postholder should have the confidence and ability to develop, deliver, and promote a relevant and engaging youth work programme for young people of varying ages.

Key responsibilities include

• Designing and delivering youth work sessions across a range of topics
• Recording, monitoring, and evaluating your work effectively
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and partner organisations
• Upholding and promoting the values of MYDG

Contributing to our online presence through social media and digital platforms

Young Women’s Work – Occupational Requirement

We are currently seeking to recruit a female Youth Development Worker to support our young women’s work, both within mixed settings and targeted group sessions.

This post is open to female applicants only, as the role involves working closely with young women on gender-specific issues. This requirement is considered to be an Occupational Requirement, as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Do you have a passion for helping people?

Do you have excellent communication and customer service skills?

Do you want to work for one of the best employability providers in Scotland?

Would you like to help someone with barriers to work find their dream job?

Then come and work for Enable Works.

Your role, as an Employment Coordinator is to provide support to people who have barriers to work to make progress towards and achieve well paid, sustainable employment.

Enable Works are the leading specialist provider of employability services for people who have barriers to work. We believe that every person in Scotland has the right to work in a job that is high quality and well paid.

Enable Works supports over 7000 people every year across 30 Local Authorities to learn skills for work.

We partner with thousands of employers to create inclusive cultures and improve the diversity of Scotland's workforce.

We are incredibly proud of our smart, capable, and motivated colleagues across Scotland and following a period of significant growth we are looking to grow our team.

We offer a generous salary, excellent benefits, and opportunities to develop and grow in your role.

We offer flexible working practices that promote a strong work/life balance so that when you are at work you can be the best version of you.

Values are more important to us than qualifications or experience, so if you don’t think you meet every requirement that’s ok, we still want to hear from you.

Please make sure you include a detailed personal statement in the ‘More about you’ section of the application to tell us how you are suited to the post.

About You

We really need you to have these

• The drive, energy and commitment to support people to obtain high
• quality, well paid jobs
• Ability to manage your own workload and prioritise as needed
• Confident communicator
• Strong attention to detail
• Professional presentation and personality
• Some knowledge of the local community
• Ability to work with people at any age who have challenging barriers to employment
• IT literacy
• Comfortable working towards targets
• A natural, professional relationship builder
• A full driving licence

Why?

Our vision is that every person in Scotland is able to access the support they need to find a high quality job that pays them well and your drive and commitment to this job will help them get there. You will recognise each clients individual skills and aspirations and work with them to find a job that they love.

Our culture is autonomous so that means we trust you to make the right decisions for your clients, therefore you need to manage your work load well and be accountable for your time. Attention to detail is important as it means you can work accurately and follow instructions.

About Us

At Enable we believe in developing all our staff and we provide an extensive learning programme together with in-house career development opportunities.

We also have an excellent range of staff benefits on offer including but not limited to:

• Health cash plans providing a wide range of health benefits to help people cover the cost of their everyday health care.
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loans
• Blue Light Card
• Starting a career with Enable is the first step towards making a real difference in our award-winning charity’s mission to help create an equal society for every person who has a learning disability.

Enable is an equal opportunities employer and our recruitment, selection and assessment process is based entirely on values, skills and competencies required of the specific roles.

The cost of PVG is paid upfront by the organisation and deducted from your wage if successfully appointed.

Enable reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Please submit your application as early as possible if this vacancy is of interest.

Are you passionate about making a difference for young people? Do you thrive on building relationships and creating opportunities? If so, this role is for you!

As an Employer Liaison Officer, you'll be the vital link between Barnardo's Works Highland and local employers, helping young people aged 14–24 take their first steps into the world of work. This is more than a desk job – it's about being out in the community, opening doors, and changing lives.

What You'll Do

• Connect & Collaborate: Build strong partnerships with employers and turn them into real opportunities.
• Know Your Market: Understand the local job landscape and spot chances for growth.
• Champion Young People: Support them into work placements, jobs, and apprenticeships that last.
• Make Things Happen: Organise networking events, job clubs, and employer engagement activities.

What We're Looking For

• Excellent communication and networking skills.
• A proactive, people-focused approach.
• Experience in employability or youth work is great – but passion and drive matter most!

Why Barnardo's Works?

Join a small, dedicated team making a big impact. Every day is different, and every success story starts with you.

Interested?

Find out more at barnardos-ets.org.uk or check out our Facebook page: Barnardo's Works Highland.

For questions, contact Barbara Brown at barbara.brown@barnardos.org.uk or call 07738 262843.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardos

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

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:

Financial Leadership

• 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.

Strategic Management

• 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.